Women's Day- March 8, 2017

Being a woman is a privilege I have always enjoyed. With its idiosyncratic physical challenges along with the never ending struggle to push back patriarchy that engulfs us not only from outside but from within us, never for half a heartbeat would I wish to not have been a woman. It has less to do with pink themed consortiums or other stereotype embracing movements or cohorts and more to do with reining in that innate power to create, nurture and transform. A power that made men shudder in their socks for years and get down to devising ways to push them down and keep them there. The systemic cultivation of patriarchy over the centuries past.
Whether it's the monthly menstrual cycle or the ability to make decisions for ourselves. We've been damned to feel bad about our existence. This day itself began with another woman body shaming me reinforcing the fact that we have been oppressed across generations into cannibalism simply in fear of our positive, constructive powers being unleashed and somehow leaving the rest behind. Little do they know that women when soar sans insecurities sowed in them to weaken them, they take everyone along on their journey through the skies. That men would be partners, not slaves.
There is so much that I always found perplexing about the world outside my house that had to do with gender politics, I was always a misfit and gladly so. I never understood how or why I would hold my opinions back when men were airing theirs. Or not speak up wherever needed. Or not do whatever comes to mind. Simple things such. I was never taught to bite my tongue in the face of gender political correctness.
On this day I not only thank the women who raised me with their steely demeanour but also the men who stared blankly in the face of patriarchal traditions and taught us to do so. For them and their secure existence did not need to trample a woman's sense of self and existence but enjoyed her company and contributions to the quality of life.
To nice people, men and women. Who taught me to be nice and protect others from those not-so.
To the rockstar women who continue their journey to recovering the light within them they were always accustomed to extinguish.
To not lying low and fighting back the judgements that roll your way, endlessly and effortlessly.
To being a woman who uplifts and not pulls down.
To resilient and unabashed loving, the girl power most women forget to acknowledge in themselves.
To never falling from grace, tipping the balance as we continue our journey through feminism
To being proud feminists for women rights are human rights.

To being a woman for I won't have it another way in the face of a million women struck down to have stood up for women.

To Strong Women
May we know them
May we Be them
May we Raise them