Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay. The majority of internet users have some form of a social media account and people are spending more time digitally connected. With National Women’s History month coming to an end, let’s extend the conversation on gender equality beyond March and see how social media can grow the conversation.
So, let’s be honest, how many times a day do you check your Facebook and Twitter, watch a funny clip on YouTube, or Like a photo on Instagram? Personally, I can’t even begin to quantify the endless hours I’ve spent doing all three on a daily basis over the past several years. This bizarre dependence on social media often leaves me conflicted between wanting to go off-grid and staying on due to my geographically diverse network and the social fear of feeling left out. I need a better reason to justify the amount of time I’m online.
Enter gender equality.
Why not take advantage of Facebook’s immense network and discover some great movements and campaigns focused around gender equality? Organizations like Lean In share inspiring photos, videos, and articles to keep conversations and opinions active. Following these pages is one simple solution for anyone who would like to view stimulating, empowering content among the barrage of media clutter.
To get you started, these organizations are tackling issues of gender equality – ranging from the workplace to home – in hopes of getting you involved.
- Lean In: Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, created this community to encourage women to pursue their career goals and how to overcome gender barriers in the workplace. Their ultimate goal is to inspire women to lean in to leadership opportunities to equalize the huge imbalance within power positions.
- How to get connected: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
- How they keep you involved: Features Lean In Circles, which are small groups that meet monthly in a supportive atmosphere while keeping members up-to-date and connected
- Food for thought: “A truly equal world would be one where women ran half our countries and companies and men ran half our homes.” – Sandberg
- Bonus: Read Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead is Sandberg’s book that inspired the cause
- HeForShe: UN Women launched this global campaign last year with the idea that gender equality is not a women’s issue, but a human rights issue and encourages men to join.
- How to get connected: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
- How they keep you involved: provides an “Action Kit” that suggests several ways people can participate to support and spread awareness
- Food for thought: “How can we effect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?” - Watson
- Bonus: Watch UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson deliver a speech about HeForShe
Not There: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Clinton Foundation started this movement under the principle that gender equality is simply not there yet. It touches upon issues from child marriage to the wage gap between men and women in the workplace.
How to get connected: Main website, Twitter
How they keep you involved: Tweets a suggested action everyday to support the cause
Food for thought: “A women with a voice is by definition a strong women. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” – Melinda Gates
Bonus: Watch Amy Poehler, Sienna Miller, and others elaborate what it means to that gender equality is not be there yet equality.
These are only three campaigns committed to tackling different issues about gender equality. It’s up to you to choose which one resonates and make a move. Just because National Women’s History month is over doesn’t mean we should let it slip from our daily dialogues. Let’s keep the conversation going.