When you think of leaders you admire, what are their qualities? Perhaps they fearlessly speak their minds, or inspire others by setting a powerful example.
The good news is that you can develop these skills on your own. And there’s no need to wait for a promotion at work to get started. Getting involved social change is a fantastic way to practice leadership skills.
How? When it comes to gender equality, we have a few ideas for how you can lead for change:
1. Know your stuff: Ever been in a situation where you didn’t voice your opinion because you were afraid you didn’t know enough about the issues? When it comes to gender equality, there’s plenty of evidence that we’re just not there yet. Check out our fact sheets on violence against women, sexual assault and harassment, poverty, the gender wage gap and girls in Canada to learn more about where we stand today. When you have the facts on your side, you’ll speak your mind with confidence.
2. Make your beliefs known and invite others to join you: It’s hard to put a belief or change into action unless you’re willing to commit to it. When you take the GEN1 pledge, for example, you’re expressing your belief that together we can build the first generation to achieve gender equality in Canada. You can then take the pledge one step further, sharing it via social media and encouraging friends and family to join.
3. Set an example by giving back: The leaders we admire aren’t just out for personal success – they are typically community-minded and want to use their power to help others. With that in mind,have you thought about what you can do on Giving Tuesday? Amid the consumer rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s a day to think about community and giving back through donations and volunteering. This year, consider signing up to be a GEN1 monthly donor or making a one-time gift to the Canadian Women’s Foundation! We’ll ensure these donations support grassroots organizations and change-makers in communities across Canada.
4. Be a more conscious consumer: We know. Shopping does not equal activism. But if you’re out buying gifts at this time of year anyway, choosing products that support a meaningful cause is one way to make a difference. And recipients feel great about getting these gifts, too! When you buy products from the limited edition Shop for GEN1 line at WINNERS and HomeSense stores, 100% of the net proceeds go to the Canadian Women’s Foundation. That money supports over 450 shelters and community programs across Canada that help break the cycle of violence.
5. Set a deadline for taking action: Rather than waiting for change to happen, leaders get involved in making it happen. Every year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence rallies people around the world to end violence against women and girls. The 16 Days start on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and ends on December 10, Human Rights Day, symbolically linking women’s right to live free of violence to human rights. We’ll be raising awareness about violence against women in Canada, how to support survivors and what we can all do to help end violence – for good – on social media and through our blog. We invite you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and help to spread the word!
We all have the ability to make positive change in our lives and communities, so let’s work together to build a more equal Canada!
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Take Action
- Ask a girl in your life what #GirlPowered message she'd like to send to girls around the world and share via www.girlpowered.ca!
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