International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day celebrated globally to highlight the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women all around the world. In many countries IWD has become a national holiday. Here in the United States, we celebrate Women’s History Month throughout the entire month of March, to honor the achievements of American women. In 2021 the theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Choose to Challenge’. Today more than ever we need to live within a world not only challenged but alerted to the need for change and inspiration.

IWD’s movement is designed to pursue positive change for women everywhere, while signaling a call to action to accelerate women’s equality. This movement has existed for over a century, since 1911, and is supported by millions across the world; not through any specific country, group, or organization but by individuals, to include both men and women.

Challenging one another and effecting change, in an already chaotic world, can seem daunting. But the truth is there has never been a better time. We have had time to sit still while in quarantine, in isolation, reflecting on our lives and how a pandemic has forced our norms to disappear. Maybe it is time to take this as a call to action. Our will can be just as powerful as a pandemic. If we all challenged ourselves to pursue a better world; a more equitable world; a more accepting world, our world will change. We will challenge and call out gender bias and inequality, we can choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements and we can all help create an inclusive world. #ChooseToChallenge.

Editorial Disclaimer: All blog posts are contributed by a member of the MovementForward, Inc. team in their personal capacity. The opinions expressed in the posts are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of MovementForward, Inc. or any other partnership associated with the organization.