Growing up I was always told there was nothing I could not do. It was ground in to me at a young age that, as a girl, I was just as good (if not better) than a boy. I took dance and played sports. I love shoes and a good power tool. It was the kind of upbringing I’d want for every single girl out there in the world. But it wasn’t long before my reality was shattered, and I saw how the rest of the world really worked. At a young age I learned that boys were treated different, better. They could get away with a lot more stuff than girls.
Being a woman in today’s world is not for the weak. We do have to work twice as hard. We socialize in a state of high alert. We’re judged not only on our actions and beliefs but on our appearance and relationships. That being said, I have to admit it’s an amazing time to be alive. We came so close to seeing the first female president. This year I’ve been proud to see women come together in the second annual Women’s March – a display of not only strength but of peacefulness. We’re living in the #MeToo movement and finally saying enough is enough. I’ve read so many stories from women who have endured unthinkable, gross behavior and still persevered. I’m grateful that society has decided that #TimesUp and this behavior can no longer be accepted. We have a long way to go, but I’m amazed at the progress we’ve made in just the last couple of years.
International Women’s Day falls on Thursday, March 8, 2018. It’s a day I’ve celebrated the past few years. The theme this year is #PressforProgress, a call to continue the momentum these other movements have started so that we can start to see real progress in small ways and big. So my personal challenge in 2018 is to make sure I deliver a #PressforProgress in my professional and personal life.
PROFESSIONAL PROGRESS
Sara & Rachel
Thanks to my very dear friend, former coworker and amazing woman, Rachel A., I found a passion for engaging with women at work – fostering an environment where we can learn, mentor and support each other. I became part of a group that celebrated being women and focused on lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down. One of the biggest lessons we as women need to learn is that competition is a cancer. When we work together and truly support each other, there is nothing that we cannot achieve.
My professional #PressforProgress is to be a positive force for change. I will take everything I have learned with the goal to creating a collaborative and enriched environment in my new career. It’s so important to have a group of women who will support and teach each other. I want to ensure that the next generation of young women enter the workforce with a solid support system in place.
My additional challenge this year is to engage more men in the conversation. It’s clear we’re going to need them to be on board in order to make any real change in the future. So it’s time to make allies and stop alienating the other 49% of the population.
I’ve also dedicated a section of this blog to career development, so that I can share what I’ve learned along the way.
PERSONAL PROGRESS
I have been incredibly lucky to know so many amazing women in my life. But at the top of my list sit my Mom and my Grandmother. They are the most amazing women I’ve known and I’ve learned so many important lessons from both of them. It’s true what they say, Latina women are born with a fire inside of them that will not be put out.
My Mom is a strong woman with solid ideals and a fervent desire to express them. She has always stood up and fought for what is right and has never held back a day in her life. From her I’ve learned that not only does my opinion matter, but that I have a duty to make sure my voice is heard. I will continue this legacy by voting in every election, writing to my congressman and no longer staying silent when I see injustice in the world
My Grandma taught me the importance of leaving your mark in a different way. She came to the United States from Mexico as a child. To say she didn’t have it easy is an understatement. But she took what this world had to offer and turned it into a miracle. If she had been born in a different era, I have no doubt she would have left her mark on history. But I’m so lucky that she was a part of my world. I measure her success, not by what fame she achieved or how much money she made, but how many lives she touched. She made such an impact on so many people. It’s a reminder that there are more important things than just my career. I must be a force for positive change with my family, my friends and my community.
My personal #PressforProgress is to make sure I’m raising the next generation to see past the stereotypes. As a boy mom, I know I’ve got my work cut out for me. I am cautiously navigating my way through raising a responsible, smart young man who not only respects women but can sympathize with them. Someone who sees women as an equal and will stand up for what he knows is right. I try to keep an open dialogue with him and challenge him to see past gender. I make sure we watch shows and movies with strong female characters (Wonder Woman, Teen Titans, the new Star Wars). And of course he has shirts that say “STRONG LIKE MOM” and “MOM IS MY SUPERHERO”. Even in these small ways, we can start to make a difference.
FUTURE PROGRESS
There are so many ways we can #PressforProgress this year. And there are so many women out there who are making a difference each and every day. So my last pledge is to make sure to celebrate and share our achievements. So here’s my special thank you and kudos to the women I know personally who are out there making a difference:
Jeannie
Courtney
Rachel
Amy
Heather
Carla
Jessica
Allison
Elizabeth
Lauren
Cecilia
Cathy
Kristi
Rafaela
Love you all! Happy International Women’s Day!
Sara
Daughter,
From day one you have always made me proud!
Dad