The right to:

Spend your own money. Go to school. Earn an income. Access contraceptives. Work outside the home. Walk outside the home. Choose whom to marry. Get a loan. Start a business. Own property. Divorce a husband. See a doctor. Drive a car. All of these rights are denied to women in some parts of the world.

In The Moment of Lift, Melinda Gates makes a bold claim: when we lift up women, we lift up humanity.

Throughout the book, she shares the gut-wrenching, inspiring and triumphant stories of women she’s met from around the world. At this critical moment, it will ignite your sense of urgency, leaving you convinced that equality can’t wait.

‘There is no country on earth where women have achieved true equality. That’s not something I’m willing to accept – and I don’t think I’m alone. I’m pretty sure most of us would agree that equality can’t wait.’

• Read more about Melinda’s commitment to the lift here!

How to get involved

First, think about how you can take action towards gender equality or use the list below for inspiration.

1. In your home

I’ll commit to the lift by talking to my partner about household responsibilities and sharing tasks more equitably.
I’ll commit to the lift by talking to my kids about how girls and boys are represented in the movies and TV shows we watch.
I’ll commit to the lift by raising a feminist son and a feminist daughter.

2. In your workplace or school

I’ll commit to the lift by working to set measurable goals for how and when my organisation will close its pay gap.
I’ll commit to the lift by correcting people when they use language that diminishes women at work or girls in school (e.g. ‘she’s emotional’, ‘she’s bossy’).
I’ll commit to the lift by sharing my power and platform with women who would benefit from it (e.g. sharing my network, mentoring, amplifying someone else’s work).

3. In your community

I’ll commit to the lift by calling out bias, discrimination, and harassment when I see it on the street or in my community — courage is contagious.
I’ll commit to the lift by seeking out women-owned businesses, and recommending them to my friends and family.
I’ll commit to the lift by encouraging women, particularly women of colour, to pursue public service.
And I’ll commit to supporting them along the way.

Second, share your commitment.

Option 1
Create a selfie video discussing your commitment and share it on social media with #MomentofLift.

Option 2
Download this graphic at evoke.org/toolkit and share it on social media with #MomentofLift.

Categories International Non-fiction

Tags Melinda Gates Pan Macmillan SA The Moment of Lift