5 Ways to Invest in Equal Representation

It is truly incomprehensible how human beings have been on this planet for thousands of years, yet only in the past century have women begun to have access to equal rights. Next up in the fight: equal representation! And that isn’t just in government, but also in the economy, education, work, etc. It’s 2021, and though women have come a long way, we still have some catching up to do. How can you play a role to help even out the playing field? We have 5 ways you can invest in equal representation! 

 

Invest your time

Not everyone has the money to invest in candidate campaigns or advocacy organizations that work to fight for representation, but investing your time can be equally if not more valuable! You can offer your time by volunteering for a local organization or helping out a friend with her business or campaign. It doesn’t have to be physical work; you can also invest your time by helping a woman out with relaxation and fun. If you know a woman in your life or community who is on the move nonstop, consider taking her out for a picnic or setting up a movie night. Lots of women try to tackle so many things by themselves, and if there isn’t any way you can support them in the work, help them take a break. 

 

Invest your talent

You never know when your talent could change the game for another woman. For example, if you’re a good writer and you know a woman applying for a new job, you can use your skills to help her polish her resume and increase her chances of being considered. The same applies to when your friend is thinking about running for office. Can you help her start to craft her campaign goals, messages, speeches, or materials? If you’re good at throwing events or have great networking skills, why not throw a fundraiser? There are myriad ways you can use your strengths to support women around you or support organizations and businesses that have a wider reach. 

 

Invest with encouragement

If you’re the type of person who loves encouraging and supporting others, use that to bolster women who are working hard to reach their goals and need your enthusiasm to stay on track! When you’re facing obstacle after obstacle, there’s nothing better than knowing there’s someone cheering you on from the sidelines. Consider asking the women in your life to run for office, even if they are hesitant or think you are joking. This is one crucial way to invest in the women around you, and knowing that you’re there to hype them up will keep them encouraged and motivated to the very end. 

 

Invest by paying it forward

There’s a reason why they say that it’s not about what you know, but who you know! You have the power to connect women to the right people and resources that she may not have otherwise had access to. If, for example, you are a former financial consultant who knows a woman who is trying to build her career in finance, offer to show her the ropes and introduce her to your network! There’s nothing better than a person who uses their connections and experience to help women gain a foothold, particularly in an industry like STEM or politics where they’ve been historically underrepresented. 

 

Invest by bringing out the green 

We know that not everyone is in a position to financially support women’s endeavors or organizations that support the advancement of women. That said, if you do have the means, then why not financially invest? There are direct ways to give, such as donating to your local women’s foundation or to your friend’s campaign as she runs for office–even giving to a national organization that is working long-term to shift how women relate to and see themselves in political power, like She Should Run (you know I had to throw that in there 😉). There are also passive ways you can financially support equal representation, like frequenting women-owned businesses. 

 

You might not see yourself as one day running for office, but there are always ways you can support the women around you and be a catalyst for change.