IWD 2026: 5 ways for allies to give so everyone gains 

Colour us surprised to see that in 2026, women are still being encouraged to ‘give abundantly’ in order to gain a fairer go. Just joking – when the unofficial IWD theme is promoted by a mysterious London-based PR firm, that’s exactly what we’d expect.

But asking women to give more gave us an idea. Powrsuit already has a fabulous group of allies working to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces. And we have you: Thousands of newsletter subscribers. So if you are (or have) a father, son, uncle, partner or workmate who agrees that women already give enough, help us embed the UN’s official IWD theme by taking action:

1. See something? Say something

Olympics fans will have witnessed the recent rise and immediate fall of the US men’s hockey team. Buoyed by the success of Heated Rivalry (and their first gold in 46 years), they were quick to engage in some classic presidential ‘locker room’ chat. Turns out, many of us didn’t get the joke – or why ‘good men’ laughed along at the expense of their female teammates. 

Passive complicity is a gender neutral instinct; it’s easy to let uncomfortable statements slide. But it also emboldens those who aren’t joking, while normalising some pretty yucky beliefs. While it can be hard to confront these situations head-on, there are other ways you can still give your voice in support of gender equity:

Embrace curiosity: A quick question can place social awkwardness where it belongs: “I don’t understand. Could you please explain the joke?”

Stick to the stats: Fact check those ‘she only got it because she’s a woman’ style complaints: If women get two out of every ten M&Ms, while men get the other eight, we all know which group has more than their fair share of M&Ms. Same goes for leadership roles, panels, promotions, all types of chocolate, etc. 

Be a role model: We love this question from Sam Plant on LinkedIn: How comfortable would you feel if your group chats were exposed to the women in your life? ‘Innocent’ jokes and banter set the tone for what’s acceptable, so if you wouldn’t say it in front of her, don’t say it at all.
 

2. Be a partner, not a parent helper

A Powrsuiter recently recounted a conversation she had with her husband. Leading a team made up largely of women, he was frustrated by the constant distractions – school trips, sick days, pick-ups, etc. After listening to his complaint, she simply asked: “Who do you think is doing all that work for you?”

By definition, invisible labour is hard to spot. We’re probably all guilty of underestimating tasks we don’t participate in. But as easy as it is to wait for someone to ask for help, we all know that’s a bit of a cop out. Instead, here are simple ways to give a clear message that shared responsibilities are shared:

Praise parity: Daddy daycare isn’t a thing. Also, it’s great that you vacuumed, but don’t expect a medal. Men shouldn’t get (or ask for) additional praise for doing the same work women are expected to do. 

Downtime deficit: The mini-series All Her Fault portrayed the parental downtime gap perfectly. If someone is doing chores, has the kids in tow, or is fielding questions every few minutes, it doesn’t count as rest. 

Beat the bias: Regardless of who you decide the primary parent will be, it’s likely that schools, clubs and other parents will call a woman first. Agree on the days she shouldn’t answer – and make sure you pick up or call back immediately every time. If you don’t, she will.

Bonus tips for organisations: Despite the huge benefits, there’s still a lot of stigma around men taking their full parental leave allowance. Uncertainty creates barriers, so explain the process clearly and share resources like Dadventure, too.
 

3. Review housework at home and office

Every International Women’s Day, someone invariably asks, “Why isn’t there a day for men?” There is – IMD is on November 19th. But assumptions and defensiveness aside, there’s also a hidden expectation in that question: That women are responsible for organising it. 

We all sort of assume it’s on women to sort the ‘social’ stuff, don’t we? That’s probably because right now, we do. The load extends well beyond shared lunches and cupcakes – women take on the majority of all housework at home and in the office. This imbalance is the result of generations of conditioning, but we can all play a role in helping women gain back some valuable time and brain space:

Embrace transparency: Don’t assume you share the load fairly; find out. Buy FairPlay cards, or ask each adult in your house to list all the tasks they’re responsible for – separate remembering, organising, reminding and doing. Sure, it might feel awkward at first – but Powrsuiters embrace an experimental mindset.

Share non-promotable work: Recognise cultural contributions as much as outputs, or share them. Spot people who put their hand up for non-promotable work too regularly and ask other team members (or nominate yourself) to take their place.

Be an active participant: Shared responsibility? Cut the passive palm-offs like ‘Let me know what you need’, ‘I don’t mind’, or ‘You’re better at x’ and take ownership: ‘I’ll sort x’. And remember, your partner isn’t a personal search engine. Take the time to look up school dates, upcoming social events and where the can opener is.
 

4. Practice Sponsorship

If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar with the discomfort of being the first or only. Allies, you make a deliberate choice – we see you turning up at IWD events. However, for women+, otherness is an everyday experience we don’t choose. 

The burden of otherness can lead to holding back the question, turning down the networking event, or deciding not to apply for the job. All behaviours that, on the surface, look suspiciously like a lack of confidence. But we all know how brave you sometimes have to be just to turn up on your own. So, instead of telling women they have Imposter Syndrome, practice sponsorship to ensure everyone feels included:

Use your influence: Think someone should apply for a job? Encourage them. Put their name forward for visible work and promotions, especially when they’re not in the room. Then, help them get into the room by making introductions to your network. And always, always take it upon yourself to make underrepresented groups welcome – a simple tip: Talk to the person who looks the least like you. 

Make it official: Make decisions during the meeting, not with a sub-group at the pub later. 

Offer active support: Passive support is often interpreted as a lack of support. So check in and sign cheques: Encourage the women in your team to use their professional development budget, fund ERGs, events (and, where appropriate, childcare). Then actively help the women in your life protect time and headspace for themselves.
 

5. Pass the mic

History has embedded some seriously effed up views about women’s voices. From idle chatter and gossip to old wives’ tales, there are a scary number of derogatory ways to refer to how and what we say. Add biases around executive presence and gravitas, and the simple act of talking can feel like a minefield.

Diverse teams only deliver better results when all voices are heard, so here are some easy ways to help women gain a little more airtime:

Practice amplification: There’s a tendency for women’s ideas to only be ‘heard’ after they’ve been hepeated. So when a woman makes a point, practice amplification: repeat it and attribute it back to the source. 

Call out manels: Gender balance is the goal, but presence should be a requirement. We suggest: ‘Noticed there were no women on this panel, could I suggest X take one of the places?’ or ‘Does this panel reflect the diversity of this industry/topic/event?’

Consume and promote: Watch movies by and about women, listen to podcasts with female hosts, read books written by women and engage in posts women share on LinkedIn. Listen to understand and join important conversations about gender equity. 
 

Small actions, big impact

At Powrsuit, we know small actions beat grand gestures. If everyone reading this implemented just one suggestion, the ripple effect would be enormous. So join us to give a little so everyone can gain.