an ode to the beauty of women
hello beautiful people! thank you for joining me here. before we begin, let me say that this is going to be a more serious post (and probably a bit lengthy) than some of my others. because some things can’t be wrapped up in pretty words and tied with a neat little bow (though i do adore doing that.) some things demand honesty, rawness, and the space to be spoken about without apology. and this, my friends, is one of them.
one of the most beautiful things in our world is female power. it’s in the way women build, create, speak, and fight. the way we have reshaped history, demand to be heard, and continue to push forward even when the world tries to hold us back.
but let’s talk about why women’s history month needs to be acknowledged. why it isn’t just a themed month, another hashtag, an excuse for brands to roll out pink washed marketing campaigns while continuously paying their female employees less than their male counterparts.
history hasn’t been kind to women. for centuries, women’s contributions to our world have been erased, voices have been silenced, and stories have been rewritten or never told at all. when we learn about history, we are often learning about his story — one where women were footnotes, supporting characters, or forgotten all together.
women’s history month exist to set the record straight. to honor the women who weren’t given credit for their discoveries, their leadership, their brilliance. to recognize the women that have come before us and fought for our rights we now have: the right to vote, work, own property, to have autonomy over our own bodies (though even that continues to remain a fight.)
it also exists because, even today, hundreds of years later, women are still fighting. because we still have to prove our worth in ways men never had to. because despite our progress, there are still people who roll their eyes when celebrating women’s achievements, who ask condescending questions like “when is men’s day?”
speaking of which, this past week alone, i have had three separate men ask me, “oh who cares, when is it our day?” and to that i say: it has been your day. every single day. for the past 100 years if not more.
men have been the center of our history, politics, and media for centuries. they have led governments, controlled industries, dominated different narratives. their accomplishments have been recognized constantly and celebrated without needing a designated month. and that is wonderful, this is not about taking that away because we have had great men that have led us to great places, but we must understand that there is more to the story.
and before someone rushes to say, “but actually, international men’s day is on november 9th!” — yes, i know. and guess what? no one is stopping anyone from celebrating it. the difference is, women have had to fight continuously for any sliver of space in our history or our present day, while men have been and are constantly granted the spotlight by default.
on a brighter note, i think it’s so important to recognized how far we have come, because truly, it’s inspiring.
there was a time in our world when women weren’t allowed to have bank accounts in their own name, when job listings were separated by gender, when being a female scientist, athlete or ceo was practically unheard of. and yet, here we are!
women are leading fortune 500 companies, breaking world records in sports, apart of political decisions, and redefining what power looks like.
we’ve seen movements like #metoo, which gave women around the world a collective voice against abuse. we’ve seen the rise of women in politics, in tech, in entertainment—taking up space and refusing to apologize for it. we are no longer just supporting characters in our own stories, and that is something worth celebrating.
i personally think one of the most beautiful and one of the greatest victories of modern feminism is how we’ve redefined power itself. for so long, power has been associated with masculinity, with dominance, with control. but women are proving that power can also be collaborative, nurturing, and deeply human. power can be emotional intelligence, it can be storytelling, it can be lifting others as we rise.
but do understand, the fight is not over.
women still earn less than men for the same work. our reproductive rights are constantly under attack. safety is something we have to actively think about every time we walk home alone at night. we are still underrepresented in leadership positions, in government, in media. and let’s not forget, feminism has historically overlooked marginalized women—black women, indigenous women, trans women, disabled women. the fight for equality is not just about one kind of woman.
and this isn’t just about the stats (even though they are very much not in our favor), it is also about sexist narratives that still linger. still today, women are still expected to do it all: have careers, raise families, look perfect, keep it together, be everything to everyone. we still get asked, “can you handle it?” as if we haven’t been handling everything for centuries.
furthermore, somewhere along the way, the word ‘feminist’ itself has become something people tiptoe around. some women hesitate to use it, fearing it makes them seem to aggressive, to loud, too much. which is heartbreaking. feminism isn’t about hating men. it’s not about superiority. it’s about equality. plain and simple. and the fact that equality is still seen as a radical concept? that tells you everything you need to know about why we still need feminism.
feminism is about choice. it’s about the freedom to be whoever we want to be—whether that’s a ceo, a stay-at-home mom, an artist, a scientist, or something in between. it’s about women being able to exist in their fullest, most authentic selves without fear or limitation.
there is truly something so deeply powerful about femininity.
on a more personal note: i am a teenage girl who has grown up watching beautiful, strong women before me carve paths that once seemed impossible. i have been raised by women who have taught me resilience, surrounded by friends who inspire me every single day, and moved by the voices of those who refuse to be silenced.
i am proud—so incredibly proud—to be a woman. because we are beautiful, we are wonderful, and we are powerful individuals.
i have marched in women’s marches, standing alongside strangers who felt like sisters, chanting for the rights that should have never been up for debate in the first place. i have chosen to focus on women’s rights in my school projects, diving into the stories of women who history tried to erase. i will continuously, unapologetically, call myself a feminist, time and time again, because to be a feminist is to believe in equality, in justice, in the right to exist without limits.
one of the most powerful things we can do is uplift each other. whether it’s through mentorship, friendship, or just reminding another woman that she is capable of everything she dreams of—community is what keeps us strong. and that’s why supporting female-led businesses is such a beautiful way to honor women’s history month.
here are some of my favorites:
glossier – founded by emily weiss, redefining beauty with a fresh, effortless approach
reformation – a sustainable fashion brand making clothes for women, by women
the honey pot co. – a black woman-owned feminine care brand changing the game
mejuri – affordable fine jewelry that makes luxury accessible
rihanna’s fenty empire – from beauty to fashion, rihanna is making space for everyone
girlfriend collective – an ethical, size-inclusive activewear brand focused on sustainability
anyways! if you have made it this far, thank you so much for listening to me. i know this post was heavy, but i truly believe it’s a conversation worth having. let’s continue to celebrate and support women—not just this month, but every single day. let's keep showing up for each other, because when women support women, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish. thank you to all the beautiful women in my life, and all the amazing girls around the world. and for me to you, happy women’s history month. 💜
