When they go low…International Women’s Day
I live in a world enamored by progress. This is evident beyond the technological innovations that consume my daily life. Societal recognition of gender equality has recently soared, as many of the modern feminist movement ideals have become the norm. It’s now said that a woman’s place is no longer simply in the kitchen, but in the lab, the boardroom, or the White House. Surrounded by this culture of equality, I incorrectly assumed that everyone shared this belief; a remark from my 93 year old great aunt surprised me.
Weekly intergenerational dinners are customary in my family and sometime between the salad and the meatballs, Aunt Betty began to gripe about ironing her husband’s clothing for work. I casually suggested, “I bet he can learn to iron. It’s not hard.” She turned to me with a grimace, appalled by my comment and replied, “Of course you can iron. You have to. You’re a girl.”
The lunacy of her comment forced me to conclude that she was joking, but her glare proved me otherwise. I respectfully explained that my gender doesn’t affect my ability to handle an ironing board, but she shrugged as the subject soon drifted, and her mind remained unchanged. While I knew that my comment wouldn’t change her mind, I felt compelled to challenge her sentiment.
My family members jokingly call me an “old soul” because I love studying history, rereading my favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and much like Aunt Betty, listening to Frank Sinatra. While I lightheartedly agree with this label, I am grateful to live in a world that allows women an abundance of opportunity, which prompted my response.
For years, women were unable to hold leadership positions. I strive to be like strong women such as Oprah Winfrey and Malala Yousifazi who inspire me to become a better leader in my family, school, and community. The courage of outspoken women has been highlighted especially in this last year with the successes of the Women’s March and the mark of the #MeToo movement by Tarana Burke. In the face of tragedy women my own age such as Emma Gonzalez have become powerful activists for Gun Control. I hope to someday use my own voice to cultivate progress and advocate for humans rights issues in my future career.
But there are still voices who go unheard, unnoticed, and ignored. I am so lucky and privileged to be surrounded by powerful women and have access to education that will help me increase my knowledge of these issues and learn more about how I can be a positive, contributing member of society. Thousands of powerful women are being denied access to vital resources. The American dream is being obliterated for DACA recipient dreamers whose fates are at the hand of a multitude of arguers. In her book “Rad American Women A-Z,” Kate Schatz highlights these underemphasized women whose stories my still be hidden but whose impacts are monumental.
My absolute favorite Michelle Obama quote and the inspiration for my Women’s March Poster is, “When they go low, we go high…,” which perfectly depicts my reaction to Aunt Betty’s long ingrained philosophy. Acknowledging another side’s perspective and seeking common ground is the ideal formula for reaching an agreeable solution. In a society so polarized and fueled by alternative facts, its crucial that we remember the importance of equality. I love International Women’s day because in the midst of political chaos and turmoil, we can remember the strong, passionate females that made the world a better place.
