Friday, March 9, 2018

International Day of Women... International Year of Women.

I am a day late. I know. Its ok. It gives me time to sit and think about what I want to write about regarding yesterday. Yesterday, if you didn't know was the International Day of Women. I celebrated that day at a field trip with my special needs son, not that important, but that is how I observed a day to celebrate not just my gender, but all those who made it possible for my gender to be able to do the things my gender is able to do.

As I sat around in a room full of amphibians and reptiles, listening to how myself and others can help the environment and protect our planet, I made the observation that all the instructors we had, were indeed Women. Women who knew exactly what they were talking about. Intelligent women, in a field that is normally dominated by men,(let's face it there aren't a lot of women who have a keen interest in things like snakes, spiders and crocs, I wish there were!)As I continued to sit there and make sure my son's stimming wasn't on overload, I lamented that all of the teachers on this trip, were also women. Every single one of them. Then like magic it got me thinking about the work environment I work in. While we do have male teachers, most of the faculty is made of Women, myself included. While in the past, the teaching profession was at one time, one of the only professions a woman could have gotten, it got me thinking to the roles that have expanded from that. For example, I am fortunate enough to work in a school where both my top admin are women, not saying that a male admin isn't just as awesome, but it is nice to see the roles that women once had, have evolved and have expanded. And of course I kept thinking...

See this is how my mind works. I get started on one basic thought and it expands, till I am pondering the mysteries of the universe. Back to Women.  I have always loved history. The good, the bad and the ugly. I have always thought that history is a gateway into seeing how we have become the people we are today. What has shaped us, helped us learn and who has been significant in those roles. Role Models. Sitting in the jungle of snakes and spiders, I thought about who in our history have been a momentous influence on shaping the women we have today. While I tend to look at the trailblazers like the Suffragettes, or the women who basically told the male dominated field they worked in " Not today, sir, not today.Today is mine and mine alone."I thought about my own personal heroines. The ones that have helped me discover my own womanhood. The ones who made me proud to say that "I am Woman, HEAR ME ROAR!" I have so many in my 40 years on this planet. There are women who stood up for what they thought was right. There are women who quietly guided me to understanding my potential. I firmly believe that every woman, young women and girls out there need to have someone out there to show them that potential.

While yesterday was the International Day of Women, it should be noted that 2018 should be the Year of the Woman. We saw the spark of it last year, starting with the Women's March. From then, the #Metoo movement evolved and blossomed. The #Timesup initiative going strong. A lot more women becoming stronger and brave to stand up for themselves, as well as for those who do not have the courage just yet to speak out. We have seen the young women of Parkland FL, look Senators, law makers and bigwig corporations in the face and say "We will not stand for this". Young women who will be voting soon. We are seeing more women in politics, taking a stand against those who wish to take all that has been fought for, for the last 100 years.  Women in 2018 have become a force to be reckoned with. The world has started to take note.

I go back to the women standing before me talking about how to properly hold crocodile. There was one point in time where she wouldn't be standing up there talking about crocodiles, as it wouldn't have been "Proper" for a woman to even be in a field where she was touching and understanding an animal.

So to all the naysayers who want to tear down the spirit of a fighting woman, try it. Our voice is only going to get louder, braver and stronger.

For those who are still fighting for themselves and their womanhood, don't ever stop. Remember that the world is watching and somewhere there is a little girl out there who will or does look up to you.

Remember who taught you how to value your worth. Those who showed you your potential. Today and every day, remember you are worth it.

Back to crocodile handling, as I got to hold on to an awesome little female croc, named Wally.

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