Reclaiming Our Power: The Fight to Build a World for Women

For Women’s Day, I want to acknowledge something I’ve carried for a long time—something that’s difficult to admit.

For much of my life, I felt like the world wasn’t meant for women. And if I’m being honest, there was a time I felt ashamed to be one.

I was told I couldn’t do the things I wanted to because I was female.

• “You shouldn’t be in construction—it’s a man’s job.”
• “You’re not successful if you’re not married.”
• “You can’t be loud, tough, or talk back—because you’re a girl.”

Why would I want to exist in a world that so clearly treats me as the lesser gender?

I grew up in a home where the head of the household was my father. His word was final. Even now, his authority often feels unquestionable even when I know he’s wrong. I learned early on to listen, obey, and shrink myself to fit the expectations placed on me.

But what happens when you don’t want to shrink?

I wanted to conform, yet I wanted to think outside the box. I wanted both freedom and belonging. I wanted to be everything in between. But I was constrained—because I was a woman.

And because of that, I had to work twice as hard to succeed. I had to fight against the unspoken rules.

The Barbie movie captured these struggles perfectly—the quiet burdens, the invisible expectations, the constant contradictions women carry. But even when something like Barbie sparks conversation, we still don’t talk about this enough.

Who Decides a Woman’s Worth?

In 1776, men with property were given the right to vote. Women had to wait until 1869 to even be considered almost a whole century to have passed.

Was that the moment society decided that owning land was more important than creating life?

And let’s be honest—who made that decision? Wealthy white men who sat in rooms together, shaping laws that best served them. As Hamilton famously says, “I want to be in the room where it happens.” But we weren’t in the room. We were outside of it—caring for those inside.

Women bear life, yet our bodies remain up for debate. Our worth is measured not by our intelligence, ambition, or contributions, but by whether we fit into a mold designed by men who know nothing about us.

Does that make sense to anyone?

If you strip life down to its core, nothing survives without women. If Thanos snapped his fingers and erased all men, women would adapt, innovate, and find a way to sustain life—because life comes through us. But if the opposite happened and Thanos snapped and erased all women, the world wouldn’t just struggle; it would have an expiration date. Without women, humanity itself would vanish.

Despite all of this, somehow, we are not treated as equals. We are suppressed. We are told we are too “emotional” to lead—yet modern leadership favors collaboration and empathy with coaching leadership. And still, men refuse to listen.

Men are built on survival. Women are built on survival and care.

Who Decides What Our Time is Worth?

I’ve seen women juggle careers, run households, raise children, and support their families—only to be made to feel like they still aren’t doing enough.

I’ve watched working mothers come home after long days to cook, clean, and organize while their partners do a fraction of the work. And somehow, we accept this as normal. Worse, mothers internalize it. They feel guilty for not doing more.

Why?

Because we care too much?

We are gaining power—earning our own money, owning our own property. And yet, we are still burdened with the unseen labor of life. We are breaking ourselves trying to be warriors in a world that won’t acknowledge the weight we carry.

One of the best managers I’ve ever had was engaged, challenging, and supportive. But most of all, she cared. That is the kind of leadership the world needs more of.

We Deserve to Be in the Room

Empowerment isn’t just about breaking barriers or raising awareness—it’s about being seen, valued, and given the space to exist as we are. We don’t just deserve a day of recognition; we deserve a world that respects and uplifts us every day.

The world wasn’t built for women, but we are rebuilding it—brick by brick, choice by choice, fight by fight. I am proud to be a women, and I have hope we can move forward.

It’s time to stop waiting for a seat at someone else’s table. Let’s create our own.

Now that is something worth celebrating.