10 Things Women Can Do Right Now To Stand For Each Other

If you #Stand4her, you stand for ALL of us.

1. #Stand4her by having zero tolerance for bullying against women — and keep in mind that bullying can occur in even the most innocent of comments.

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If you see it, stop it. If you're a victim, report it. If it's your bullying, rethink it. Even something seemingly innocent — like mentioning that another woman's Instagram page is flooded with bathing-suit pictures — may be perpetuating sexism.

2. The same goes for misogynistic "jokes"... Nothing innocent about those.

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Sometimes comments that seem funny can have misogynistic undertones, such as, "Someone's mad — are you on your period?" or "She's definitely lacking men in her life." There's a really fine line between what's funny and what's simply a comment to dominate and overpower women. If you're in doubt, #Stand4her and don't start or feed it.

3. Treat empathy as a key word in your life and try to recognise, understand, and celebrate each person's scars.

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#Stand4her and don't judge. Listen to every woman's story and remember everyone has been fighting their own battle. Whether it's surviving breast cancer or a toxic relationship, we've all had to learn to cope with the marks life's ordeals can leave behind.

4. With this in mind, put your kindness forward and don't put anyone down to bring someone else up.

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You don't have to be everyone's friend. If you don't feel like things are going well with someone, let the friendship grow apart. For those you want to keep close by, be the kind of friend you'd like to have. #Stand4her by revisiting your vocabulary and trying to exclude toxic words from it — especially those that are being used to judge someone's behavior.

5. #Stand4her by going even further and acknowledging a woman's success with your words and your behavior. Let her know about it.

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The smallest compliments can make the biggest differences in someone's day. Cheer for every woman's conquests as if they were your own. Walk away from the "you look so thin" and focus on the "what bada$$ work you did there."

6. Treat another woman's success as inspiration for your own life and not as a reason for jealousy. She's not your rival; she's your equal, and you're in this together.

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Each woman's conquest, no matter how small, will help you in your own journey as well. Lose the idea that your relationship with other women has to be a competitive one, whether it is about a guy or a workplace environment. Together, you can build so much more. If you #Stand4her, she'll definitely stand for you.

7. Don't perpetuate beauty stereotypes if they don't make sense to you.

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A sincere smile from another woman is enough to brighten up someone's entire night. #Stand4her and respect the choice every woman makes in terms of her own presentation. There's no right or wrong — there's only authenticity and how each person chooses to express themselves.

8. And don't judge other women just because they act differently from how you would act.

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—You ALREADY have a boyfriend?
—You STILL don't have a boyfriend?
—What do you mean you DON'T want children?
—What do you mean you're 35 and unmarried?

It makes sense that you would hold these opinions because we were born into a world that also holds them. That's why to #Stand4her we all need to make an effort to not make these thoughts and comments persevere.

9. Speak up for yourself and also on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves. Tell your story and be candid.

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Everyone's story is relevant. It was the strength and earnestness of a single woman that inspired the #Stand4her movement against harassment, but we're all in this together. One has been interrupted by a man during a meeting; one has survived abuse. Stand for yourself, and stand for all women.

10. And finally: Work on your own glow while making an effort to celebrate different women every single day. When you #Stand4her, you share another's hard work and spread her light to everyone you can.

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Get to know every woman who has changed the world in her own way. Grab a movie ticket to see the work of a new female director, read female authors, and support aspiring artists who are trying new things while still finding their audience. Support brands, causes, and movements that are striving for women's empowerment. Be a part of everything, so you don't let anything important slip by. Remember: It starts with you.

When women see other women changing the world, they feel inspired to do the same. That’s why Avon’s #Stand4her is about sharing and celebrating inspiring stories of women across the globe who are breaking down boundaries. Avon teamed up with Swedish pop duo Icona Pop to create a song that celebrates the world's bravest women. Check it out here:

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You can learn about more stories of female courage by clicking here. A world with more empowered women is a more beautiful world.

This post was translated from Portuguese.