Women empowerment

In 2006, the U.S. was third in the world for economic gender equality. In 2016 it had fallen to 26th. Despite this, there’s a huge movement among women to empower one another, to secure equal rights, to challenge gender narratives, and to establish a brighter future for our daughters. This movement has traveled the globe, and we have inspiring women to thank for improved gender equality around the world. With that said, it’s clear we need to make some changes here at home. Are you wondering how to empower women so that you can help move us toward a better future? We’ve come up with 15 ways to empower women in your community and around the world. 1. Boost her self-esteem. Empowered women go on to empower others—so encourage the women around you, and make them feel special and strong. Encourage your friends to speak up and make sure they know the value of their opinions, so that they’re never scared to use their voice. Do you have a daughter? Celebrate her self-expression from a young age. There’s no “right way” for girls to dress. Whether she loves to dress up in full princess attire, or she likes to keep a stylishly low profile in some 2. Shut down negativity. Women are constantly exposed to negativity as they’re often held to unrealistic standards of beauty displayed in magazines, on TV, and more recently on social media. While our near-constant presence on the web has created a culture where women and men can more easily express themselves, negativity online has become a...

This year’s International Women’s Day, on March 8,provides the perfect opportunity for companies to reflect on how they can further empower their female employees and determine what more they can do to improve the world of women in the workplace. As a female founder and CEO, I know firsthand the struggles that come with being the lone female in the room. Mentor and support other women. I have always made mentorship a priority and tried to pay it forward for all the women who have supported me along my career journey. Whether it be the newest intern, employee or even my own daughter, it is critical to create a space of trust, honesty and support. Providing advice and mentorship to younger female co-workers can be a catalyst to their personal and professional development. Implement fair and inclusive policies. It’s important for organizations to walk the walk. Make sure your organization has a standard where all—regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation—receive the same treatment. Also, take steps to ensure female and maternal health are recognized and accounted for, pay men and women employees equally and fairly, and hold female employees’ opinions with the same regard as you would for their male counterparts. Promote an environment of safe and open communication. As a leader, it’s important that your employees feel comfortable talking to you openly and honestly about their experiences. Feedback in any capacity can help you grow as a leader and enable your company to...

Since its creation 70 years ago, the UN has achieved important results in advancing gender equality, from the establishment of the Commission on the Status of Women - the main global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women - through the adoption of various landmark agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. On the occasion of the General Debate of the 66th Session of the General Assembly held in September 2011, United Nations Secretary-General BAN KI-MOON highlighted in his Report “We the Peoples”, the crucial role of gender equality as driver of development progress, recognizing that the potential of women had not been fully realized, owing to, inter alia, persistent social, economic and political inequalities. Gender inequalities are still deep-rooted in every society. Women suffer from lack of access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. In many situations, they are denied access to basic education and health care and are victims of violence and discrimination. They are under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes. With the aim of better addressing these challenges and to identify a single recognized driver to lead and coordinate UN activities on gender equality issues, UN Women was established in 2010. UN Women works for the elim...

Women can face headwinds. Here's how to support and empower them. getty During women’s month, many people want to know how to support women—in their careers, in their work and in their lives. It’s a great question to ask, and not just during women’s month. Because women need and deserve support, empowerment and community always. Manage Yourself One of the first ways to help women is to manage your own biases. Listen to your own inner dialogue and push back on yourself when you hear prejudice. Also manage your own language and expression. Linguistic determinism suggests the way people express themselves has significant influence on thinking, behavior and choices. So pay attention to what you’re saying (and doing) and ensure you’re reinforcing equity and fairness toward women in all things. Tune In With so much coming at people today, overwhelm is typical. Therefore, attention is one of the most scarce resources. Focus and tune into the women around you. Pay attention to how they’re showing up, how they’re feeling and how they’re behaving. Seek to expand your understanding of women’s challenges, struggles, successes, triumphs and needs. Ask questions and take cues about how much a woman wants to share, taking her lead. Tune in and listen, getting free of distractions, and fostering conversations with true sharing. Validate a woman’s experiences and remind her she isn’t alone. Pave the Way Another set of ways to empower and support women is by influencing policy or by creatin...

Our mission is to empower women with tools to work their way out of poverty, care for their families, and strengthen their communities. We envision a world without poverty in which women are empowered, uplifted, and equal partners in society. We fund economic empowerment programs, including microfinance programs, small business development support, training, education, and other holistic poverty alleviation strategies, benefitting thousands of women experiencing poverty around the world.