Women's History: Leaving your legacy behind
Written by: Ali Kates & Monica Carnes
In 1978, the United States Congress passed public law, in a vote 100-9, officially recognizing March as Women's History Month. Today, we see Women’s History Month as an opportunity to acknowledge the path paved by our foremothers to allow Women across the country the same rights as everyone. With women's rights consistently being threatened, it is our responsibility to understand where we came from so we can focus on where we are going.
Feminism often gets a bad rep from a small section of individuals that are not in alignment with true feminism. The definition of feminism is equal opportunity and rights for all sexes. In reality, feminism is a group of people (not just women, PEOPLE) with dreams of being treated the same as any man on the street. “But you legally have rights!” is what I constantly hear from people who don't align with the Feminist Agenda. The problem is these rights are not universally acknowledged throughout the nation. Until a Black woman in Georgia is granted the same treatment as me, a white woman in California, we are not all free. As Maya Angelou said, “The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody's free.”
So what does women’s history month mean? How can I continue the legacy of growth and empowerment and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way?
First, we gotta acknowledge the history. It’s easy to brush off women's history as happening “so long ago” that it’s not worth bringing up again. But, 1978 was not a long time ago; you definitely know someone who was alive during then. Do some research! There are many activists and scholars who dedicate their lives to uplifting the voices of women and empowering their own communities. Find a feminist in your community or demographic who inspires you. Follow her, support her, notice her words, her actions, how she holds herself, and how she loves others. Some creators that I love that are amplifying women's healing on IG are: Yasmine Cheyenne and Alex Elle. Find women in your space that are doing work that lights your heart on fire and follows them, cheers them on, celebrate them!
Next, share what you’ve learned! By spreading this information, you are opening up the conversation to a wider audience and allowing room for growth and love to prosper. When you’re sharing what you’ve learned, listen to what others have to say and how their experiences have shaped who they are. How does a different perspective align with the same concepts? How can you uplift the women around you and make them feel seen and heard? Just because someone’s experiences are different from yours does not make it any less true and worthy of support.
Self-Reflection check: There are 3 levels of listening; ask yourself, as you are having these conversations around women's history, which level you are in? When you become aware of how you are listening to conversations, it can provide opportunities for growth and connection.
Level 1: Internal listening: Focused on self; in this level, you are listening to the dialogue in your head, maybe you are thinking about how you don’t agree with the person who is talking, etc.
Level 2: Focused on other: This is where you are focused on what the other person is saying; this is deep active listening where you are focusing on what they are saying and their feelings etc.
Level 3: Global Listening: this is where you are conscious of the context of the conversation as well. You are actively listening to what is being said but you are also listening for the context and what is not being said as well.
Lastly, take care of yourself. What better way to acknowledge your history and struggle than to protect your own peace. Simply waking up every day and choosing to kick ass honors the women who came before you while also setting an example for the young girls who dream of their own futures. So make sure to take care of yourself and your mental health. The more you show up for yourself, the more you can contribute to the world and leave behind an incredible legacy. Always remember you are doing the best you can!
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