What does empowering women actually look like in day-to-day lifeespecially for fellow women?
Women are also twice as likely as men to bediagnosed with depression.
Clearly there’s still a long way to go.
We gather and sustain one another by nature.
That includes everything from work to motherhood to emotional well-being and beyond.
Here are 30 concrete ways women can empower other womenand thus themselves:
1.
Validate women’s self-expression.
Women’s narratives are vastly underrepresented in the media and popular culture.
Compliment her mind and soulnot just her body.
Women already get a lot of commentary about the way they look.
If you’re looking to compliment a woman, Brighten suggests describing her insides rather than her outsides.
Pay forward the unexpected compliments."
Check your assumptions at work.
Unconscious biases oftentimes lead to systemic discrimination.
Offer support to all women, including the “strong” ones.
“We all have that one friend who appears to have it all together,” Naima adds.
“They are thriving in their personal and professional life from what we can see.
We cannot help but wrongfully assume there is nothing difficult going on underneath the surface.”
Don’t make assumptions about which one of your woman friends most needs help and support, Naima says.
‘How are you?’
can come off as a superficial question, but asking ‘How is your mental and emotional health?’
cuts through superficiality."
Schedule alone time on your calendar so you have the opportunity to reinvigorate your mind and body.
Always be ready to signal-boost other women.
Leadership teams, conference lineups, speaking roles, and media sourcing all overwhelminglyprioritize men and male voices.
“Always, always, always have a list of names at the ready to recommend and signal-boost.”
“Sometimes empowering yourself means stepping back and allowing someone else into the spotlight,” Jawed-Wassel adds.
Bolster whisper networks that benefit women.
“Share your experiences in safe, trusted networks of other women and femmes,” she says.
“Did you negotiate a strong maternity leave package?
Tell others about how you made that happen and who championed you.
Did a superior say or do something inappropriate?
Heading up a search committee for new hires in your department?
Go out of your way to extend support for the women candidates being considered, Jawed-Wessel says.
Talk about your periods.
People with vaginas severely lack information about their bodies because of puritanical fear of female sexuality and desire.
“Talk to your friend about your period and ask her about hers,” she tells mbg.
Likewise, always acknowledge that not all women menstruate, and not all people who menstruate are women.
Invest in women-run businesses.
“Many female entrepreneurs lack adequate support in the form of funding or sweat equity,” she says.
“Invest your time and/or money in competent, capable women who are making an impact.”
So let’s not do it to one another.
‘I hear you, and that makes sense.
And I know it’s not necessarily easy to have these conversations.
My perspective is…'”
12. ensure she knows she doesn’t need a reason.
“She has permission to make the choices she wants, without justification.
Bring women into the conversation.
Men do75 percent of the talkingat business meetings, research shows.
With this in mind, Hallett suggests actively asking women colleagues for feedback during meetings.
Directly thank women for their gestures, however small.
Being ‘seen’ is very empowering.
Or better yetdo it yourself so she doesn’t have to.
Talk about sex openly.
“Create nonjudgmental spaces to talk about sexuality and desire,” she recommends.
Encourage each other to accept sincere compliments.
Overtly subvert gender norms around children.
Gender socialization starts at birth.
),” she tells mbg.
“If you notice these phrases around them, acknowledge it and say something different.
Always encourage girls to be bold and brave, from their very earliest moments.”
Say you’re a feminist.
Ditch the qualifiers and the hesitation when it comes to using the F-word.
“Say you are feminist, even if it’s uncomfortable.
A feminist is just someone who believes in equal rights for all,” Wegner says.
Prioritize women of color, trans women, disabled women, and all the most disenfranchised among us.
Do not get competitive with other women.
“Stop competing with each other in the ‘race to the bottom,'” Neo adds.
“There are groups who get off on who is doing more and/or suffering more.
There is overt shaming (‘Used an epidural?
You bad mother!’
or ‘Not a stay-at-home mom?
You are hurting your child’s development!')
without understanding the individual’s circumstances and choices.
Dimming someone else’s light does not make yours shine brighter.”
Support mothers dealing with rowdy kids in public.
“Wink and smile at a momma whose kid is having a meltdown in public.
Call attention to other women’s suffering, even when you’re not among them.
“Embraceallwomen’s suffering as your own,” Dr. Romm says.
“Often they forget, and often you don’t feel appreciated.
When you show your appreciation to those around you, they will reciprocate their feelings.”
Go out of your way to make women feel good.
Listenwomen are under some pretty heavy pressure to adhere to totally impossible standards of beauty and behavior.
Whenever possible, give a shot to remind them that they’re doing a pretty damn good job.
Often with the words, ‘You made my day!'”
Speak up about gender issues whenever possible.
I also offered to support initiatives moving forward for women, because I genuinely cared," Imam says.
It was pivotal in many of the women’s careers, including mine.
Support women’s work.
“When a friend wrote a book, I bought it.
When another started a podcast, I shared it on my social media feed and continue to do that.
When I find a woman doing something great, I confirm I share her message online and offline.”
Help women take time for themselves.
This is a great way to be in service, as vessels, to the ones we love."
When women support you, return the favor.
Don’t let the other women you care about carry the friendship all alone.
Show up, pitch in, and mean it.
That’s empowering."
