Happy International Women’s Day Beautiful People!
I made a playlist of some of the powerful female artists who have inspired me to make music throughout the years. You can check it out here. Hey, you could even listen to it while you read this blog post! What a great idea! ;-)
We’ve come a long way since I was a child, and She-Ra, Princess of Power began to fight just as gallantly as He-Man ever did, inspiring little girls everywhere. All the while wearing some fierce golden boots with wicked heels-something He-Man would likely have a lot of trouble with. Personally, I was really excited about her talking winged unicorn partner in crime: Swift Wind.
So cool, right!?
We’ve come an even longer way since the Women’s Suffrage Movement began in the 19th Century and women around the world fought together long and hard to win the right to vote and own property; since Rosie the Riveter inspired millions of women to join the workforce to take the place of men who had been called to the front lines; since women joined the armed forces in record number during the same time period. There has been undeniable progress over the years.
Kids growing up today are seeing more powerful female characters represented in films that are geared toward them. Recently, they’ve seen Anna & Elsa, Moana, and Judy Hopps from Zootopia. These characters are closer to real life than the Princess of Power in her golden heeled boots (even if they are in some cases bunnies or in possession of magical ice abilities).
Yet, we are still learning new stories that have been known only to a few insiders for decades. Like the story told by the movie Hidden Figures, about the African-American women who were instrumental in the first NASA launches into space. There are surely countless other stories like this that we just haven’t learned about.
Women are one half the population and yet we are not treated entirely as equals. It’s 2017 and women still get paid only a percentage to every dollar that a man is paid for the same job. Granted it’s a higher percentage than in WWII when this double standard wage-gap was much more prominent, but we cannot deny that we still have a ways to go.
We're also facing a time when the President of the United States of America has been blatantly and heinously disrespectful to women by openly and shamelessly treating them as objects. This has generated a state of regression that is scary to witness, but it has also galvanized a powerful international movement of women and men in response.
There is a well known quote from Gandhi that instructs those of us who desire change to “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I am inspired by this concept and by the fact that I can see this happening with the women's movement now.
I was thrilled to bear witness this year to the power of the unified front presented by the global women’s demonstrations that took place the day after the presidential inauguration in D.C. I know there’s a wide range of opinions about the man who currently holds that office, and that’s a whole other conversation. Personally I feel it was incredible to see so many women of all colors, shapes, sizes, and gender identities out in full force and standing up for one another and our inherent right to be treated with equality, respect, dignity, and honor.
It is up to us to support and care for each other. I believe we can see a massive change in my lifetime. We can use this situation to our advantage and through educating those whose understanding is lagging behind the times, with patience and strength we can bring everyone forward.
There is no question in my mind that the movement is growing. We are gaining momentum. We are increasing in number, confidence, and strength. We saw a viable female presidential candidate run for office for the first time in 2016 and although we did not get to see her assume the role of Commander in Chief this time, it is an undeniable fact that she won the popular vote and was supported by millions of Americans.
I feel it is only a matter of time until we reach our goals. I believe it is essential that we do so because I think it is only women’s wisdom that will be an essential force in bringing balance, justice, and peace to our world.
