You Go Girl: Celebrating International Women’s Day

Celebrating International Women’s Day

March 8th is International Women’s Day, which honors the work of the suffragettes and celebrates women’s achievements. Ironically, we working women do not have the day off. I guess we’ll just have to wait until after work to celebrate all our achievements. Even if the rest of the world doesn’t get it, Sammy Kershaw does – his song “Working Woman’s Holiday” is about how hard his wife works and how much she deserves some time off.

One of the most well-known icons of working women is Rosie the Riveter, made famous by the 1942 poster. Contrary to popular belief, the “We Can Do It!” poster was not associated with Rosie the Riveter until after the war. The poster was created by J. Howard Miller for the Westinghouse Company that was meant to keep up production by boosting morale – not to convince women to join the workforce. The art piece that did inspire women to join the work force was actually a song called “Rosie the Riveter” written by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb. The inspiration for the song is unclear – some sources suggest that it is Rosie Bonavitas, a Convair worker from San Diego, while others suggest the true muse is Rose Will Monroe, a riveter for the Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Michigan. Truthfully, Rosie the Riveter’s origins are less important than what she has become: a cultural icon representing women’s economic empowerment.

A more recent symbol of the working woman – and another great song to play on your commute – is “Independent Woman” by Destiny’s Child. It first premiered in Charlie’s Angels, a girl power film if there ever was one. It’s no wonder the song topped the charts in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand: it’s all about women being financially independent. I’ve chosen to highlight “Independent Woman” because it speaks to an issue that needs more attention. Being financially independent means more than just earning your own money – it also means being able to manage your money wisely. Part of this means knowing what all of your expenses are, where your money is, and how to access it. If you share a bank account, a mortgage, stocks, or property with a spouse, you should know the account number, the amount of the mortgage, which stocks, etc.

Since this blog focuses on creativity, I’d like to wrap up with some creative ideas for stretching a dollar – something the financially responsible woman is all about! Instead of splurging on edgy designer duds, buy some hardware from StudsandSpikes.com and update a pair of old jeans or high heels. Rather than spending money on hair ties that break, stretch out, or get lost, learn to put your hair up with a pencil – you’ll save money and always have a writing utensil handy. Finally, instead of hitting happy hour with the ladies to celebrate International Women’s Day, invent your own mixed drinks with friends at home and name your concoctions after the suffragettes (who’s up for a round of Elizabeth Cady Stantons?). While you’re at it, raise a glass to women all over the world, and let us know how you celebrated International Women’s Day in the comments!