We’ve created 31 Actions for Gender Justice to raise awareness, spark conversations and take action that transforms gender and power relations, and the structures, norms and values that underpin them. Every day for the month of March we will highlight an action that advances gender equity and justice for International Women’s Day (IWD).
Action 19: Support each other
31 Actions for Gender Justice: Day 19
Demonstrate kindness and compassion. Support women and people of marginalized genders from all walks of life. Inspire and be inspired. Respect differences, experiences and perspectives.
Share messages of encouragement and show appreciation when you receive them. Stay connected with your loved ones and talk about ways to improve mental health during these challenging times.
Social isolation and loneliness during COVID-19 has led to an increase in gender-based violence, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups – Indigenous, Immigrant, Black, racialized women and people of marginalized genders.
Gender-based violence is not only happening at home, but also in public spaces, online, at work, at school by intimate partners, strangers spreading hate in the streets and online, co-workers abusing their power and condoning misogyny, and homo/bi/transphobic and racist perpetrators.
Many women and other people who are marginalized by their gender in domestic violence situations may not feel comfortable or ready to share their experiences, so they suffer in silence. Their friends and loved ones may not know what they are going through. Messages of kindness and compassion could reach the women who need to know that they are not alone, that you support each other, and that there’s always a way out.
A phone call, text, message on social media, letter can go a long way to show that you care.
You can also learn more about how you can support each other and download the How can I help my friend? PDF resource here.
