It’s International Women’s Day 2024—here are ways to celebrate the occasion
From shopping women-owned to supporting female creatives.
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Not only is March Women’s History Month, but it also features International Women’s Day! Held annually on March 8, International Women’s Day is a day celebrated across the globe in which incredible women from the past and present are highlighted, along with their struggles and achievements.
If you don't know much about the holiday, we're here to teach you all about it. Here’s everything you need to know about International Women’s Day 2024, including its history and some of our favorite ways to celebrate the occasion, from shopping from women-owned businesses to supporting female creatives.
When is International Women’s Day 2024?
International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8. This year, it falls on Friday, March 8.
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women while also serving as a call to action to further equality.
History of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day has a long history dating back to the early twentieth century. The first documented Women's Day was observed in the United States on February 28th. Organized by the Socialist Party of America, the day was meant to commemorate the 1908 Garment Worker's Strike in which women protested their working conditions.
In the following decade, international women's suffrage movements organized National Women's Days across various nations in Europe. These days were meant to drum up support for women's rights to vote, equality in education, and an end to discrimination.
In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating March 8th as International Women’s Day. While International Women’s Day is not an officially recognized holiday in the United States, it is in many countries including China, Ukraine, Russia, Zambia, and many others.
What is the theme for International Women’s Day 2024?
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is “Inspire Inclusion.” It affirms that inspiring inclusion fosters a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment in women and, in doing so, makes the world a better place.
Ways to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024
There are many ways to commemorate and celebrate International Women's Day. For one, you can take the time to honor an important woman in your life, such as by writing her a thoughtful letter or giving her a gift to show how much they mean to you and inspire you. If you identify as a woman, you can use the day as an excuse to give yourself well-earned rest or to reflect on the ways you are strong and valid.
International Women's Day owes its existence largely to the various suffrage movements that populated the early twentieth century. While great strides have been made to improve women’s rights since the early 1900s, there's still a lot of work to be done. Consider dedicating your time to helping a woman-related cause you care about or learning about important and influential women figures. What’s more, educate others about the groundbreaking women of our past and present. Finally, you can support women-owned businesses and products by purchasing from them, as solidarity is power.
Dive into biographies of amazing women
As she had to overcome the difficulties brought on by her blindness and deafness, Helen Keller is a prime example of the power of perseverance. In addition to advocating for those with disabilities, Helen Keller was a staunch supporter of women's suffrage and other freedoms considered radical at the time. One of the best books to learn about this larger-than-life woman is The Radical Lives of Helen Keller by Kim E. Nielson as it delves into the aspects of Helen Keller that are often sanitized or glossed over.
While you may be familiar with the name Hellen Keller, you may not know the entirety of her riveting story of lifelong resilience.
If we're talking about larger-than-life women from the early twentieth century, we'd be remiss to leave out Amelia Earheart, the record-breaking pilot extraordinaire who opened the door for many female pilots after her. Her death was as notable as her life, with the mystery surrounding it remaining unsolved to this day. If you'd like to learn more about Earheart, 27 years later, her eponymous biography by Doris L. Rich continues to be a great, comprehensive read about her life.
Learn more about the compelling life of a mysterious hero who broke barriers as a female aviator.
Rosa Parks is another woman who deserves to be remembered on International Women's Day thanks to her dedication to civil rights. While many know of her famous role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rosa Parks led a long life of activism beyond that. In Jeanne Theoharis' award-winning biography, Rosa Parks' life and philosophy are laid bare to give readers a better, fuller sense of who she was.
Rosa Parks' courage has inspired generations following the brave acts she performed during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Read female authors
If you’re not into biographies but still love reading, you can check out the many great books written by female authors. A recent book to read is Julia, a feminist retelling of the classic dystopian novel, 1984 through the eyes of Julia. Originally Winston’s love interest, Julia really comes alive in this fantastic book by Sandra Newman.
Gain a new, eye-opening perspective while reading Sandra Newman's retelling of the book classic, 1984.
Julia and other great books can be read on an e-reader such as our favorite, the Amazon Kindle. The Amazon Kindle is responsive, crisp, and bright display.
If you're familiar with the struggle of putting down a real page turner, invest in an e-reader that'll allow you to take your books with you on the go.
Give a greeting card
While a card may seem like a throwaway gift to some, here at Reviewed, we don't believe there's such a thing. A card can be a simple, yet effective way to show someone you care. While we've finally found a holiday that Hallmark hasn't made a card for, Etsy has all your International Women's Day card needs covered. The site features various, lovingly created designs from independent sellers. Better yet, many of them are immediately available for print after purchase, meaning you'll be able to have your card ready for your recipient even if you're buying at the last minute.
You can't go wrong with a designed greeting card that says exactly what you want to convey.
Watch documentaries or movies about powerful women
If you prefer to watch rather than read, you can stream shows and documentaries about influential women. Some to consider are The Crown on Netflix, which is a dramatized story all about Queen Elizabeth II, Jackie, a movie about former First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, and Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold.
Our favorite way to stream these options is by using the Roku Ultra which is fast and supports premium audio and visual options.
Stream binge-worthy series about women who made a real difference in our world with the help of the Roku Ultra.
Support female artists
Another way you can support women creatives is by shopping art created by women. Check out Clare Elsaesser, who has tons of beautiful, impressionist prints of women. They’ll go great on the walls of your home.
Hang breathtaking impression pieces that truly capture the beauty of womanhood around your home.
Stream female artists
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, SZA; many of the hottest musical artists of the decade are women. Celebrate International Women’s Day by listening to their tunes. To do so, you’ll want only the best speakers and, fortunately for you, we’ve tested them out. We found the best portable Bluetooth speaker to be the Sonos Roam thanks to its excellent sound, intuitive controls, and stylish design.
Use the Sonos Roam to play Run the World (Girls) by Beyoncé as many times as you'd like!
Shop women-owned businesses
Fox & the Knife pasta
Looking to satiate your hunger and support a woman-founded business in one fell swoop? You're in luck. Chef Karen Akunowicz's sells homemade pasta and sauces from her Boston restaurant, Fox & the Knife. The package serves four people and for an additional price, you can include add-ons such as olives to really bring the meal together. Our mouths are watering just looking at the pictures.
Elevate your usual pasta night with the tasty creations of woman-owned, Fox & the Knife.
Sh*t that I Knit accessories
Sh*t That I Knit certainly has a bold title; fitting for a brand that wants to make sure winter caps and gloves are not only warm, but stylish, too. While spring may be officially around the corner, many across the nation know all too well that chilly weather can persist well into April. So why not get your winter-knit fix by supporting a woman-founded business that supports mothers in Peru with a fair, livable wage?
Aside from its clever name, Sh*t That I Knit offers cozy items including winter beanies and quality sweaters.
Zelie for She clothing
Part of celebrating International Women's Day is recognizing that women come in all different shapes and sizes, despite the boxes that society wishes to put them in. In light of this, Zelie for She is an amazing brand to shop as it's a woman-owned brand that empowers plus-sized women to be confident and rock the most stylish of clothes whether those are leggings, maxi dresses, or crop tops.
With Zelie for She, you'll find true appreciation for different body types and size inclusions for all.
Sigma Beauty
Another woman-owned brand to shop is Sigma Beauty, which offers high-quality makeup brushes at budget-friendly prices. Founded in 2009 by Simone Xavier, Sigma Beauty was created to provide quality makeup tools for those in Xavier's home country of Brazil. No matter where you are, we're sure you'll love using these top-of-the-line brushes that make your skin look and feel great.
Sigma beauty offers luxe cosmetics and quality brush sets at a reasonable cost.
Mejuri jewelry
If you like jewelry, consider supporting a woman-founded brand this International Woman's Day like Mejuri. Founded in 2015 by Noura Sakkijha and her husband Majed Sakkijha, the jewelry company is committed to making beautiful pieces that last. We tried various pieces of jewelry from the millennial-focused brand and loved what the company had to offer.
Mejuri's jewelry is stunning and will surely earn you a compliment or two.
The Sill
The Sill is another wonderful company founded by a woman. In 2012, Eliza Blank used a tiny, borrowed office space to start the company, which now delivers a variety of both real and fake plants straight to your door. We've bought a few plants from The Sill and were impressed by the care that went into shipping them. Whether you're looking for a ponytail palm or a bird's nest fern, you can't go wrong by shopping from The Sill.
The Sill offers a vast variety of plants, alongside handy resources on how to care for them.
The Olive Oil
The Olive Oil comes from the women-founded Pineapple Collaborative. Each person who had a hand in making Olive Oil is paid equitably as per the Pineapple Collaborative's mission. This smooth, bright, and delicious olive oil is well worth the price and will enhance a wide variety of dishes.
The Pineapple Collaborative is a women-driven powerhouse that takes common kitchen olive oils to new heights.
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