*By clicking "Submit" you agree to receive emails, promotions, and general messages from McDonald's. In addition, you also agree to the McDonald’s Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions. 

 McDonald's is celebrating International Women's Day with a big, gleaming W. 
 
 "For the first time in our brand history, we flipped our iconic arches," said McDonald's Chief Diversity Officer Wendy Lewis. 
 
 The giant arches were physically flipped at one California restaurant. On Thursday, International Women's Day, upside-down arches replaced right-side-up arches across McDonald's digital channels. 
 
 Lewis said McDonald's is flipping its logo "in honor of the extraordinary accomplishments of women everywhere." 
 
 Related: Why companies are embracing International Women's Day 
 
 The upside down signage was put up outside a restaurant outside Los Angeles, in Lynwood, California. Mayor José Luis Solache took note in an Instagram post. 
 
 The restaurant chain will also mark the occasion at another 100 US locations, where McDonald's (MCD) employees will wear special hats and shirts. 
 
 In recent years, companies have started using International Women's Day to broadcast their views on gender equality. 
 
 "International Women's day is a perfect opportunity for brands to talk about their commitment to empowerment," said Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. 
 
 Related: McDonald's is taking cheeseburgers out of the Happy Meal 
 
 "It's a perfect venue to get out there and enhance your brand perception," he said. 
 
 In a statement, McDonald's said that 6 out of 10 managers of US restaurants are women. 
 
 "We have a long history of supporting women in the workplace," the company added. 
 
 Brands may also be eager to replicate the success of others, Calkins said. 
 
 "When companies see high-profile campaigns that get some traction and get some discussion, they are very quick to jump on the bandwagon." 
 
 Related: McDonald's is going green 
 
 One example of a particularly successful campaign is the "Fearless Girl," sculpture, which was installed across the "Charging Bull," in New York City by State Street ahead of International Women's Day last year. 
 
 The statue was designed by the financial services company and the advertising firm McCann to call attention to State Street's efforts to improve gender diversity on corporate boards. But it soon took on a life of its own. 

 CLOSE A Los Angeles area McDonald's celebrated International Women's Day by flipping its big M sign upside down a big W. Jefferson Graham reports from Lynwood, California. USA TODAY 
 
 The Golden Arches sign outside the McDonald's restaurant Patricia Williams owns in Lynwood, Calif., is upside down in honor of International Women's Day on Thursday. (Photo: McDonald's) 
 
 Don't flip out when you see McDonald's golden arches Thursday. They've been flipped. 
 
 In honor of International Women's Day, the fast food giant is turning its iconic golden arches upside down on its digital channels, some of its packaging and at least one U.S. restaurant. When upturned, what is normally an M for McDonald's becomes a W for women. 
 
 The McDonald's golden arches on a poster hanging in the Lynwood, Calif., restaurant are flipped over in honor of International Women's Day. (Photo: Jefferson Graham) 
 
 The sign is outside the McDonald's in Lynwood, Calif., owned by Patricia Williams for three decades. 
 
 Williams "has since encouraged her two daughters, Kerri Harper-Howie and Nicole Enearu, to work with her. Patricia, Kerri and Nicole represent the hardworking and dedicated women we have in our system," the Oak Brook, Ill-based fast food company said, explaining why Williams' location was selected for the upside-down sign. 
 
 More: KFC replaces iconic Col. Sanders with his wife for International Women's Day 
 
 More: International Women's Day 2018 theme is #PressforProgress 
 
 More: These are the 10 best and worst states for women 
 
 Six out of 10 of its restaurant managers are women, according to McDonald's. 
 
 The company built a new sign featuring the flipped golden arches for the Southern California restaurant, removed the existing sign and then installed the new one, the chain explained. 
 
 CLOSE The day that unites women globally. Time 
 
 Dozens of other locations will have special packaging, including fry boxes, cold cups and bags, and the inverted Golden Arches on employees' hats and T-shirts. 
 
 The McDonald's golden arches logo on a Lynwood, Calif., restaurant worker's shirt is flipped over in honor of International Women's Day. (Photo: Jefferson Graham) 
 
 The upside-down look "in honor of the extraordinary accomplishments of women everywhere and especially in our restaurants,” the burger chain's Chief Diversity Officer Wendy Lewis said in a statement. “From restaurant crew and management to our C-suite of senior leadership, women play invaluable roles at all levels and together with our independent franchise owners. We’re committed to their success.” 
 
 CLOSE Thousands of people took to the streets in London on Sunday to call for gender equality in an event organized by the charity Care International to mark International Women's Day on March 8th. (March 4) AP 
 
 This year, companies from Mattel to Johnnie Walker are marking International Women's Day or Women's History Month, which is March. 
 
 More: International Women's Day poll shows half think sexual harassment reports are ignored 
 
 More: Johnnie Walker whiskey puts Jane Walker on limited edition Black Label 
 
 "Everyone is doing it, so they want to jump on board," said Denise Sutton, an assistant professor of marketing at the New York City College of Technology. "At the same time, when I see something like that, it's nice for International Women's Day, but what is McDonald's doing the other days of the year? How are they promoting and appreciating women on other days?" 
 
 The sign normally in front of the Lynwood, Calif., McDonald's was taken down and replaced with an upside-down version of the golden arches in honor of International Women's Day. (Photo: Jefferson Graham) 
 
 There are three women on its 12-person board of directors and three women among the fast-food chain's top-ranking 10 corporate executives, according to the company website. The seven-person U.S. leadership team includes three women. 
 
 McDonald's stock closed at $152.38, up $1.18 or 0.78%, on Wednesday. 
 
 Follow USA TODAY reporter Zlati Meyer on Twitter: @ZlatiMeyer 
 
 Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2oVUQrm
– If you happen to come across any McDonald's ads online Thursday or visit the company website, one thing will look a little odd—the iconic arches will be flipped to form a W instead of an M. The reason? To honor International Women's Day, reports CNN. In fact, the arches are flipped in the real world outside a restaurant in Lynwood, Calif. The chain is boasting that six in 10 of its restaurants are owned by women, including the one in Lynwood. "Everyone is doing it, so they want to jump on board," a marketing professor tells USA Today. "At the same time, when I see something like that, it's nice for International Women's Day, but what is McDonald's doing the other days of the year?" The newspaper notes that McDonald's has three women on its 12-person board and three women among its top 10 corporate positions.