Let’s make every month Women’s Month and do our best to support and lift up the amazing women around us

In the words of stellar tennis player Serena Williams: ‘Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on’. It doesn’t just need to be during Women’s Month that we add fuel to our fellow women’s fire. Supporting and lifting each other can be as small as giving a tampon or lending your lipstick. Here are seven simple ways to support the women in your life:

1.  Show Up
Whether it’s sending a daily check-in text, being a shoulder to cry on, calling your mother, supporting a female-owned business or just being open and welcoming to a stranger – be an advocate. If you hear a woman sobbing in the bathroom stall next to yours, give her a tissue or ask her if she’d like to talk to someone. Extend a very soft, fluffy, warm olive branch to any and every woman. 

2.  Create the Environment
We’re all familiar with that booming laughter of having a girls’ night, or meeting up for lunch once in a while. There’s nothing more gratifying than watching other women thrive in an environment where they feel they can be themselves. It can be a simple trip with pals, inviting a friend over after a stressful week, or hosting a little workshop for young women and creating a platform for them to be heard and seen by supportive people. 

3.  Be Honest and Collaborate

Let the women in your life know that not everything is roses and caramel; there are thorns and liquorice too. We can sometimes feel jealous of other women because of what we don’t know about them. But in having conversations with each other, we can find shared experiences and a common understanding. We should want each other to succeed, not be torn down. There is enough of that in the world as it is. 

4.  Give Meaningful Reminders
‘You’re so pretty’, ‘your hair is beautiful’, ‘I love your nails!’ are all great compliments, but we’re used to our external qualities being commented on. Instead, opt for affirmations such as: ‘You are kind’, ‘you are approachable’ or ‘I appreciate your willingness to help’. These show that you are proud of another woman’s worth more than physical traits. Show them that you see their inner self, too! 

5.  Introduce Each Other and Network
I recently went out to my girl friend’s birthday dinner. I knew nobody else, other than one woman who I’d met at university once or twice. We sat opposite each other and spoke the entire night, even joking about how much we ‘clicked’. This shows that you never know how two people, who haven’t met, might find some comfort and support in each other once they do. Network and introduce women to one another. The more circles of strong, supported women there are, the better!

6.  Shine the Spotlight
Let each other shine! If your sister loves painting, take her to the art workshop happening on the weekend. If your friend wants to be a writer, share with her some freelance writers’ advertisements. We are all part of this big, scarily competitive society – why not help each other be brave and confident instead of being insecure and jealous? Gatekeeping is not the culture women should be subjecting each other to.

7.  Cut Us All Some Slack
We all know how society still views women’s abilities and many of these views sadly come from women, too. If you’re too cheery, then you are pretentious. Too quiet, then you are rude. If you’re confident and clever, then you’re a show-off. Enough. Cut women some slack. We can’t always bring our A-game – we all make mistakes, life is tough. Forgive each other and be supportive, constructive and warm. The fact that we are born at a societal gender disadvantage is enough for us all to deal with. 

Words by Saadiqah Schroeder
Photography: Gallo/Alamyimages, Pexels