Today is international women’s day, and like every year it is important to celebrate what has been achieved as well as standing for more rights that still need to be reached!
Growing up I was very privileged in the fact that I had free education from the age of 4, and am still in education at the age of 20 in uni! I had the ability to my own freedom; to act, think, dress and aspire in ways that were not restricted. I was able to grow up with strong, free, independent women – both family, friends and celebrities; who all helped shape my identity today.
When I was reaching my teens and I started to realise and question about rights and inequalities in society (not just to women but to many other groups in society), my mum made sure I was aware of the struggles that women went through for me to be able to live my life with such ease and freedom. Learning about this made me be so grateful that I have the right to an education, to voice my own opinion along with many other opportunities that many years ago were not available to women.
In contemporary society we still have a long way to go in terms of women’s rights; unequal pay for example. At the judgement and scrutiny that is bestowed upon not just women in the public eye, but in everyday life. The idea that if a women is dressed in a certain way she is labelled as a ‘slag’, but men are applauded when they ‘pull’ women. These are just one of the many examples I have seen throughout my own life. As well as how women also judge other women as that is what they are taught by society to do – judge or be judged.
As much as this is something that needs to be worked on, I think there needs to be more emphasis, especially in Western society, on the lack of women’s rights in other, less fortunate countries. There are still so many women who are uneducated – not even able to read or write. Women at very young ages being married off and robbed at their chance of a childhood. And even closer to home, women of colour in our society are less likely to have the same rights and treated in the same way as a white woman. These are things we, men and women alike, should be standing up and fighting for! Having the power to use your voice to speak up for others is so important!
When writing this it made me think a lot about what strong women have inspired me in my life, so I thought I’d share!
Obviously firstly is my mum, grandma and godmother. All three, strong independent working women! My grandma was a child of the second world war and grew up in such a completely different time to me. I’m always in awe of her childhood stories. She then worked a hard, manual job whilst bringing up my mum who had a severe physical disability. Both my mum and godmother have faced such tough times while dealing with every other aspect of life being thrown at them. They are both so strong that I feel I have learnt from them how to carry on in such hard times.Bell me 07
My next door neighbour had her first child very young and continued to grow her family with two more children and then juggled a degree at the same time. In my final year I could never imagine how she manged the work and stress load whilst also looking after three children.
My English teacher, Miss Taylor, was the only teacher I feel that was in touch with equal rights, not just for women. She made me feel passionate to be actively a feminist, and the way it was explored in our literature really inspired me.
There are so many celebs I look up to, but for the first I thought of was Little Mix. I have been such a huge fan since 2012, and feel so passionate when people try to bring the band down. Comments about the way they dress and their lyrics being too provocative, the critique on their love lives and how they want them to not be friends. I love how always continue doing what they want to do apologetically, regardless as to what anyone else thinks. I think they are such great models as they are imprinting this mentality onto young girls; not wear this and you’ll be sexy, but wear what you feel comfortable in.
My final mention is of course my friends. I am surrounded by such strong, independent, free-thinking, like-minded people that it does inspire me to be me and feel happy with who I am!!! I hope I make them feel the same!
Follow me on Instagram – @worldofdaydreamer International Women’s Day! Today is international women's day, and like every year it is important to celebrate what has been achieved as well as standing for more rights that still need to be reached!
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