International Women's Day 2024 | 12+ Inspiring Movies to Watch & Much More!

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International Women’s Day (IWD) is coming up on Friday March 8, so it’s time for our annual article with inspiring quotes, movies to watch, the 2024 themes, questions to consider and more!

I hope this article inspires you to celebrate, share or do something to honour International Women’s Day in 2024!

In particular you may like the quote graphics and movie section of this article. The quotes are great to share on Social Media, and movies are a fun way to learn, celebrate and come together with other women—especially if you’re keen to learn about diversity and other life experiences and cultures.

In this International Women’s Day article you’ll find:

A little International Women’s Day (IWD) History
The 2024 IWD Themes
What will you do for International Women’s Day? (4 easy ideas)
IWD at Fierce Kindness in 2024
- 2 TED Talks to watch
- 4 Inspiring Quotes to Share for IWD 2024 (plus hashtags)
- 12 Great Movies to Watch on IWD (plus 2 Documentaries)
- Go deeper with these thought-provoking questions

First, a Little International Women’s Day (IWD) History

Theresa Malkiel (circa 1910)

According to Wikipedia the first Women’s Day observance—a “National Women’s Day” was in February 1909 in New York, USA. It was organized by the Socialist Party of America—and was the idea of a suffragist, workers activist and proponent of adult education for women: Theresa Malkiel. Ukranian born, she started as a factory worker and eventually became a leader within the Socialist party.

Considered so important, The United Nations adopted International Women’s Day in 1975. It occurs on March 8 every year, and in many parts of the world it’s an official holiday. And depending on where you are in the world, IWD might be an acknowledgement and celebration of historical—and more recent—achievements by women. And/or it might be an ongoing movement to ensure that women are seen and treated as equals.

According to InternationalWomensDay.com:

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

2024 IWD Themes

The theme for 2024 at InternationalWomensDay.com is #InspireInclusion. “When we inspire others to understand—and value—women’s inclusion, we forge a better world… Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.”
The United Nations theme for IWD in 2024 is #InvestInWomen. “Invest in women: Accelerate progress. Achieving gender equality and women’s well-being in all aspects of life is more crucial than ever if we want to create prosperous economies and a healthy planet.”

What will you do for International Women’s Day this year?

There are many ways to celebrate women this IWD. The easiest is to simply gather with friends in honour of International Women’s Day.

Optionally add one or more of these 4 easy ideas prompted & resourced by this article:

Watch and share one of the TED Talks or documentaries below.
Share the quote graphics below with friends, colleagues and/or on Social Media.
Watch a documentary or movie that highlights female courage, achievements—and/or struggles—with the people you love (your friends/children/partner).
Discuss or journal around the 2024 IWD theme/s and how they might apply to or in your life (see the questions below).

IWD at Fierce Kindness in 2024

International Women’s Day is an annual reminder that we still have a way to go to achieve gender equality—and that we all play a part.

This year we’re focusing on the theme of Inspire Inclusion—to openly embrace all women whatever the race, age, ability, faith, body image, sexual orientation or how we identify.

For 2024: explore inclusion with these 2 personal and thought-provoking TED Talks:

Watch in honour of International Women’s Day with your teenagers, girlfriends, colleagues, children and partner!

Here’s a short (5 mins), earnest TED talk by 16 year old Jessica Dunne who explains intersectionality who talks about her experience of strong women and reminds us that ALL women need to be included.
And here’s a powerful (13 mins) TED talk 4 Ways to Redefine Power at Work to Include Women of Color. By coach Rha Goddess and Deepa Purushothaman.

Here are 4 Inspiring Quotes for International Women’s Day 2024

This year’s quotes are from a passionate, thought-provoking and personal article by Montrece McNeill Ransom that I thoroughly recommend reading.

In this article, Montrece shares her own (positive) experiences of belonging at work—and how that feeling was created. She also explores the difference between belonging and diversity and inclusion.

Click each quote graphic below to get/save a larger version to share!

Then use one (or all) of these hashtags: #IWD2024, #InspireInclusion, #WomensDay, #InternationalWomensDay and #SeeHer

I hope you love these quotes for IWD 2024. Here’s the quotes text:

“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance; and belongingness is being able to dance like no one is watching.” Montrece McNeill Ransom
“Creating and nurturing a culture of diversity and inclusion requires us to reach out, empathize with and include individuals who may come from very different backgrounds from ours.” Montrece McNeill Ransom
“Creating a culture of diversity and inclusion requires that we strive to nurture a sense of belonging in those who work, live, play and worship alongside us in our shared spaces and communities.” Montrece McNeill Ransom
“Belongingness must be about giving those who have traditionally been on the sidelines their time in the sun and a chance to maximize their inherent human potential and capacities for the collective good.” Montrece McNeill Ransom

And here are 12+ Great Movies to Watch

I love to share movies for IWD. It’s a great way to celebrate women, and also to feel uplifted and inspired to be—and do—more!

As always, we cover a diverse range of protagonists and topics, choosing movies that represent a diverse range of womanhood—race, size, beauty, age etc. And this year we have focused on fun—and a diverse range of classic movies highlighting female strength and grit!

PLEASE NOTE: The links below take you to IMDb (Internet Movie Database) so you can watch trailers and learn more about the movies.

4 Fun Movies (the first 3 are not for the faint-hearted!)

Joy Ride (2023). Rated R. Female produced, female leads. This is a fun, silly, vulgar and explicit movie following a group of Asian-American women as they head across China searching for their birth mothers. This is not a movie to share with work colleagues, young children or anyone squeamish or easily embarrassed. But if you want laughs and themes of friendship and self-discovery rolled into a female road-trip movie, this is for you.
Bottoms (2023). Rated R. Female directed, female leads. This is a weird, satirical and outrageous high school movie addressing the usual themes of bullying, wanting to be cool and budding relationships. What is not usual is that the leads are two queer students, one White and one African American who start a fight club to attract their cheerleader high school crushes. This movie is crude, has violence, and is one of the highest rated comedies of 2023.
Polite Society (2023). Rated PG13. Female directed, female leads. A fast-paced, fun movie about an Indian sister (who wants to be a stuntwoman) who discovers her sister’s mother-in-law-to-be is not who she seems and plans to stop her sister’s wedding—at all costs. Lots of fast and furious female-led action, girl power and female relationships set against Indian culture.
80 for Brady (2023). Rated PG-13. Female written, female leads. Loosely based on a true story, four 80-something women head to the Superbowl to meet their hero. Heartwarming and funny (of course it has Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno and Sally Field in it!). I love that this is a high production movie with old(er) women leads, with character, verve, wit and more!

8 Classic ‘Feminist’ Movies

Alien (1979). Rated R. Extremely strong female lead! In this classic, claustrophobic sci-fi/horror movie, Sigourney Weaver (an extremely unusual female lead in this genre) plays a courageous strong woman who survives a horrifying alien incursion—against all odds. If only the men had listened…
The Color Purple (1985). Rated PG-13. Based on Alice Walker’s excellent Pulitzer prize winning book with female lead Whoopi Goldberg (and also starring Oprah). This movie follows 40 years in Celie’s life, an African-American woman who lives in the South in the early 1900s who survives abuse at the hands of her husband and father but ultimately finds peace. This is a powerful film, highlighting domestic violence, incest, poverty, sexism and racism.
- BONUS: there’s a brand new musical version of The Color Purple (2023) Rated PG-13 with lots of strong women if you’re looking for something new…
Thelma & Louise (1991). Rated R. Female writer, female leads. This movie of friendship, courage and defiance sees Thelma and Louise overcome their passivity, defend themselves and go on the run leading the police on a wild chase.
Set it off (1996). Rated R. Female co-writer, Female Stars. This is a heist movie with Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith and more as a group of 4 African-American ‘working class’ friends who decide to rob a bank to free themselves from their life situations. It’s a feminist thriller, exploring intersectional violence, class, trust and relationships.
Real Women Have Curves (2002). Rated PG-13. Female director, female co-writer, female lead. Adapted from a play and featuring the awesome America Ferrera as an 18 year old girl and daughter of immigrants who wants to go to college while her mom has other ideas. A story of values, family, independence and following your heart…
Whale Rider (2002). Rated PG-13. Female directed, Female lead. This is a coming of age story of a courageous girl who is determined to lead her Maori tribe, even though women are not allowed—and her own grandfather is dead set against her. Inspiring, heartwarming and uplifting.
Circumstance (2011). Rated R. Female director, writer and lead. A look at Iranian society through this coming of age movie that explores patriarchy, sexuality and radicalisation through the eyes of a young woman who finds love with another woman.
Belle (2013). Rated PG. Female director, writer and lead. Based on a true story and set in the 1700s in England, Belle is the biracial daughter of a Royal Navy Captain who sends his daughter to be a part of the English Aristocracy.

Plus 2 Great Documentaries to Watch!

1) A brand new documentary series on women in the airline industry:

For some real-life drama, try watching this newly released documentary series about the women who stood up for equal rights in the airline industry—the stewards of the air who said “No” to: not being allowed to marry; grow old; gain extra pounds; have children or have a skin colour other than White.
- See the Fly With Me Trailer here >>
- Watch Chapter 1 on Youtube here >>

2) Finally, let’s include transgender women! Here’s a fascinating documentary:

Disclosure (2020). This is a fascinating documentary looking at the portrayal of trans people’s lives on screen—and the impact on both how trans people experience their own lives, and are viewed by others in American culture.

For even more movie ideas:

Questions to “Go Deeper” this International Women’s Day

If you want to go a bit deeper yourself, or create discussion with your children, loved ones, colleagues or friends, here are a few powerful questions for this year’s International Women’s Day:

Celebrating Women

Which aspects of IWD most interest you? ie. celebrating women’s achievements, highlighting remaining issues, the 2024 themes around inclusion and investing in women—or something else?
What women’s achievements can you name from history?
How do you seek out and celebrate women’s achievements today?
If you are a woman, what could you do to own your own achievements?
What do you think we should focus on to make the world a fairer place for women?

International Women’s Day

What are you doing to celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
If you are a man: How will you use this year’s IWD to shift how you think about women?
If you are a woman, how will you use IWD to shift what you think and feel about womanhood?
For women and men: What are your limiting beliefs and prejudices around women?
- Consider what prejudices or limiting beliefs might you have around women, beauty and sexuality, skin colour, size, age, education, ability, roles etc.
What do you do when you notice gender bias, discrimination or stereotyping?
Are you willing to actively call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping when you see it? If not, why not?

Don’t worry about what you should do, worry about what you can do. Gloria Steinem

IWD 2024: Inspiring Inclusion & Belonging

What does inclusion mean for you?
Where in your life have you experienced exclusion? How did it feel? How did it change (if at all) how you include others in your own life and/or work?
Being ‘included’ is not the same as feeling like you ‘belong’ somewhere. Consider:
- Where do you feel like you belong? What makes that so?
- Where in your life could you help others experience belonging? Who specifically could you help? How would you do that?
- For ideas on how to create a sense of belonging (and if you haven’t already), read Montrece’s McNeill Ransom’s article: ‘Belongingness’ is important to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
What concerns do you have around diversity, inclusion and belonging? What are they and why do you think that is?
What are you willing to do to help create a world where everyone is included (including you!)?

Wrap-up

While we continue to make steps forward, and life is likely better for most women than it has ever been, we still have a way to go.

Not only has a lot of sexism gone underground or become extremely subtle (and therefore hard to challenge), women of colour and minorities (of every kind) are still being left behind.

So this year’s IWD invites us to go beyond simply including and instead to inspire inclusion in those around us. And with women’s rights being rolled backwards in many states in the USA, this is not a time to sit quietly: Share with others what you do to be inclusive and encourage diversity (however small!)—so that others are inspired to follow suit. Be a role model.

Because women are not equal until ALL women are equal—irrespective of race, age, class, ability, faith, body image, how they identify and sexual preferences. As Audre Lorde said:

I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.

If you liked this International Women’s Day article, you may also like:

Image of Happy Women Friends for International Women’s Day by Rido via Shutterstock

Image of Theresa Malkiel by Unknown via Marxists Internet Archive Photo Gallery

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