“I’m everywhere but I’m nowhere”- Meghan Markle
This is the narrative for many women. Women currently make up more than 50% of the entire United States population (51.1% to be exact), yet women only make up 29% of all senior management positions globally.
Women are quite literally the determining factor as to whether socitey’s population increases, but our vitality is not apparent in positions of power. Often our influence is undesired, irrelevant, nonessential, second to the voice of men.
the power of using our voice
As women, we tend to downplay our success or brush them off, but it’s important to have at least one person that you can count on to help you celebrate just how great you really are. Women should not feel bad for talking about how hard they’ve worked, and how proud they are of themselves for pushing through their struggles to get to where they are now.
On March 7th 2021 Oprah Winfrey broadcasted an interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to discuss the truth about Meghan’s encounters with the Royal family. Meghan was finally able to tell her story after being silenced for so long. The immense turmoil Meghan endured led to her contemplating suicide. The British tabloid’s painted Meghan as the villain who changed Prince Harry.
The Reality-
Meghan Markle was forced to be silent up until this interview. During the interview, Prince Harry said that he wouldn’t have left the Royal family if he hadn’t met Meghan because he was “trapped in the system”. The microaggressions that Meghan Markle had to endure drove both her and Prince Harry insane and their interview with Oprah Winfrey gave them an outlet to set them free. When people are brave enough to ask for help, it is important for us to listen. It takes tremendous courage to shine a light in the oldest & darkest corners of institutionalized racism, and from decades of experience, and this interview did just that.
Healthy competition with other women is possible.
Despite our best intentions, it has become part of the norm for women to compare themselves with other women specifically as it relates to appearance, careers, and relationships. However, this toxic competition only leads to envy and promotes an unhealthy sense of competition.
Since 1872 many women have sought to become President of the United States, and the first woman to ever run is Victoria Woodhull. Ever since there has only been one woman who has been a major-party nominee for president; her name is Hilar Clinton. These actions opened the door for other women to pursue positions of power snd to just recognize that they are more than qualified.
There’s more than one seat at the table
Women all over the world contribute diverse perspectives and are innovative, so it is important for us to take a seat at the table. More gender diversity can translate to increased productivity, greater innovation, better production, efficient decision-making, and higher employee retention and satisfaction. As we enter this new age of normalcy, opportunities are becoming more abundant for women who excel when given the chance. In order for us to take a seat at the table, we have to be present and ready. Present to intentionally listen, teach, and create, and ready to seize the moment, to invite conversations, to lift each woman and other leaders up along the journey. All women deserve a seat at the table.
Celebrating Women, wbu?
Obviously, there are so many incredible women to celebrate this month. It’s really hard to narrow it down to a few, but here are some women that are doing so pretty incredible and amazing things right now.
#1. Vice President Kamla Harris
Kamla Harris is our first-ever female vice president. In light of how operations were handled in our previous administration Kamla’s presence is extremely instrumental in office. We love her.
#2. Jennifer Doudnu
Jennifer Doudna an American biochemist is most famous for her pioneering work in CRISPR gene editing. She was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
#3. Amanda Gorman
23 year old, Amanda Gorman delivered the inaugural poem for the 2021 Presidental Inauguration. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015.
#4. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
RBG became the second-ever female Supreme Court justice. A woman we honor in her passing, RBG was a champion and advocate for gender equality.
#5. Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018. As a rare woman of color in the royal family, Meghan has been an inspiration to women everywhere. She isn’t afraid to use her voice and encourages others to do the same.
#6. Jane Goodall
Jane, an ethologist, is known for her extremely detailed research on chimpanzees. She was extremely passionate about her work and added very valuable contributions to the field of science.
Support your sisters, your mothers, your aunts, ( you get it); support all women!
Resources that can help:
Read Untamed by Glennon Brooks
Listen to the Women at Work Podcast hosted by Harvard Business Review
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Support nonprofits focused on women and girls
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