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Women have long been at the forefront of social change, shaping the course of history in ways that continue to be clear: Greta Thunberg has made the environmental crisis impossible to ignore; Jane Fonda launched Fire Drill Fridays to add to the pressure; Jessica Meir and Christina Koch performed NASA's first all-woman spacewalk; Zarifa Ghafari overcame harassment and death threats to become Afghanistan's youngest mayor; the US soccer star Megan Rapinoe and her championship team are battling for equal pay; the "Me Too" movement that Tarana Burke created years ago became a justice-spreading hashtag with a watershed moment last week; and Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Tulsi Gabbard, Kirsten Gillibrand, Marianne Williamson, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (and many women before them) have redefined US presidential races and politics.
To explore the strategies that might help create more such successes and mark this year's International Women’s Day, SSIR has gathered some of its best articles on the solutions that can help end gender-based violence, discrimination, and inequality:
1. Philanthropy for the Women’s Movement, Not Just ‘Empowerment’
The philanthropic community’s preoccupation with impact and the short-term projects that deliver measurable outcomes can distract us from what really works. Only women’s organizations focused on consciousness-raising, coalition-building, and advocacy can bring the kind of systemic change that women the world over need.
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2. Single Mothers in College to Make Education More Equitable for All
To truly address the pressing issues of equity, access, affordability, and completion facing higher education, a growing movement of researchers, philanthropists, student activists, and college administrators are working to integrate family caregiving and support services into a 21st-century vision of college.
3. For More Gender Equity in India’s Workforce, More Women Must Get Online
To increase Indian women's participation in the workforce of an increasingly digital world, more of them must obtain access to the internet through cell phones and other technologies.
4. How Businesses Can Take the Lead in Combatting Gender-Based Violence
Five steps companies can take to comprehensively tackle violence and harassment in the workplace.
5. A Women's Movement on Wheels
The Meri Seif Bus Program in Papua New Guinea is challenging social norms about gender by improving women's economic lives and securing girls' education. Open for subscribers only. Visit our subscriptions page to support SSIR's mission to inform and inspire leaders of social change.
6. Marrying Empathy and Science to Spread Impact
A public health innovation shows that innovators can accelerate the diffusion of sensitive health products for young women by pairing design thinking and behavioral science.
7. Development Impact Bonds for Maternal and Child Health
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals will require new funding mechanisms beyond overseas assistance. Though not without challenges, development impact bonds, including those launched to reduce maternal and child mortality, offer an encouraging option. Open access for non-subscribers to this article has been provided through March 12. Visit our subscriptions page to support SSIR's mission to inform and inspire leaders of social change.
8. How Universities Can Support Women-Led Entrepreneurship
By taking some simple steps to support women entrepreneurs, accelerator programs like those at the University of California, MIT, and University of San Diego can help reduce notable gender disparities in America's startup landscape.
9. How Business Can Engage Men as Allies for Gender Equality
Businesses can help advance gender equality by shifting individual behavior, committing to inclusive organizations, and using their external influence to shape new social norms.
10. Women and the Future of Work
The strategies companies and policy makers are designing to address the changing nature of work need to include a gender lens if they are to help foster the economic empowerment of women.
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