Each for Equal – a Message this International Women’s Day

Each for Equal – a Message this International Women’s Day

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that a single individual can have any real impact on the world around us. The narrative that’s been hammered into us, “You can’t save the world!” or “You’re only one person; you won’t make a dent.” is hard to ignore some days, especially since we don’t always see the impact of our actions right away.

In the struggle to ensure that women (and young girls) become equal in opportunities, education, welfare and human rights, it seems like we’re light years behind where we should be and our individual attempts seem so tiny against this giant goal of equality.

If you’ve ever felt this way, consider the impact of the difference one woman can make….

A bus ride that sparked the Civil Rights Movement

Rosa Parks was on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, during the time of segregation. Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat for a white man, and was arrested. In protest, the local black community organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Parks became the plaintiff in a lawsuit that challenged bus segregation. She won her case and the US Supreme Court ruled bus segregation unconstitutional in 1956. One woman ushered in the beginning of the civil rights movement.

“I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free.” – Rosa Parks

A schoolgirl who taught the world a Lesson

Malala Yousafzai was born and raised in Pakistan. Her father, a teacher, oversaw an all-girls school in their local village, where Malala was also a student. When the Taliban took over, they banned girls from attending school. Malala defied that ban, as did other girls, and publicly spoke out on their right to an education. For this, Malala was shot in the head by a gunman. Surviving her attack, she and her family moved to the UK where she became a spokesperson for women’s rights and the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17. One young woman became the voice of so many who can’t speak for themselves.

“I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls.” – Malala Yousafzai

Applying for the job is half the battle

How many times have we women cancelled ourselves out of an opportunity by not even applying for that new job or promotion? Sally Ride was the first American woman astronaut and youngest American in space. Educated in physics, astrophysics and English, Ride was accepted in NASA’s space program in 1978 after answering a newspaper ad for astronauts. After her death in 2012, then-President Obama called Dr. Ride a national hero and a powerful role model. “She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars and later fought tirelessly to help them get there by advocating for a greater focus on science and math in our schools. Sally’s life showed us that there are no limits to what we can achieve.” One brave woman challenged the status quo to show us how far we can go.

“The women’s movement had already paved the way, I think, for my coming.” – Dr. Sally Ride

Meeting Dr. Sally Ride in San Jose, California, with one of my daughters, Katya.

I read about these famous women and yet I feel overwhelmed by the work that still needs to be done. But they also help me remember that one person truly can make a difference, whether while doing the mundane or the daring, by continuing to lift up the women and girls in our lives and show them that each of us TOGETHER can achieve our goal of equality.

Happy International Women’s Day 2020.