Today is International Women’s Day and I decided to ask a few of my friends and family members why they are proud to be women and here is what they said…
- “It’s hard to say why I’m proud to be a woman, because I don’t necessary see myself as a woman–I see myself as a person. I guess that’s what makes me proud though, that so many strong women throughout history have fought with conviction in the spirit of justice so I can see myself today as a person instead of just a gender.” – Masters Student, Columbia University
- “The fact that more and more women are CEOs and high powered positions in recent years, having women in power” – Accounting Consultant
- “I am proud to be a woman, we use our hearts, not just our heads with everything we do.” – Community Manager of online gaming site
- “The strength and willpower combined with glamor and femininity of women.” – Executive Assistant at a global non-profit
- “Seeing my managers work their butts off at work and then go home and be wonderful moms and wives to their newborns makes me proud to be a woman. We don’t have to choose anymore to be either a mom or a career woman. We can be both and incredible ones that!” – Recruiter
- “When I worked in finance, it was totally a man’s world and I feel like I held my own. Seeing how far woman have come in the workplace that women are CEO’s of major companies that men used to run. If I hadn’t been in such a male dominated profession, I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much” – Recruiting Coordinator
- “Being one of the few girls in my Math/Engineering/Computer Science classes in college. It made me proud to be a woman when I was at the top of my class the one who had to help my male classmates. Now as a teacher, I’m proud to inspire my high school girls that they too can excel in a male dominated field.” – Teacher, Teach for America
Today women across the world were celebrated, recognized and talked about.
Some women walked across bridges everywhere from Congo to London to demonstrate the strength we have in numbers. Others in performed tribute dances for the women suffering in Haiti and some were listening and watching the stories of others on the other side of the globe. As a woman in America I feel proud and lucky, I am educated and know that I can accomplish anything I want. It is hard to think about a woman the same age as me in a developing country and imagine the life she is living in comparison to mine.
All women are eager and capable, but not always given the freedom and ability to move forward in life. We as women should ban together and recognize our unique strength and endless opportunities. Then ask ourselves how we can ensure that women near and far are all given the chance to recognize the beautiful power that lies within them and somehow help them receive the same opportunity that we are given everyday to be who we are.
This video below is really moving and gets us to realize the ripple effect that one girl can have on the world. The Girl Effect is a project looking at the effect that investing in a girl has not only on a community but humanity as a whole.
Remember…”Well behaved women rarely make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
I’ve got a “Why I’m proud to be a woman:” Because I’m dominating in some male-dominated sports: Rock Climbing, Surfing, and (when i was in college) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!