Top 10
International Women’s Day
Power up! March 8 is International Women’s Day! To celebrate the day—and Women’s History Month, too—we’ve put together a Top 10 list of things to know…
1. The Origins
While International Women’s Day was founded in 1911—and didn’t really kick into high gear as a cultural phenomenon until its centennial in 2011—the roots of the movement actually date back to 1908. That’s when roughly 15,000 women took to the streets of New York City to demand shorter hours, better pay, and the right to vote.
While International Women’s Day was founded in 1911—and didn’t really kick into high gear as a cultural phenomenon until its centennial in 2011—the roots of the movement actually date back to 1908. That’s when roughly 15,000 women took to the streets of New York City to demand shorter hours, better pay, and the right to vote.
2. The Book
If there’s one book to read on this day, it’s this: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adapted from her 2012 Ted Talk of the same name, this gem of a book redefines feminism for the 21st Century. “The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are,” she writes. "Imagine how much happier we would be, how much freer to be our truer individual selves, if we didn’t have a weight of gender expectations."
If there’s one book to read on this day, it’s this: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Adapted from her 2012 Ted Talk of the same name, this gem of a book redefines feminism for the 21st Century. “The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be rather than recognizing how we are,” she writes. "Imagine how much happier we would be, how much freer to be our truer individual selves, if we didn’t have a weight of gender expectations."
3. The Colors
The symbolic color of the day? Purple, while the combination of purple, green and white is oft-used to represent gender equality.
The symbolic color of the day? Purple, while the combination of purple, green and white is oft-used to represent gender equality.
4. The To-Do
With the elections coming up—and in honor of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage—we’re joining INTERMIX and Rock the Vote in their #VoteforConfidence campaign. Whether you skew blue or red, 2020 is the year to make yourself heard.
With the elections coming up—and in honor of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage—we’re joining INTERMIX and Rock the Vote in their #VoteforConfidence campaign. Whether you skew blue or red, 2020 is the year to make yourself heard.
Starting Friday, 3/5, text the word INTERMIX to 788-683, go to intermixonline.com, or visit any of their 32 boutiques to register to vote. And if you’re in New York, stop by the store’s Soho outpost at 98 Prince Street on Saturday, the 7th—there will be a special voting booth where not only will you get to register, you’ll also be able to send a personal note and vote of confidence to the women who inspire you, whether Serena Williams, Malala Yousafzai or someone closer to home. Go ahead and make a statement—with your voice, with your passion and with your vote.
5. The Quote
There’s no shortage of motivational bon mots for this day, but here is one we have always been partial to, by none other than Maya Angelou: “I am a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.” (Read the complete poem here.)
There’s no shortage of motivational bon mots for this day, but here is one we have always been partial to, by none other than Maya Angelou: “I am a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.” (Read the complete poem here.)
6. The Song
Earlier this year, Alicia Keys dropped a new single, “Underdog”—we dare you to listen to it and not be moved. The song is about finding your voice and overcoming the struggles and insecurities to defy the odds. “Some people may think of the word ‘underdog’ as a negative word, but I see it as a powerful word representing people who may be underestimated and yet still rise to the challenge and exceed expectations,” explained Keys. “One of my favorite lyrics in the song is, ‘They say I would never make it, but I was built to break the mold.’ I don’t think there’s a person on the planet who hasn’t felt that way.”
Earlier this year, Alicia Keys dropped a new single, “Underdog”—we dare you to listen to it and not be moved. The song is about finding your voice and overcoming the struggles and insecurities to defy the odds. “Some people may think of the word ‘underdog’ as a negative word, but I see it as a powerful word representing people who may be underestimated and yet still rise to the challenge and exceed expectations,” explained Keys. “One of my favorite lyrics in the song is, ‘They say I would never make it, but I was built to break the mold.’ I don’t think there’s a person on the planet who hasn’t felt that way.”
7. The Ted Talk
We’ve already namechecked one of our favorite Ted Talks above—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists. But here’s another: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain. It’s a must-view for anyone who’s an introvert living in an extrovert world. “Groups famously follow the opinions of the most dominant or charismatic person in the room,” Cain says, “even though there’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas—I mean zero.”
We’ve already namechecked one of our favorite Ted Talks above—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists. But here’s another: The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain. It’s a must-view for anyone who’s an introvert living in an extrovert world. “Groups famously follow the opinions of the most dominant or charismatic person in the room,” Cain says, “even though there’s zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas—I mean zero.”
8. The Podcast
Last year, Harper’s Bazaar teamed up with actress and director Olivia Wilde for its first-ever podcast, Dare I Say, which covers a whole host of topics facing women today, with guests including Jane Fonda, Laverne Cox and Candice Huffine. The logline says it all: “Imagine if you could overhear intimate, unfiltered conversations between the world’s most influential women...” Binge the entirety of season one while we wait for season two to drop.
Last year, Harper’s Bazaar teamed up with actress and director Olivia Wilde for its first-ever podcast, Dare I Say, which covers a whole host of topics facing women today, with guests including Jane Fonda, Laverne Cox and Candice Huffine. The logline says it all: “Imagine if you could overhear intimate, unfiltered conversations between the world’s most influential women...” Binge the entirety of season one while we wait for season two to drop.
Untitled, 2011, by Carmen Herrera (Lisson Gallery, London and New York; Gift of BAM Trustee)
9. The Artist
There are countless inspiring women in the creative arts—check out this list we previously compiled. But this year, we want to spotlight Carmen Herrera because she’s an enduring symbol of never giving up. The Cuban-American artist appeared on the scene at the same time as many other post-war abstract artists—Ellsworth Kelly; Frank Stella—but was largely ignored. “You can paint circles around the male artists that I have,” she recalls one art dealer telling her, “but I’m not going to give you a show because you’re a woman.” Well, Herrera got the last laugh. In the past few years she’s been the subject of numerous shows at illustrious galleries and museums worldwide: the Tate, MoMA, the Whitney, the Hirshhorn… And she is 104 years old and still paints every day. In other words, she persisted.
There are countless inspiring women in the creative arts—check out this list we previously compiled. But this year, we want to spotlight Carmen Herrera because she’s an enduring symbol of never giving up. The Cuban-American artist appeared on the scene at the same time as many other post-war abstract artists—Ellsworth Kelly; Frank Stella—but was largely ignored. “You can paint circles around the male artists that I have,” she recalls one art dealer telling her, “but I’m not going to give you a show because you’re a woman.” Well, Herrera got the last laugh. In the past few years she’s been the subject of numerous shows at illustrious galleries and museums worldwide: the Tate, MoMA, the Whitney, the Hirshhorn… And she is 104 years old and still paints every day. In other words, she persisted.
10. The Film
An all-American, all-female pro baseball league. A comedy that still tugs at the heartstrings. Enough smart and witty quips to rival a Preston Sturges movie (Google it). And an all-star, tobacco-chewing ensemble, including Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Ann Cusack, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna—Madonna!—who gamely dove head-first into first base and caught fly balls in her cap. We heart A League of Their Own.
An all-American, all-female pro baseball league. A comedy that still tugs at the heartstrings. Enough smart and witty quips to rival a Preston Sturges movie (Google it). And an all-star, tobacco-chewing ensemble, including Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Ann Cusack, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna—Madonna!—who gamely dove head-first into first base and caught fly balls in her cap. We heart A League of Their Own.
