International Women's Day (IWD) is an annual call to action designed to leave you feeling empowered and inspired. The celebratory day acknowledges the achievements of girls and women around the world and challenges people to join the global fight for gender equality.

But even as you're cheering the idea of IWD, you might not know how to personally make a difference.

  1.  Educate yourself.
    "Feminism was the most looked-up word in Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary in 2017, which tells us that we’re in a powerful moment," Smith said, "but there’s still a long road to full understanding of what feminism means and how we can work to achieve gender equality."
  2. Share the workload.
    Women perform at least two-and-a-half times more unpaid household and caregiving work than men, said Mlambo-Ngcuka. In countries around the world, that includes cooking, cleaning, fetching water and firewood, and tending to children and the elderly.  When women are solely or mostly responsible for unpaid domestic duties, it means they have less time to make a living.
  3. Figure out your role. 
    Thinking about how to achieve global gender equality can feel overwhelming, but you can start locally by better understanding the role you play in your own community.
  4. Volunteer. 
    Is there a local, national, or international organization whose mission and work on gender equality you admire? Now is the time to learn more about volunteering for that group. Look for opportunities that match your skill set, availability, and interest.
  5.  Donate. 
    If you have the financial resources to donate to a worthy cause, even a small contribution can make a big difference for many campaigns and nonprofits. GoFundMe has created a list of global fundraising efforts that support gender equality.
  6. Use your voice. 
    One of the most important things you can do is use your voice to spread awareness about the importance of gender equality.

Read the full article about international women's day by Rebecca Ruiz at Mashable.