By now, you probably know that the strike called "A Day Without A Woman" is coming up on March 8, which is the exact same day as International Women's Day. Whether you're planning to participate in the women's strike or volunteer in the community that day, a great way to voice your support is to change your Facebook profile picture for International Women's Day.
Since the late 1980s, International Women's Day has been a global opportunity for people everywhere to highlight the contributions that women have made to the world since... well, the beginning of time, as well as to remind the world of the importance of gender equality and egalitarianism as a whole for our society. And like I mentioned, this year's event is especially significant given that thousands of women are expected to go on strike to protest President Donald Trump's presidency and administration, which has pushed for policies that are sexist and harmful toward both men and women (like the global gag rule, which prohibits international abortion clinics and other organizations from receiving federal funding).
Now, every now and then, Facebook will provide themed frames for holidays or special occasions, such as the Harry Potter-themed picture frame that was released earlier in January (for future reference, those Facebook picture frames can be found here). Another one that's currently available is Stand Up To Cancer for advocates who have joined the fight against the disease. Facebook frames and themed pictures are a great way to show your support for a cause and spread awareness about it — and International Women's Day is no exception. As of right now, there aren't any Facebook frames created specifically for the event (fingers crossed). So what should you do? Be creative. Change your Facebook profile picture yourself!
Here are eight ideas for what to use as a profile picture to honor International Women's Day:
1Post A Picture Of A Women's March Sign
Did you attend the Women's March in Washington, D.C. or a different city? Did you or someone else take photos of you holding up a pro-choice sign? One of those will do perfectly for your new Facebook profile picture. Or if you didn't attend, make one at home and take a picture today or tomorrow, just in time for the event. Nothing will make your personal support for International Women's Day more obvious than a sign that says it all.
2Use A Picture Of Yourself Decked Out In Pro-Women's Decor
It can be something as simple as painting "Nasty Woman" on your face, wearing a white pantsuit, or wearing pink pussy hats (or all three!). Think outside the box, or not. It's up to you!
3Use A Public Domain Photo Of The Women's March
A-hem. Just a friendly reminder that 3.3 million people participated in the Women's March across the United States back in January, with a third of them in Washington, D.C. (And that's not counting the people abroad.)
4Make A Word Cloud Filled With Feminist Phrases
If you're a lover of words, consider making a word cloud packed with feminist phrases, quotes from your favorite woman authors, you name it. There are tons of word cloud makers online like Wordle that will allow you to customize the color palette, the font size, and the font type. You can copy and paste quotes or other sentences, or type text in manually. I made this one using wordclouds.com in, oh, three minutes.
5Feature A Picture Of A Woman Superhero
When we think of the superhero world, male superheroes like Batman and the Flash are those that often come to mind. But what about Wonder Woman, Kamala Khan, Zatanna, or the many other underrated woman superheroes? It's the perfect image for International Women's Day to symbolize the strength that all women embody.
6Create A Photo Collage Of The Badass Women In Your Life
If you can't seem to choose between photos of your mom and grandmother, why not take all the pictures of your favorite women (or the women who inspire you the most in life) and create a photo collage? Use an online tool like PiZap or mobile application like Instagram's Layout to make a quick and easy photo collage in seconds.
7Use A Public Domain Image Of A Woman Activist From History
There are endless choices to pick from here: Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, Harriet Tubman, and Eleanor Roosevelt are all important figures in U.S. history. And, of course, let's also not forget the women who are so often overlooked in history books today (like Murasaki Shikibu, who was probably the world's first female novelist). And if you want to feature a woman from the present, Michelle Obama or Beyonce is always a great choice.
For public images, try Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, or Pixabay. You're welcome.
8Highlight This Year's Theme In A Hashtag
ICYMI, this year's theme for International Women's Day is #BeBoldForChange. It may only be a few words long, but these four words represent the urgency with which we should take action ourselves rather than wait for men and women to be treated equally over time.
Try putting that hashtag on an image of yourself or even just a patterned or blank background. Ultimately, do what you think will be powerful and have the most impact.
Not sure how you're going to spend International Women's Day yet? Changing your Facebook profile picture is an easy and impactful start.
