Mar 8, 2019

Women's Rights are Human Rights

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights." -Gloria Steinem

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day, observed each year on March 8th, is a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is celebrated worldwide and boasts a different theme every year. Represented by the hashtag #BalanceforBetter, the initiative this year is aimed at gender equality, a greater awareness of discrimination and a celebration of women’s achievements.

Why We Celebrate

Everyone celebrates for reasons that may be personal to them. For us at M.S Skincare, every year, we bring special attention to Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day because it holds a very special place in our hearts. M.S Skincare is a female founded company run by feminist and entrepreneur Anit Hora. Our office boasts a staff of like-minded, independent and powerful women who understand the power that their actions hold. Being a female entrepreneur poses it’s challenges, but Anit knows her steps today can leave a positive impact on future generations of female leaders.

The Divine Goddess in Ayurveda

International Women’s Day reminds us of Prakriti, the goddess of Mother Nature. Derived from the Sanskrit pra, meaning “beginning” and kriti, meaning “creation,” is a key concept of Hinduism that refers to a primal creative or natural force. Prakriti is the feminine aspect of existence and is symbolized by a woman.

Prakriti is expressed through the three gunas: sattva (truth, reality), rajas (passion, action, change, regeneration), and tamas (darkness, stupor). When Prakriti is awakened, one can achieve balance and connect with the primal power to reach a more natural and empowered state of being.

How You Can Celebrate

Celebrations can be found worldwide. No matter if you live in a large city or a rural area, you should be able to find a celebration near you. Make sure to check your local area for any International Women’s Day events near you.

If events aren’t quite your style, there are plenty of other ways to participate in International Women’s Day. There are charities you can donate to online, whether it is a small or large contribution, anything helps! Utilize your spending power as a means to vote for companies who treat their employees ethically and equally, support social causes and who stand for something more than profits. Support women-owned and minority-owned businesses. And most importantly, support other women! I was shocked when I discovered how many points in our history that women stood alongside men in the oppression of other women and enforcing traditional gender roles. International Women’s Day isn’t a day where we all agree on the same political or social terms, but it is a day in which we should uplift one another and respect the contributions that women are making in this world.