20 Women's History Month Activities for Work

Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the incredible achievements and recognize the important contributions women have made throughout history. Held in March, Women's History Month is the perfect time to acknowledge the lives of historical women and how they have helped shape our world. Also, to acknowledge the inequality of women today and to continue the fight for gender equality.

Workplaces around the world honor this month, and its importance, with special activities. Whether you're looking for an office-wide event or an activity for your team, there are plenty of ways to get involved in Women's History Month.

If instead you are looking for information on other HR holiday, see:

40 Earth Day Activities for Work

25 Black History Month Ideas for Work

Background information on Women's History Month

Women's History Week which started in California in 1979 was the beginning of this incredible movement. Recognition quickly grew around the country after Congress officially acknowledged this week with a resolution in 1981. Institutions nationwide began organizing special events to further honor and celebrate women for their many contributions.

Congress recognized the month-long celebration in 1987 and the United Nations declared March 8th as International Women's Day (IWD). International Women's Day is a worldwide holiday that commemorates the women's rights movement and brings awareness to various issues like gender equality, reproductive freedom, equal pay for men and women alike, as well as violence against women. The United States, the United Kingdom, and India and among the nations that recognize this occasion.

Why is women's history month important?

Women's History Month is an important time to recognize and celebrate the incredible achievements of women throughout history. This includes famous women and important women such as Rosa Parks, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sally Ride, and so many others including those from the women's suffrage movement. It’s a reminder that great things can be achieved by people of all genders and demonstrates how far we have come in terms of gender equality.

It's also a chance to reflect on what still needs to be done to create a more equitable society and take action to address inequality given that it can seem disingenuous to celebrate historical figures when their own glaring inequities are steering them in the face. Whether it is through raising women in the community up or holding unconscious bias training, why not make women's history in your company this March?

20 National Women's History Month Ideas for Work

From engaging virtual discussions to team-building projects, here are ideas to inspire your team and celebrate women's history month at work.

Educate your team

Invite a keynote speaker to share their experiences as a woman in the workplace and make meaningful connections between today's world and women's progress over time. Alternatively, host discussions about the history of Women’s Rights and the gender equality movement.

Unconscious bias training

Roll out unconscious bias training for all employees to help challenge traditional gender roles and promote equitable working environments.

Support women-led businesses

For women's history month, Offer mentoring opportunities or educational programs for women-owned businesses or provide scholarships or grants to those looking to start their own businesses.

Volunteer

Organize volunteer opportunities with local charities that focus on empowering women and girls during women's history week this women's history month. Consider both local, national, and global charities, as many organizations around the world need our support.

Host a fundraiser

Organize a fundraiser for your company or team that benefits an organization supporting women and girls. Offer matching donations or give out charitable gift-cards to encourage your team to participate.

Recognize outstanding female leaders

Celebrate the hard work of female leaders from your team by recognizing their accomplishments with promotions, awards, or even a special celebration. Additionally, share inspiring stories of your successful female leaders to encourage more authentic conversations about gender equality in the workplace.

Offer flexible work hours

Introduce flexible work hours or remote work options to employees, allowing them to create a better balance between their professional life and families.

Establish a Network or an Employee Resource Group

Other Women's History Month activities include creating a network for female colleagues from different departments or backgrounds to connect, collaborate, and mentor each other. Sometimes referred to as an Employee Resource Group, these networks provide an opportunity to connect on issues relevant to women in the workplace as well as share advice and support one another.

Hold a career advancement event

Host a virtual panel of women in your organization, who can answer questions about their career paths and provide advice for other women.

Launch a mentorship program

Set up a mentorship program to ensure that women have access to the same career opportunities and resources as their colleagues. Provide female employees with access to experienced colleagues who can offer advice and guidance on career development.

Mentors could provide advice on topics such as navigating office politics, developing leadership skills, and career goals. They could also serve as a support system and encourage mentees to take risks and be confident in their abilities.

Share your gender diversity strategy

Develop a policy or action plan to promote gender equality and diversity within the workplace. Share it with your team and encourage them to get involved.

Release your diversity statistics or report

Share your company’s diversity statistics and gender parity goals to demonstrate your commitment to creating an equitable workplace.

Women's History Month is a powerful reminder of the progress we have made in terms of empowering women, but it also serves as a stark reminder of how much work still needs to be done to achieve equality.

Hold a Town Hall meeting

Hold an office-wide discussion on gender equality and women’s rights in the workplace. This should be led by a female leader in the organization and provide an opportunity for employees to openly share their experiences, ideas on how to create greater gender parity, and Women's History Month topics.

Encourage employees to learn about inspiring women

Offer resources such as TED talks, podcasts, and books that focus on the inspiring stories of famous women, and unsung local heroines, who have made strides in their field. Make sure to highlight different women across demographics that are related to your field and community or highlight your company's mission. Allow employees to take the time to learn about their lives and recognize these women's contributions. This is an easy way to celebrate the contributions women have made.

Evaluate your hiring practices

Take an honest look at your hiring practices and ensure that you are taking steps toward creating a diverse workplace. Consider introducing blind resume reviews or anonymous interviewing processes to eliminate any potential bias from creeping in. Target your recruitment efforts towards places where you are more likely to find diverse candidates.

Host a trivia competition

Organize a 'Women in History' trivia competition to answer questions about famous women throughout history. This might include leaders from science, art, education, women's suffrage movement, and other women's history month topics. This can be conducted through a messaging platform (like Slack or Microsoft teams) or during special online lunch or happy hour.

Virtual scavenger hunt

Create a virtual scavenger hunt that encourages employees to learn more about inspiring women in history. It could be as simple as viewing a website or watching an inspirational video or as active as researching a particular woman and completing a learning task.

Encourage open dialogue about gender dynamics in the workplace

Organize an informal discussion on the challenges that female employees face at work. This can be done virtually during Women's History Month, or held more regularly to create an open dialogue around diversity and inclusion issues. Employees should feel comfortable sharing their experiences and discussing potential solutions.

Celebrate female artists

Hold a virtual movie night featuring female-led films or films about women's history or a book club and discuss the work of important female authors of women's other history month books.

Host a virtual panel

Host a virtual panel of prominent women in your community to discuss the challenges they have faced and how they overcame them or invite an inspiring woman leader in your industry for a virtual Q&A session with your team.

Write a blog

Write a blog post or article talking about the importance of Women’s History Month to your workplace. Direct them to where they can find Women's History Month resources online. You could include details about the month’s history, how you are marking the occasion, and its relevance to current workplace dynamics. Share the word on social media.

By celebrating Women's History Month, you can create a more inclusive workplace that recognizes and appreciates the contributions of all genders. By recognizing the achievements of women throughout history, your team can become empowered to take on new challenges and lead with confidence.

We hope these activities will help you honor Women’s History Month in 2023!