Everyday actions to be an everyday feminist

Being a feminist means joining a revolutionary movement that has and continues to transform the world we live in.

But the everyday doesn't need to be filled with protests, marches and political action for you to contribute to and further the movement. (Though I encourage you to do these too as much as you can).

There are everyday actions you can take to live your feminism, whatever your life circumstances.

Feminism can be used to inform your actions at work, in school, in your personal relationships, and in your hobbies.

Here are just some of the ways:

1) Champion women in your workplace

Give a colleague a professional compliment, encourage a colleague to apply for a promotion, mentor a young woman looking for a sense of direction, back a female colleague up when you feel they are being unfairly treated.

Mentoring boosts women's self esteem, gives them role models to aspire to and equips women with tools to navigate workplaces that become more male dominated the higher women climb. (Wonder why that is? ) 

Tools like how to deal with interruptions, how to challenge sexism and how to apply for promotions. 

This doesn't have to be just senior women mentoring younger, it can be senior men (encourage men you know to do this) and women of the same level so there are plenty to go around!

I have had numerous mentors over the years, some formal, some informal, some male, some female, all inspiring and helpful. Spread the love, champion a woman today!

2) Call out sexism, and other forms of prejudice at your work or wherever you see them.

Hear someone say something sexist, keep interrupting women or ignoring their contributions? Call it out!!! Hear someone say something racist, make a racist joke or repeat a stereotype about a certain group? Call it out!!

It can be the small things that create the environment in which prejudice grows – behaviours that go unchecked and unchallenged but make the workplace a place where women and minorities don’t thrive. The only way to make a change, to stop these small acts, is to call it out and challenge it.

Research by the CMI shows that 85% of women and 80% of men have witnessed gender discriminatory acts at work. These include actions such as interrupting women in meetings, describing female colleagues as “pushy” or “shrill”, and not putting women forward for promotion on the assumption that they will have children. 

These actions create a non-inclusive culture and prevent progress on the gender pay gap. So call people out! If you are worried about doing it alone, ask a friend or manager to back you up! 

3) Share your story and listen to others

The power of women telling their stories can change the conversation!

The power of storytelling brings an issue to life and enables people to identify with it in a way statistics can't.
A powerful story can be the thing that makes us realise #MeToo. 
Stories inspire, motivate and make us realise we are not alone!

Equally listen to other people's stories and there you will find solidarity and understanding.

Read books by women, watch films about women by women, follow a variety of people on social media, listen to those around you with different experiences.

4) Donate to women's charities.

Put your money where your mouth is!

There are a number of not-for-profit organisations doing their part to advance women around the world, and many rely solely on donations and volunteers to keep their work going. Committing to volunteering, or giving a financial contribution to charities fighting for women and their rights, can make a real impact.

Every bit you can contribute helps! If you can't afford to now, promise yourself that you will whenever you can.
I give 5% of my income to women's rights charities, and I recommend that everyone gives what they can.

5) Support female owned businesses

By deciding to support female business owners, you can use your spending power to help nurture a culture of confidence among female entrepreneurs.

The number of women setting up their own businesses has risen by 45% in the last decade, but men are still nearly twice as likely to be entrepreneurs, with 10.4% of men running their own business compared to just 5.5% of women. 

Women often lack confidence and the appropriate network and support to start a business. Encourage and support those around you to take that leap of faith.

Buying or recommending female businesses not only supports women, but it also creates a more diverse business environment with talent and choice that is better for the economy and jobs market. 

Vote for the world you want to see with your wallet! This is a principal that can be applied to minority-owned businesses and to avoid businesses whose ethics or practices you don't want to support. 

Having more female-owned enterprises also inspires more girls and women to consider entrepreneurship themselves. I was encouraged to set up Feminism In Print by my father and I am so happy I took that leap of faith! Check out my shop and buy female!

6) Read feminist books

Learn from the greats! Find solace, comfort and education through reading the works of influential female authors. Books have the power to inspire a movement, educate a lone reader, or grab just at the right moment and change your life. 

7) Wear whatever you want with no apologies

Society has always pressured women to dress in certain acceptable ways that fit a certain label: Employee, girly girl, mother. We are restricted every day by the expectations of femininity.

Subvert that and wear whatever you want!

Fashion is a personal way to express yourself, and the more we normalize our individual styles, the less acceptable judging women by the way they dress will be.

8) Learn to love yourself

Treating yourself kindly and giving yourself permission to make mistakes is a lifelong journey of self love. Negative talk has physical as well as mental consequences, like an increased risk of heart disease and depression.

Learn to not limit yourself and to appreciate your body and mind for what it does for you. Start by looking in the mirror and thinking about what you love about your body.

9) Embrace being and doing things alone

According to some research, in general, women express higher levels of loneliness than men.

But there is no reason to hate spending time by yourself. Solitude can improve concentration and productivity, help you solve problems more easily, recharge your brain, and better your relationships. In certain cases, it can help ease the symptoms of depression; and for introverts, alone time is often the key to happiness.

Don't define yourself by your relationships with other people. Learn who you are alone and embrace being able to do what you love without having to accommodate someone else's needs or wants.

Don't shy away from doing things by yourself  whether it's travelling alone or going for a dinner date with yourself. It will help you grow and develop into a strong, independent, and self-assured woman.

10) Take up more space

Because women are socialised to be agreeable, even at the expense of their own comfort or wants and needs, we're often hesitant to disagree or take up space with our desires.

Refuse to do that, advocate for yourself, put forward your opinions, disagree when you want to, demand to be listened to and respected.

When you stand up for yourself, you stand up for women everywhere.

 What do you do every day to express your feminism? Comment below!