March is International Women’s Month and March 8th is International Women’s Day. Wow, aren’t we lucky to get our own month?????? I hope that you can hear the sarcasm in that comment. Women should be celebrated everyday of the year and acknowledged for their accomplishments. Ok, I am over my rant for the moment. How do we empower ourselves and the women in our lives? I feel that it is so important to acknowledge the accomplishments that we make on an individual basis.
Empowerment is a big word that carries a heavy meaning to it. According to Oxford dictionary Empowerment means, “the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.” Many times as women we feel less Empowered than others. This is due to history and the placement of women in society. Women have been trying to break this stereotype over the ages. The biggest controversy in today’s world is women’s rights when it comes to their bodies and equal pay. Hollywood made a huge impact when actors began to realize that women were getting paid substantially less for the a similar role as their male counterpart. The Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade is still causing trauma and women feeling like they don’t have control over their own bodies. History has proven that women are in a constant battle for their own equal rights. Well, it’s just sad and frustrating.
How can you build up the women in your life because it is obvious that as women we can not depend on society to fulfill this need for us. Let me suggest some good concrete ways that you can accomplish this in your world.
1. Do some research at the library or bookstore. Search for books about Historical women and women who have made an impact on society. ex. Michelle Obama, Betsy Ross, Harriet Tubman, Madonna, Erin Brockovich. Well you know what I am getting at here, so get to it.
2. Support local businesses that are owned by women. Write reviews about their business or even share your experience on social media.
3. Have a get together with the women in your life. Why? Just to celebrate who they are and the impact they have on your life.
4. Join an organization that promotes and supports women
5. Join an all female book club that discusses female authors.
6. Go to an art museum and seek out art by female artists. Can you think of one famous female artist in history? I can’t! But I sure was taught about Van Gogh, Matisse, Monet and Picasso. Hmmm makes you think doesn’t it?
7. Send out text messages to the women in your life about how they have inspired you.
8. Sit with yourself and identify ways in which you have Empowered Yourself and how you have Empowered others. It is about time that we toot our own horns.
Female Empowerment will always be a struggle, I am afraid. This doesn’t mean that we have no control over this. Set goals for yourself on ways you are going to Empower Yourself. In today’s society every time they take away one of our rights make an act of Self Empowerment. I know personally for me attending Women’s Marches has given me a real sense of empowerment. I was in Washington D.C. a couple of years ago visiting. We were walking towards the Washington Monument when loud chanting distracted us. This was right after the US Supreme court overturned Roe V Wade with the Dobbs Decision. Men and women were marching, chanting and holding signs. I am not one that loves crowds, as a matter of fact I try to avoid them when I can. But not this time! I felt a fire in my belly and before I knew it, I was in the March and chanting “My body My rights” with the crowd. We walked all the way to the steps of the United States Supreme Court. There we listened to women who had traumatic reasons of why they needed to terminate a pregnancy. I wish I could really describe with my words the electricity that I felt in my body that day. The Empowerment was palpable! I felt strong, accomplished, empowered and most of all the power of a cause. Women’s rights has not changed because of that march but what it did change, was me. This quote represents this special day in my life.
Quote: “When you lift up women, you lift up families, you lift up communities, you lift up economics- and you lift up.” -Kamala Harris
There have been many female vocal artists who have created lyrics for songs that embrace Empowerment. Here are some suggestions for you to listen to, if you are needing a little motivation or encouragement.
1. Miley Cyrus: Flowers
2. Girl on Fire: Alicia Keys
3. Roar: Katy Perry
4. Fight Song: Rachel Platten
It’s time that you start to “Think like a Girl!”
Quote: “A strong woman with a voice is, a strong woman.” -Melinda Gates
If you are a movie lover, here are some great Empowerment movies to watch.
1. Handmaid’s Tale 5. The Devil Wears Prada
2. The Color Purple 6. Enola Holmes
3. Star Wars: Princess Lea
4. Wonder Woman
Quote: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.” -Audre Lorde
Some book suggestions on Women Empowerment are:
1. I am Malala 5. You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
2. Wildfire by Drew Barrymore
3. Becoming Michelle Obama
4. Ruth Bader Ginsberg by Jane Sherron De Hart
Quote: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” -Shirley Chisholm
Where are you going to start with finding your Girl Power? I hope that I have now ignited a fire in your belly to stand up for your rights. To take your power back and to know that women are just as important and accomplished as men are.
Quote: Women are the real architects of Society by Harriet Beecher Stowe
I think that she hit the nail on the head. Think about your household for a moment. I bet you are the architect of the household and you orchestrate all that happens there. I hope that if you are in the work force you begin to become the architect of your work environment as well. Let me share one more quote with you before you go out and conquer your world:
Quote: “Women are leaders everywhere you look–from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.”- Nancy Pelosi
Now if I haven’t motivated you by now to Empower Women and Empower Yourself then I encourage you to get up, stretch and get to work. The power is lying in your own hands. Who knows you might have an experience like I did and spontaneously join a group that has a message to be heard. Fight Like a Girl!!!!!
POSITIVE THOUGHTS CREATE POSITIVE ENERGY
GO OUT AND EXPLORE ALL OF THE WIDE OPEN SPACES IN YOUR WORLD
CIAO
ILISE
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