At OUAI, International Women's Day is a paid company holiday, which is why we’re taking the day off today to celebrate the women in our lives. As a female founded brand, we are proud to have 89% of our employees be female identifying. Since our founding, we have worked to uplift and support women in hopes of creating a better, more equal world and future for them.
International Women’s Day is cause for acknowledging and appreciating how far women have come, but it would be remiss of us if we didn’t take a moment to share how COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted women, how much work we have ahead of us, and how OUAI plans to help.
According to the National Women’s Law Center, since February 2020, a whopping 2.3 million women have left the labor force. That brings women’s workforce participation rate to 57%—the lowest it’s been since 1998. Between navigating their personal lives, career, homeschooling duties, and so much else, women are shouldering the burden of responsibilities more than ever before without a break, as many companies don’t offer parental leave.
We must recognize the emotional, physical, and financial toll the pandemic has taken and continues to take on women, and embark on a journey to support gender diversity in every area of our lives--today and always. To empower girls and women of all ages, OUAI is donating to $10,000 to the following organizations this year:
- $5,000 to Girls Inc., which focuses on helping young girls navigate gender, economic, and social barriers through long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment, and evidence-based programming.
- $5,000 to Live Your Dream, which provides career mentorship to teen girls, as well as supports women and girls who face homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse, trafficking, or teen pregnancy.
Some other women-focused organizations we’ve donated to previously and will continue to support include:
Google them, get to know them, and get involved—because together our voices and actions are stronger. Beyond International Women’s Day, OUAI will continue to champion and work with amazing women everywhere, and we hope you’ll do the same.
Head to our Instagram Story to meet some of the women @theOUAI and learn how each of us is celebrating the women in our lives.
