Talk to Children About Women’s Day

Every year, on March 8^th, more than 100 countries celebrate International Women’s Day. The tradition started in the United States, in 1909, and marked the one year anniversary of the 1908 New York women’s strike. The strike was led by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU) and this was one of the largest labor unions in the United States. It was also one of the first U.S. unions to have a primarily female membership.

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Today, International Women’s Day recognizes and honors women’s achievements in science, arts, politics, literature, etc. The United Nation’s theme for 2017 is Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030. TheUN Secretary -General, Antonio Guterres, also encourages everyone to “pledge to do everything we can to overcome entrenched prejudice, support engagement and activism, and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.”

As firm believers in equal rights for men and women and in the role of education as a powerful tool for change, TheRoyalStore joins today’s celebration. Here is an activity idea on how talk to children, both young boys and girls, about the history of women’s rights and gender equality.

International Women’s Day – Play the True or False Game

Gather a few stats or interesting facts about the theme and share them with the group. We recommend Royal Brites® White Matte Business Cards to print or write down the facts and give them out to participants. Ask each participant to pick up a card and read the text out loud. Then ask the group if they think the statement is true or false. Also, to make it more fun, take a few sheets of Royal Brites® White Matte Business Cards, cut each one in 2 and print FALSE and TRUE on each side of the two halves. Give them out to the group to use as they play the game.

To help you with the research here are a few interesting statements to start with:

• Women were not allowed to compete in track and field events at the Olympics until 1928
• Marie Curie is the only woman to ever win two Nobel Prizes
• American women cast their first ballots in the presidential elections of 1920
• In Saudi Arabia, women voted for the first time in 2016
• Women with full-time jobs still earn only about 77 percent of their male counterparts’ earnings. Talk about how much you earn, and report inequality.

Go to the United Nations website to download and print some useful information.Then include four images on a blank sheet of Royal Brites® White Poster Board and print, cut and use them as part of the game.

As you play the game, make sure you stop and discuss each issue with the group. Then ask them to share their opinion, thoughts and ideas around how they think gender inequality can become a thing of the past.

Happy International Women’s Day!