Women Supporting Women is the definition of Feminism.
In this day and age, it’s really easy to claim that you’re not a feminist. This International Women’s Day, I want to remind you all to support the women in your life this year…
The media rhetoric on feminism has been skewed over the last 5-10 years to paint feminists as “snowflakes”, “extremists” and “butt-hurt millenials”. Generations before us claim that we have no idea of the “real” feminist struggle, that we don’t know what inequality means. I’m here to call out that for what it is – absolute tosh.
With movements like #TimesUp and #MeToo, it’s impossible to deny that there is a systemic problem in many industries over the way that women are treated, and the expectations that they face. Fighting against these injustices, and holding not only men, but whole industries to account is exactly what feminism is about. But beyond hiding behind labels and movements, we as women need to recognise our place in all this. While victims are slowly speaking out, the question remains; why didn’t they speak out before? It’s not just the men they were afraid of. Women in the industry haven’t allowed them to feel safe enough to tell their stories.
Ladies, that’s on us. And it’s up to us to rectify that. We have to support each other, lift each other up, encourage each other. No one is going to fight for us; this is a man’s world after all. We have to fight for each other. If youre new to feminism (because thats what women supporting women really is) you couldn’t have picked a better time to join! Welcome to International Women’s Day. Raise hell.
Supporting women can be as small as actively listening when someone tells you a story – not passively with nods and mmhmms – and engaging with them. Or calling people out when they interrupt a woman mid-flow in a conversation, adding little to no value to what her story would have been. It happens; we need to take stock of this behaviour. And lets take a moment of silence for all the lost female stories and experiences over the years… Manspreading too. Call it out.
This International Women’s Day, look at the women in your life and think about how you can lift them up. And then just go ahead and do it. Show some unity; even something as insignificant as a positive comment on social media can make a world of difference. And you might not think much of it, but it might change the life of the woman you support. Women supporting women is the cornerstone of feminism. Never forget it.
We have come so far, fought for so much. And we’ve done it together. Today, on International Women’s Day, remember that.
Unity. Equality. Sisterhood.
Nami's Adventures 