International Women's Day 2024: Inspiring Inclusivity, Sacred Sisterhood + Self Care

What is International Womens Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global movement and call to action dedicated to girls and young women. The day celebrates the enormous resilience and achievements of women around the world, recognizing the barriers they still face and championing their rights, empowerment and equality across the board. 

ABIGAIL BERGSTROM

After working in publishing for over a decade and being nominated for Literary Agent of the Year 2020, Abigail founded Bergstrom Studio in 2021. She has been working with underrepresented voices since the beginning of her career and is passionate about bringing books from marginalised groups to the mainstream. She has shepherded over thirty-four titles onto bestseller lists and notable authors they represent are Sunday times bestselling author Laura Bates, the Internationally-bestselling writer Florence Given and this years winner of GUAP Gala’s ‘writer of the year award’, Sophia Thakur. 

Abigail writes for national magazines and broadsheets, including ELLE, Sunday Times Style, the Telegraph and Refinery29 and writes the substack newsletter Something to Say, offering publishing guidance, writing advice and cultural commentary to thousands of readers worldwide. Her debut novel, What a Shame, was published by Hodder in 2022 to critical acclaim and has been optioned for a TV show. Her second novel will be published by Hodder in April 2025.

• What does this year’s IWD theme of "inspire inclusion" mean to you personally and in your work?

For me IWD is a day of outrage. Outrage that only 35% of MPs are women in the UK; outrage that three women are murdered by a man every week in the UK;outrage that a third of girls are sexually assaulted in our schools; outrage that recent statistics from the OECD found that the UK has the second most expensive childcare system in the world; sadly my outrage list could go on and on. This year’s theme of inclusion is an important one because it can be problematic when women get lost in celebrating themselves on IWD, when really I believe it’s more about helping women who haven’t had the same access and opportunities you yourself have had.  

• What advice would you give to your younger self and other women rising up?

That often the thing you feel most ashamed of, the thing you are trying to conceal or cover up or paper over is in fact your superpower. It’s what makes you unique. Don’t be afraid to let it shine through. 

• How are you using your experience and influence to inspire other women? 

As a novelist and literary agent, my experience and influence sits within writing and helping create more access when it comes to the publishing industry. Bergstrom Studio has set up a writer’s grant for an underrepresented writer so they might find the support they need to finish writing their novel. This is no-strings-attached financial support, the money might be used to cover time to write, childcare, a physical space to write or it may subsidise income or rent. We also offer various consultancy packages to help people develop their ideas for books and give them a better chance of securing an agent or getting published, but I am also mindful that this one-to-one support isn’t something everyone can afford. I have also launched 'Something to Say’ a substack that offers free advice and guidance to both aspiring and published authors. 

• How do you fill your own cup so you can support others?

This is something I struggle with, and like so many women, we’ve been taught filling our own cup sits directly at the bottom of the priority pile.  My approach to cup filling is time alone, I’m an introvert and charge my battery from being by myself – hence books. And nothing brings me relaxation more than a hot bath. I burned out really badly a few years back and couldn’t work for half a year, so my antidote to exhaustion is twofold: (i) accepting I only have so many energy eggs and I have to choose where to distribute them (ii) following my joy: joy is the antidote to my spells of exhaustion and overworking. 

• Who are the women that most inspire you?

The women who most inspire me are definitely writers. The inimitable prose style of Deborah Levy, the wild abandon of Miranda July’s creativity and the effortlessness of Guadalupe Nettel’s storytelling. I am most inspired by women who use writing to witness an unnamed experience or feeling and create relief and relatability on the page.

KRYSTAL ROXX

• What does this year’s IWD theme of "inspire inclusion" mean to you personally and in your work?

• How have you navigated the societal challenges and stereotypes women face? What advice would you give to your younger self and other women rising up?

• How are you using your experience and influence to inspire other women? What are some simple ways women can support and lift each other up?

Slow down and listen, the greatest gift you can give is your attention.  I aim to keep consciously creating platforms for women to express themselves in music and beyond.
 

• How do you fill your own cup so you can support others? Do you have any sacred self care and skincare rituals?

Breathe. Meditate, I use a mantra to steady my mind. Yoga, cycling and especially dance.

Skin care is drinking water throughout the day, vitamins, facial oil massage - while consciously breathing and reviewing the good things that happened in my day is magic. Smiling!

• Who are the women that most inspire you?

My Mum, she’s an artist and always creating something wonderful with flowers, food or writing, she bravely started movement classes which she now loves and is always thinking of others.  

Joanna Lumley, it used to be as Patsy but now it’s her journeying through spice trails. Authentic, humble, compassionate and funny!

Gina Martin for her campaigning and sharing how to do it. Beyoncé because the Renaissance Your was out of this world! 

NISHMA ROBB

• What does this year’s IWD theme of "inspire inclusion" mean to you personally and in your work?

• How have you navigated the societal challenges and stereotypes women face? What advice would you give to your younger self and other women rising up?

I have had to navigate prejudice and bias not just because I’m a woman but one of colour and class.  It took me a long time to learn to be comfortable with who I am and to understand that it was enough and actually my superpower.  Everyday I still face judgement and assumption - what is a midlife woman expected to wear, look like, dress like, what roles she can play. 

• How are you using your experience and influence to inspire other women? What are some simple ways women can support and lift each other up?
  
  
  

Nothing makes me happier or more energised than helping other women.  From supporting them to achieve economic success which gives them agency to make the choices they want to ensuring they feel seen and valued in the world.

• How do you fill your own cup so you can support others? Do you have any sacred self care and skincare rituals?

• Who are the women that most inspire you?
  
  

What does IWD mean to us at Sacred + Wild

For us, International Women's Day is an opportunity to use our brand platform to amplify the voices of women from diverse backgrounds and unique viewpoints, celebrate their power and influence in society and fight for gender equality across the board. 

We are particularly passionate about recognising the transformational rites of passages a woman moves through in their lives, and celebrating them at every stage of the sacred cycle - from maiden to mother to maga to wise woman.

We believe that young girls should be empowered to follow their dreams, whatever these may be and that girls and boys alike should be encouraged to celebrate and express their feminine qualities of intuition, nurture, creativity, compassion and interconnectedness with nature. 

It's vital to support mothers on their journey through pregnancy and birth, honouring both the physical and spiritual transformation so they can gain the strength to come into their power and shape the world in profound ways. Fathers/ partners must be given equal access to parental leave so the first year of childcare can be shared in a way that makes most sense for them, fathers can be more involved in those precious early months and the mother is not forced to make such a harsh choice between leaving her baby too soon or impacting her career and future earnings negatively for years to come (known as the Motherhood Penalty).

The Maga - or Queen - stage is a period of empowerment with women entering perimenopause often gaining a unique wisdom and assurance in themselves and craft that can significantly impact society when shared through their creations - whether as artists, teachers, business leaders and entrepreneurs etc. They can become powerful figures who can provide guidance and support to those around them. Women going through this time of transition must be fully supported, with employers recognising the need to support them.

Wise Women are often the keepers of traditional knowledge, oral histories, and ancient practices. They hold a deep understanding of cultural and spiritual traditions, passing them down through generations. Many are skilled in natural healing methods, such as herbal medicine, and play a crucial role in tending to the physical and emotional well-being of their communities. They are often storytellers who preserve myths, legends, and fables, using narratives to impart wisdom and moral lessons. These stories are a way of passing on cultural values and life lessons. 

We believe in developing mentorship programs where wise women elders share and pass down their vast knowledge and life lessons to younger women can help to bridge the generational gap and preserve traditional wisdom.

Transitioning to a more matriarchal society is a profound, and very necessary shift that can offer unique solutions to our modern-day global problems, including the de-stigmatization of mental health issues, conflict resolution and peace-building, sustainable environmental and economic practices, climate change related issues, gender equality and community based living.  

You can read more on our blog Honouring the Divine Mother, Matriarchal Energy + Sacred Feminine Rite of Passage

How you can get involved

• Educate and raise awareness - share stories, articles and resources about women’s achievements and the challenges they face
  
  
• Host a live or online IWD event - ideas include Q+A or panel discussions with change making thought leaders, female showcases and author readings, self care days and fun children’s workshops and interactive games centred around women’s achievements  
  
  
• Highlight intersectionality - by focusing on how each or our different layers of identity affect our different experiences you can highlight how women’s issues overlap with other important global, political and corporate issues like sustainability and climate change, systemic racism, discrimination and lack of diversity
  
  
• Support women-owned businesses - do some research and make the effort to purchase from businesses owned and operated by women, engage with their social media, give good reviews and share with family and friends
  
  
• Mentor female entrepreneurs/ change makers and encourage other women with experience and influence to do the same
  
  
• Support causes that focus on supporting women and women’s issues across the world such as women’s refuges, domestic abuse services and those that advocate for the right to a living wage
  
  
• Wear purple, the official colour of International Women’s Day, symbolising justice and dignity, to show your solidarity and support
  
  
• Use the official hashtags to join the conversation on social media and amplify the voices of women worldwide - these include #iwd #internationalwomensday #IWD2024 #womensupportingwomen #equality #InspireInclusion