The Future is Female
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we remember a time when women were relegated to the role of housewife, without the option to get an education or join the workforce. But one thing about womanhood is we won’t stand to be told no!
Over time, women have made so much progress while making history. Many have done the unimaginable like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and Susan B. Anthony just to name a few. Their achievements created a domino effect of women throughout the world breaking boundaries proving to the world that we’re so much more than what they label us. Most recently, women all over the globe rejoiced as Kamala Harris became the first Black and South Asian female Vice President of the United States.
This past year, women have borne the brunt of the pandemic. Not only did we suffer more job losses than our male counterparts, but we also had to shoulder the burden of childcare. So many working mothers have had their jobs eliminated, leaving them without a stable source of income. All this in addition to being home with their children and having to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, and homeschooling. These extra pressures, during one of the toughest times in modern-day history, required all of our strength and fortitude.
The effect of job loss for women during the coronavirus pandemic has left many without a backup plan, forcing them to think on their feet to provide the income to keep their families afloat. No easy feat, considering we were stuck inside 24/7 with our children and often no outside support system, which has taken a toll on our mental health. As women, we’ve always had to learn to power through and adapt to any challenge we face. In this time, we’ve taken technology by storm, building marketing, and social media agencies with sometimes nothing other than our own determination to succeed.
We’re telling the world who we are, creating social and societal discipline by modeling what behavior is no longer acceptable. All the while, we’ve created a market in helping businesses grow through brand awareness and strategy. This includes re-establishing the connection between brand and customer.
Today, we celebrate showing the world we are mothers, businesswomen, changemakers, and legends. We are doctors, lawyers, astronauts, marketers, and much more. We’ve broken through glass ceilings of male-dominated industries and are making them all-inclusive to every race and every identity.
As we continue to change the world, we remember those who came before us such as the late Supreme Court Justice and feminist, Ruth Bader Ginsburg who made equal rights for women a possibility and allowed for a groundbreaking change in gender discrimination.
We are witnessing change in the making - a shift in tolerance and acceptance that is expanding options and giving hope to future generations of women. Here’s a look at some of the incredible Changemakers who are paving the way:
1. Amanda Gorman - Amanda S. C. Gorman is an American poet and activist. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race, and marginalization. Gorman stunned the world as the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history.
2. Naj Austin - Founder & CEO of brands that change the world like @somewheregoodworld + @ethelsclub, the first private social and wellness club supporting people of color.
3. Whitney Wolfe - The Bumble Cofounder became the youngest self-made billionaire when the app went public.
4. Opal Tometi - Human Rights Activist and Co-founder, Black Lives Matter
5. Greta Thunberg - Environmental activist who at 15, began the school strike for climate change, making her an international figure. Now 18 she has made quite the impact already, and she’s nowhere near done.
6. Sanna Marin - Not only the youngest prime minister of Finland but also the youngest government head worldwide!
7. Stephanie Murphy - The first Vietnamese-American woman to be elected to Congress while also working with nonprofit organizations like Support Our Scholars, which helps economically challenged young women to attend college.
8. Pramila Jayapal - Pramila Jayapal is the first Indian-American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. She also founded Hate Free Zone, an advocacy group for immigrants.
9. Sarah McBride - First transgender state senator in the country was elected in Delaware last year. She is the highest-ranking transgender official in United States history.
10. Seyhan Arman - Seyhan is a Turkish transgender rights activist and actress in Istanbul. She has openly discussed living as a transgender person living in Turkey to the Turkish media.
As we celebrate women all over the world, we have to remind ourselves that the work isn’t done. There are still many minds to change and boundaries to shatter, including the continuous fight for our right to be treated equally and fairly.