One of the world’s most iconic fast-food chains, McDonald’s, made a bold move to celebrate women and remind them that they are all incredible in their own unique ways. In a powerful gesture, McDonald’s flipped its famous golden arches upside down.

This took place on March 8, 2018, in honor of International Women’s Day—a day dedicated to recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide. Many were initially puzzled by the flipped arches, with some even speculating that it had something to do with McDonald’s ongoing rivalry with Wendy’s. However, they were way off.

A McDonald’s spokesperson clarified that the reversed arches were part of a “celebration of women everywhere.” The brand chose to make this statement at its Lynwood, California, location by changing its signage, though they kept the same logo across their social media platforms. In addition to the new sign, employees at the restaurant wore hats and shirts featuring the flipped “W” symbol. McDonald’s didn’t stop there—100 locations across the U.S. also featured unique packaging with the new logo.

Wendy Lewis, McDonald’s Chief Diversity Officer, explained the significance of this move: “To honor the remarkable achievements of women everywhere, especially the incredible women working in our restaurants, we flipped our iconic arches for International Women’s Day—something that’s never been done in our brand’s history.”

Lauren Altman, another McDonald’s spokesperson, emphasized that the new design was meant to recognize women on a global scale. “We’ve always been committed to empowering women and helping them thrive in the workplace,” she said. “In fact, today, six out of ten McDonald’s restaurant managers in the U.S. are women, and we’re proud of our diverse workforce.”

To amplify this message, McDonald’s updated the logos on all its social media platforms and rolled out special packaging, shirts, hats, and bag stuffers at 100 different locations across the country.

But McDonald’s isn’t the only brand stepping up to honor women and promote gender equality. Johnnie Walker, for example, launched a special edition “Jane Walker” bottle, pledging $1 from every sale to charities supporting women’s rights. Stephanie Jacoby, vice president of Johnnie Walker, stated, “Gender equality remains an essential conversation in today’s world. We felt this was the perfect time to introduce the Jane Walker logo and support progressive organizations aligned with our mission.”

Even Brawny, the paper towel company, joined the effort by donating $100,000 to Girls, Inc. and temporarily replacing the Brawny Man with a woman on their packaging.

What do you think about these bold moves? Feel free to tag your loved ones and friends on Facebook and share your thoughts!