A Women’s Day playlist for every version of you
International Women’s Day has always been a time for reflection, but 2026 marks a pivotal shift. This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” challenges the scarcity mindset that has long pitted women against one another. For decades, we were told there was only one seat at the table. We were told that to “gain” power, we had to guard it.
This Women’s Day, we’re not just sharing quotes or hashtags, we’re curating a women’s day playlist that mirrors this philosophy. Each song on this list reflects a different facet of what women give to the world and what they ultimately gain by owning their voice, power, and truth.
Not Just for Women
This playlist isn’t meant only for women, it’s equally important for leaders, colleagues, partners, and allies. Because understanding women’s experiences isn’t about grand gestures; it begins with listening. When workplaces, homes, and communities create space for women to be heard and supported, the gains are collective: stronger teams, healthier relationships, and more inclusive cultures. This Women’s Day, something as simple as listening, can be an act of allyship, and awareness, the first step toward meaningful change.
So plug in your earphones, turn up the volume, and let this playlist remind you why giving, when done on your own terms—is revolutionary.
1. The Man – Taylor Swift
Giving effort, demanding fairness
Taylor Swift’s The Man is a sharp, unapologetic commentary on gender double standards. It asks a simple but uncomfortable question: If I did everything I’ve done—but as a man—would I be celebrated more?
In the context of Give to Gain, this song reflects how women often give twice the effort for half the recognition. Yet, by calling out inequality, women gain something powerful—awareness and accountability.
This song belongs on your Women’s Day playlist because it validates every woman who has worked harder just to be taken seriously, and reminds her that the problem was never her ambition.
2. As Good a Reason – Paris Paloma
Giving silence a voice
Paris Paloma’s As Good a Reason is haunting, poetic, and deeply rooted in feminine rage that has long been suppressed. It speaks for generations of women who were taught to endure quietly.
Here, giving doesn’t look loud—it looks like breaking silence. And what women gain in return is liberation.
This song aligns perfectly with the Women’s Day theme because it reminds us that giving your voice—especially after being told not to—can be the most radical act of self-respect.
3. Dhakkad – Raftaar
Giving fearlessness, gaining self-belief
Dhakkad is unapologetically bold. It celebrates women who refuse to be boxed into stereotypes—women who walk into rooms knowing they belong there.
In Indian society especially, women are often expected to give obedience before ambition. Dhakkad flips that narrative. It celebrates women who give confidence to themselves first—and in doing so, gain authority, independence, and respect.
This track is a reminder that sometimes, the best thing a woman can give is belief in herself.
4. Run the World (Girls) – Beyoncé
Giving leadership, gaining legacy
Few songs have become cultural anthems like Beyoncé’s Run the World (Girls). It’s not just about empowerment—it’s about ownership.
Women give leadership in boardrooms, classrooms, households, and movements. They manage systems that often overlook them. This song acknowledges that contribution and flips the script—women don’t just participate in the world, they run it.
Under the “Give to Gain” theme, this song celebrates how women gain influence not by asking for permission, but by stepping into power they already earned.
5. Flowers – Miley Cyrus
Giving love to yourself
Flowers is a modern self-love anthem that resonates deeply with women reclaiming their independence. It’s about learning to give yourself what you once waited for from others—love, care, validation.
In a world that teaches women to give endlessly to relationships, families, and careers, this song is a gentle reminder: self-giving is not selfish.
What women gain by choosing themselves? Emotional freedom. Stability. Joy.
This song is essential for Women’s Day because empowerment doesn’t always roar—sometimes, it quietly blooms.
6. Roar – Katy Perry
Giving courage, gaining confidence
Roar captures the moment when a woman decides she will no longer shrink herself to fit into someone else’s comfort.
The song reflects the inner journey many women take—from silence to strength. Giving courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear; it means moving forward despite it.
In the spirit of Give to Gain, Roar reminds us that when women give themselves permission to be loud, they gain confidence that changes how the world responds to them.
7. Womaniya – Vishal Mishra
Giving tradition a modern voice
Womaniya is rooted in desi pride and feminine fire. It celebrates women who carry tradition without letting it cage them.
Indian women often give the most—to families, culture, expectations. This song honours that strength while asserting that modern women can be both rooted and rebellious.
The gain here is identity—one that doesn’t require choosing between culture and independence.
8. God Is a Woman – Ariana Grande
Giving softness its power
Ariana Grande’s God Is a Woman redefines power by blending divinity with femininity. It challenges the idea that strength must be aggressive or masculine.
Women often give empathy, emotional intelligence, and intuition—qualities historically undervalued. This song reclaims them as divine strengths.
Under the Women’s Day theme, it reinforces that what women naturally give to the world is not weakness—it’s power in its purest form.
9. Nothing New (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
Giving vulnerability, gaining honesty
This song is the quietest on the playlist—and perhaps the most important. Nothing New explores the fear many women face: What happens when I’m no longer new, young, or celebrated?
Women give youth, energy, and emotional labour to systems that often move on quickly. By voicing this fear, Taylor gives women something invaluable—representation of vulnerability.
And what do women gain? The reassurance that their worth is not tied to novelty.
10. Most Girls – Hailee Steinfeld
Giving up comparison, gaining self-acceptance
Most Girls is a refreshing anthem that dismantles the idea that women need to compete with each other to be worthy. Instead of ranking or stereotyping women, the song celebrates diversity, individuality, and self-definition.
Women often give up parts of themselves trying to fit into labels—too loud, too sensitive, too ambitious, too much. This song encourages women to give up comparison and unrealistic standards. By giving up the need to be “special” through comparison, we gain a massive, supportive sisterhood where everyone is a queen in their own right.
Perfect for Women’s Day, Most Girls reminds us that empowerment isn’t about being better than other women—it’s about standing with them.
A 10-Minute Women’s Day Listening Ritual
This quick office-friendly listening ritual is designed for teams to pause, reflect, and reset, without stepping away from work. It can be done at desks, in a meeting room, or during a virtual call-
Step 1: Pause & Arrive
Ask everyone to sit comfortably and put devices aside for a moment. Take one deep breath together. This is a short reset, not a break.
Step 2: Self-Respect – Flowers
Play a short clip or chorus. Invite participants to reflect silently on one boundary or decision they’re proud of.
Step 3: Confidence – Most Girls
As the song plays, encourage the team to think about one strength they bring to work that doesn’t need comparison or validation.
Step 4: Voice & Presence – Roar
Let this be a reminder to speak up, share ideas, and support one another in meetings and decisions.
Step 5: Collective Energy – Run the World (Girls)
End on an uplifting note. Encourage the team to carry this energy forward, not just today, but every day.
When workplaces make space for reflection, they gain clarity, clam and confidence—long after the music fades.
Conclusion
At engage4more, we believe Women’s Day is not just a date on the calendar, it’s a moment of intentional pause. A moment to recognise what women give every single day in workplaces, families, communities, and creative spaces, often without applause or acknowledgement.
This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” resonates deeply with us because true engagement only happens when giving is mutual. When organisations give women space, voice, opportunity, and trust, what they gain in return is far greater: stronger leadership, deeper empathy, and cultures that truly thrive.
This playlist is our way of saying that empowerment doesn’t always arrive through policies or panels. Sometimes, it arrives through music that makes you feel seen. Through lyrics that validate your journey. Through beats that remind you of your worth.
This Women’s Day, we don’t just celebrate women, we listen to them.
And when women are heard, everyone gains.
FAQs
1. Why is music a powerful way to celebrate Women’s Day?
Music allows women’s stories, emotions, and experiences to be felt rather than just discussed. A Women’s Day playlist creates space for reflection, confidence, and connection, making the celebration more personal and impactful than traditional messages alone.
2. How does this playlist reflect the Women’s Day theme “Give to Gain”?
Each song represents something women give—voice, resilience, empathy, leadership, or self-belief—and what they gain in return, such as confidence, freedom, or collective strength. The playlist mirrors how intentional giving leads to meaningful growth.
3. Is this Women’s Day playlist only meant for women?
Not at all. This playlist is for everyone—women, men, leaders, teams, and allies. Listening together encourages empathy, awareness, and inclusion, helping workplaces and communities better understand women’s lived experiences.
4. How can organisations use this playlist in the workplace?
Organisations can use it during Women’s Day team huddles, short listening rituals, virtual meetings, or wellness breaks. It’s an easy, inclusive way to engage employees without disrupting work schedules.
5. Can this playlist be used beyond Women’s Day?
Yes. The themes of self-worth, equality, confidence, and solidarity are relevant all year round. This playlist works equally well for leadership sessions, DEI initiatives, employee engagement activities, or personal reflection.
Celebrate Women’s Day by exploring inspiring women’s day speakers who embody the “Give to Gain” spirit.
Catch more stories and conversations on our Good Gobar Show for a dose of motivation anytime!
About the Author
Ananya Sharma is a writer and poet with over six years of experience crafting engaging content across events, culture, and human stories. She believes words have the power to inspire action, spark emotion or make you pause.
