TresSugar

Why Women Around the World Are Celebrating

SavvySugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:07:19 PST

In 1908, 15,000 women made an inspiring impression when they marched through New York City demanding things important to most women: shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. Here we are, 100 years later, and International Women's Day is acknowledging this event with their global theme of Shaping Progress.

Progress is the key word, because while women have made great strides there is still room for improvement. Sharon Fraser, a Managing Partner at Deloitte (a supporting company of IWD) mentions educational strides, greater representation of women as heads of corporations, and increasing acceptance in the political realm as areas where women have gained strength. However, she follows those positive notes by mentioning that many countries still consider women second class citizens.

Her International Women's Day Message to the world is, "We need to have more confidence in ourselves, our abilities, and our potential. You need to decide what you want to do, and then you need to go for it."

How does your workplace measure up in terms of the way it treats women? Do you feel like women have ample representation and equal opportunity for promotion?

Cocktail Party Crib Sheet: Knowledge Is the Best Accessory

CitizenSugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:00:40 PST

In honor of International Women's Day, we have a ladies-only look at this week's news. Oh, and while you're at it, shake up one of the Basil Gimlets PartySugar made this week and make sure you're a well-read woman.

This week we hotly debated Gloria Steinem's "secretary" remark, as well as the Washington Post article recommending that women go back to the business of caring for the home. Kanye West's late mother had a law proposed in her memory, and short skirts in South Africa sparked violence and protests.

And Tina Fey stood up for Hillary Clinton in her boldly-worded endorsement.

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Do Tell: What's Your Favorite Part About Being a Woman?

DearSugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 10:00:00 PST

Today is International Women's Day, which is an initiative to commemorate the historical achievements of women and acknowledge the connection of women worldwide. I, for one, love the idea of a day set aside to celebrate women, and I can only hope that this day gains recognition over time. In honor of the occasion, please do tell, what's your favorite thing about being a woman?

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Fab Flash: Diane von Furstenberg Launches "Women Can" Campaign

FabSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:00:22 PST

In honor of International Women's Day on Mar. 8, Diane von Furstenberg has partnered with the nonprofit Vital Voices Global Partnership for a new campaign, "Women Can."

The initiative is set on inspiring female leaders in developing countries. To aid the effort, DVF has pledged to donate 10 percent of this week's sales in her freestanding stores and on her website, DVF.com, to Vital Voices. She's also hosting talks and special events in her stores during this time. If you're feelin' the woman power this week, shop DVF!

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How a Determined Desiree Davila Won a Spot on the US Olympic Marathon Team

espnW — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:25:02 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar! This week's is an inspiring story about marathoner Desiree Davila, who will be representing the US in the Olympics for her first time. The following is an excerpt; read the entire story here.

By Bonnie D. Ford

At last January's Olympic trials in Houston, Texas, four top women had distanced themselves from the field: Desiree Davila, fellow favorites Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher, and Amy Hastings. Davila increased her tempo. Hastings dropped back. Davila forged on with Flanagan and Goucher, her five-foot-two, 98-pound frame dwarfed by her taller rivals. Then, with two miles to go, Flanagan kicked into a higher gear, and Davila was faced with another decision: should she try to match the surge and bid for the win, taking the chance that her cramping calves would betray her, or maintain her pace and protect her spot on the team?

Davila weighed the situation and decided not to risk it. Flanagan soloed to the line, and Davila secured her Olympic spot by finishing second, 17 seconds back, in 2:25:55. It was a tough, savvy race, and the latest evidence that Davila's gradual climb to the top is peaking at an ideal juncture.

After a largely anonymous high school and college career in the arid heat of Southern California and Arizona, she migrated to Michigan to join the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project in 2005. The elite training environment in a harsher climate helped her transform herself into "a contender, not just someone who's on the line and might have a good day," as she put it.

The Lesson Learned From Second Place

Davila debuted at the marathon distance in Boston in 2007 and ran 2:44.56 in a raging northeaster. A year later on the same course, Davila thought she had progressed enough to make the Olympic team. At mile 21, running fourth, it looked as if she'd been right. But Davila, who hadn't hydrated and eaten enough before the race, ran out of gas and faded to 13th.

She was devastated. Fellow marathoner and friend Amy Hastings was there to comfort her, and so was sister Natalie Davila. "If I'm investing my money in someone right now, it's you," the older sister said. "You're going in the right direction - you're going up."

Read on for more of Desiree Davila's road to the Olympics after the break.

Bhutan's King Marries in Dazzling Royal Wedding

Tara Block — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:50:00 PDT

While this royal wedding includes a "Prince Charming" and a beautiful bride, take one look at the brightly colored celebration and you know it's not Will and Kate we're talking about. Bhutan's popular King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, 31, married Queen Ashi Jetsun Pema today in an exuberant ceremony at the same venue where his coronation took place in 2008. This is a joyful day for the adorable couple, but the king's female fans may be distraught. Back when he was the young Crown Prince of Bhutan, Jigme made such an impression with the women on a 2006 visit to Thailand the Thai press nicknamed him Prince Charming.

The new queen is 10 years younger than her husband, but in the Bhutan king's May announcement of the engagement he said, "While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character." Maybe it's their mutual love of basketball that brought them together? The king represents Bhutan in international basketball events, and his wife was the captain of her high school basketball team. And both have studied in the UK, as King Jigme graduated from Oxford and Queen Jetsun is currently attending Regents College in London, majoring in international relations with minors in psychology and art history.

See photos of the Bhutanese royal newlyweds in their sweet wedding moments now!