Today is International Women's Working Day and this month is International Women’s Month. To someone who may know nothing about the history of what that really means, it can be easily gathered that this means we really should just celebrate our women a little harder today and the entire month for their achievements they have made.
Before I go into the history of International Women’s Working Day and Month, I am going to start off with what it means to me.
Growing up my mother always instilled the importance of uplifting other girls. That they are my sisters and experience the same unspoken hardships just because of our gender and sexuality; which raises some things that men would never experience. I grew up hearing the common phrases of “You go girl!” and “Girl power” throughout my athletic and academic successes by my mother.
I never really stopped to understand why this is something that was so embedded into her spirit, but as I am growing older I can see why it would be something to adopt. That girl power is something that has instilled an undeniable confidence and courage within me which has allowed me to be uplifting to everyone I meet. So to you my lovely mother who is reading this right now, thank you so much for playing a significant part in who I am as a young woman.
I have seen my mother become a stay at home mom and leave the workforce that she has been in for over a decade, but made that sacrifice to take care of her children. And when we were all older, I have seen her courageously make the effort to get back into the workforce despite not knowing what was ahead. It is such an honor to see day in and day out how she manages to be a mother, wife, and employee. She shows me that with patience and faith not only can I do it all but I can have it all as well.
From left to right: Maca (the goat), Me, My beautiful sister Maddie, Mom (also goat)
Likewise, it is such an honor to see my mothers mom, my grandmother (who I and my siblings call Maca) spread joy the way she does. Maca came to the mainland from Puerto Rico, not speaking English, with two young children. She moved to the Bronx and found a job to provide not only for her children to thrive in their education and whatever personal endeavors they decided to take.
I have so many inspiring and selfless women in my life to look up to. How they uplift their counterparts and celebrate their life without fail despite the struggles they have gone through.
The intention of this holiday was for women who work and the goal was to address their issues. It was led by women’s rights advocate Clara Zetkin. In 1911 she organized the first International Women’s Day. Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland were the first countries who participated. With continued strive being shown through protests by advocates for women's working rights like Zetkin, it spread throughout the world and in 1975 the United Nations declared March 8th as International Women’s Working Day.
Throughout the month, and especially today, events are held that motivate everyone, especially employers, to create equal work environments that benefit both men and women. Some things that companies do to celebrate the day and month are highlighting the women who help make their job run and hold open conversations about challenging topics such as gender equality in the work environment.
Whether you are employed or not, there are many things you can also do not only today or this month, but throughout your life to show women the respect they deserve. Things that can be done are supporting female-run businesses, having conversations and standing up for the injustices women face.
I understand that some of us don’t really have any female role models to look up to, but that doesn’t mean that they don't exist. They surround us daily. Our teachers, managers, coworkers, friends, etc. Each woman has had to overcome obstacles to get where they're at. If you take the time to pay attention and maybe even have a conversation to get to know them a little better, it can possibly ignite a spark in your life and a deeper appreciation for women as a whole.
I think it is so important and maybe even crucial to have a female role model because there are so many similarities that derive from that “unspoken” bond I mentioned in the beginning. That unspoken bond may as well be the fact that WE BLEED FROM OUR VAGINAS EVERY 28 DAYS FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS AND ENDURE SO MUCH PAIN. (I had to do it) Or that unspoken bond can be something totally different. You'll never know if you're truly not alone in this big world if you don’t go out and look.
Having female role models in my life makes me more of a hard worker and it is a support system I can lean on for guidance whether it be professionally or socially.
Now with all the rainbows and butterflies out the way, I think it is important to acknowledge that not all women you encounter will be like Mother Theresa and sure as heck won’t be anywhere near to what you envision your role model to be. I myself have had some not so pleasant encounters with other women. And if you experienced the same things, your feelings are valid to possibly have built a wall to protect yourself from other women and refuse to form more relationships. What I think isn't as valid though, is to be stuck in those actions. Just because you had a bad experience with one woman doesn’t mean she’s a terrible person and it sure doesn’t mean the entire gender is terrible.
If reading this you feel like you aren’t a part of this sisterhood everyone claims to be a part of and feel no other gal out here supports you, well it’s your lucky day because consider me that gal. I believe that you have everything you need to succeed and that you are a phenomenal woman because of your strength to wake up every morning and get after whatever you need to do. I am cheering you on behind a screen and saying what my mother always says to me: YOU GO GIRL!
Happy International Women's Day <3
Left to right: Mom's high school graduation picture, My brothers and I with Maca and our Mom
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