Celebrating Change with Women Kind

Posted on 30 August, 2018

Last year Dr Kirstin Ferguson reached boiling point on the denigration of women online.

But rather than stew on it, the former military officer turned women’s leadership champion and company director decided to fight fire with positivity.

She began an online movement #CelebratingWomen to subvert the denigration with positive stories of women and their achievements.

She made a public commitment to share the profiles of two women, from all over the world, every single day in 2017.

“I was not naïve enough to think projects like #CelebratingWomen was going to fix the issue but the goal was to make enough noise focusing on women in a positive way that it drowned out, even in a small way, the denigration that exists,” she said.

“By the end of the year I had celebrated 757 women from 37 countries, including Julie Bishop, Tanya Plibersek and a large number of women in media, but overwhelmingly the campaign celebrated women from all walks of life.”

“I believe every woman is a role model in their own way and the more diverse female role models we can recognise and celebrate, the more we can inspire one another.”

Out of that movement has come the next step – a book Women Kind, which focusses on the power of women supporting other women.

Collaborating with Walkley award-winning journalist and prominent commentator on women in the workplace Catherine Fox, Women Kind, considers how best women can amplify their collective clout.

“We look at the various ways leaders, organisations and individuals can make a difference and join in the wave of women supporting women we are seeing around Australia, and the world, at the moment.”

The book is a call to action, asking “What more could be achieved if we elevated instead of devalued the wisdom and power of all sorts of women’s networks from mothers’ groups, the Country Women’s Association and Wine after Work?”

Women Kind will be launched in Canberra at the National Press Club at a free event hosted by National Press Club President and ABC journalist Sabra Lane with both Kirstin and Catherine speaking about their experiences.

 Women Kind by Dr Kirstin Ferguson and Catherine Fox (Murdoch Books), RRP$29.99, is available here from 17 September.

the essentials:
What: Women Kind book launch featuring Kirsten Ferguson, Catherine Fox and Sabra Lane
When: Wednesday September 19 from 6.30pm
Where: National Press Club, Barton
Cost: Event is free but registration here is required for catering purposes