Today (March 8) is International Women's Day, which is all about recognizing and celebrating the achievements and contributions of women to our society, our economy, and our everyday lives.

This year's theme is #ChooseToChallenge, which asks us all to call out biases, stereotypes, and inequality as we stand in solidarity with women around the world.

You're invited to participate in the challenge on social media, but if that's not quite your thing, there are some simple things we can do to show our appreciation for women on this day.

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Here are five easy ways to recognize International Women's Day.


Praise the Accomplishments of the Women in Your Life

Chances are you know a woman who worked hard to earn their degree, strive in their career, or build a comfortable life for themselves while balancing a mountain of responsibilities.

Women face unique challenges in academia and the workplace. Simply complimenting a female co-worker's latest achievement or dedication to their profession today would be a kind and encouraging gesture.

Talk to Your Daughters

Women today have so many opportunities our mothers and grandmothers didn't, but there's still a great deal of work to be done to ensure that women can reach their full potential.

One of the most important things a parent can do for their daughter is instill in her the confidence and courage to challenge biases and stereotypes in pursuit of her goals.

Young women are bombarded daily with images and messages about who and what they should be. Make sure you're taking the time to tell them all about who and what they can be as they forge their own path.

Do Some Googling and Share What You Find

This is actually the item that made me want to write this article in the first place. Saturday, March 6 marked the anniversary of the final battle at the Alamo. Growing up in Texas, we were all taught about the brave men who gave their lives at the Alamo, but how many of us were told much of anything about the women who were there?

I was curious, so I Googled "women at the Alamo" and found some great articles about recent scholarly interest in the women who were present for the siege that galvanized the people of Texas. This article in particular would be an interesting one to share with your family and friends today.

Google "women scientists" with your daughter who can't get enough of science or "women entrepreneurs" with a girl who's always coming up with ideas for fundraising and making a little extra money. Take some time to explore the women and topics that come up and have some discussions about the challenges these women faced and the amazing accomplishments they achieved.

Remind the Women In Your Life That You've Got Their Back

All of us need someone in our corner, whether we're about to take on new challenges in life or we're currently working through some.

With the pandemic dragging on and women in the workplace being especially hard-hit, it's extremely important that we let the women in our lives know that we're here for them.

Today is a fantastic opportunity to praise the accomplishments and work of the women around you and offer your support and encouragement.

Call Your Mother

I'm very close to my mom and always have been, so I'm constantly reminding people to call their mother and show her some love.

My mom raised me on her own and was often working multiple jobs while doing it, and I know my work ethic and desire to do right by my coworkers comes from her.

Moms today are expected to balance being professionals with being pretty much everything else to their children, so we should take every opportunity to thank them for it.

But it's not just moms we should celebrate today. Talk to your daughter who recently started a new job or the old friend who you haven't spoken with in a while because she's always working. Call your wife, your sister, your niece, or your grandma and just let them know you're proud of them and blessed to have them in your life.


 

All of us know and love accomplished, hardworking women, and while we should be celebrating them every day, today is a reminder to anyone who hasn't checked in for a while.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

CHECK IT OUT: The best county to live in for each state

 

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