With
Hillary Clinton running for the presidency and the potential for a
record-breaking fourth female Supreme Court justice to be appointed
to the nation’s highest court, feminism is front and center in
today’s news. Though women may disagree about the direction
feminism should take next and which policies are best suited to pin
an election on, most of us can agree that supporting feminist causes
is vitally important.
Women
supporting other women by financing feminist causes is happening all
around us — just look at Taylor
Swift’s contribution to Kesha’s court costs
for inspiration about the intersection of girl power and cold, hard
cash.
You
don’t have to have Taylor Swift’s mega-millions to make a
difference, though. There are many great feminist causes to support
that can make a huge difference in the lives of women. Here are four
of the best ones to consider:
1.
Women’s Health
Medicine
has taken a long time to catch on to the notion that women’s bodies
aren’t just inferior male bodies, and that means there’s still a
lack of research into and funding for women’s health issues. Giving
to women’s health causes provides crucial cash, but it also raises
awareness about the inequities that still exist.
Breast
cancer research and awareness foundations are the obvious example of
charities that have done incredible things to raise awareness and
reduce stigma for a women’s health issue, but there are a lot of
other causes to consider. The Black
Women’s Health Imperative
and the Society
for Women’s Health Research
work to fund scientists and erase inequities. The Women’s
Health Alliance
does similar work in the United Kingdom.
However, while women are on
the forefront of many of these health issues, several other groups
are fighting simultaneously for the same kinds of dignity. As many as
700,000 people, or 0.3% of the population, identify as transgender
and experience many of the same health concerns: menstruation, breast
cancer and more. Any conversation about women’s health needs to
take into account the individuals with a more fluid gender identity.
2.
Domestic Violence
According
to the Center for Disease Control
(CDC), 20 Americans are victims of domestic violence every
minute. The
vast majority of these victims are women, and they often can’t
escape their abusers without serious financial and emotional support.
Consider
raising money for a local
women’s shelter
or donating needed items like toiletries and feminine hygiene
products. These shelters do incredible work but are chronically
underfunded, and your donations can make an impact on women in your
own community who need help. Womankind’s
empowerment and anti-violence outreach also helps women around the
world escape abusive situations and take control of their own lives.
3.
Empowering Girls
Do
young girls in your community have opportunities to explore math and
science? Are they sitting on the sidelines while the boys enjoy youth
sports leagues?
If
you see a gap you can fill with your own skills, you can start your
own community project by teaching an after-school course or running a
club. You can also donate to national groups like the ōGirl
Scouts of America
or local clubs that teach girls valuable skills. For more global
outreach, consider donating to CARE
International’s
educational programs.
4.
Women in Leadership
To
fully address gender inequities, the world needs more women in
leadership positions. You can directly support female candidates for
public office by donating to political campaigns, or you can focus on
workplace discrimination issues in the private sector. The National
Partnership for Women and Families
has worked to enact anti-discrimination laws and lobbies for
family-friendly workplace policies with a great track record of
success.
Once
you’ve chosen a cause you care about, it’s time to raise the
money. The more people you involve, the greater your impact will be,
so consider organizing a community event to raise money. Here are
just a few great ideas:
- Organize a “-thon” around a popular local activity.
- Set up an online fundraising campaign and go viral (at least among your own social media contacts).
- Get help from local schools to raise awareness and get youth involved.
- Organize eager volunteers to donate time as well as money.
To
learn more about fundraising techniques and skills, check out
FirstGiving’s
fundraising resource library
for helpful webinars and online guides to getting your first big
fundraiser off the ground. No matter what you choose to do, your work
is sure to make a difference in the lives of many women — and that
is something you can definitely feel good about.
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