OUR #WCW FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Who run the world? Girls! Women, today is your day! It’s been a tough year, paying witness to world events and specifically the 2016 presidential election – its pretty clear we have a long way to go correcting some peoples way of thinking. And although we could have hoped for a better turn out on that one what we can say for sure is the process really shone a light on some of the backwards views the world has about women and really called a gender into action. But this isn’t a day to get down about the inequalities we face, today is the day to celebrate everything that women can be. A boss, a mom, a student, an astronaut, a scientist, a teacher, a NASTY WOMAN or anything in between. We hope you use this day to spread some empowerment around to all your favourite lady friends out there and let them know how much you appreciate their role in your life. And next time you’re faced with a challenge remember – “Nevertheless, she persisted.”

 

Adriana:

 Rupi Kaur

This Ontarian has a way with words; her book of poetry and prose, Milk and Honey, quickly became one of my favourites. She discusses powerful female narratives and themes throughout the book’s four sections, but outside of Milk and Honey she is also an activist, public speaker, feminist photographer, and an all around amazing human (If you’ve heard of the ~controversial~ and viral menstruation photo on Instagram, it was also by her!). P.S. she was on the New York Times Best Seller list at just 23 years old!

If you like her work, definitely check out We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It’s an essay adapted from a Ted Talk, where Adichie looks at the differences between masculinity, femininity, and gender construction, AND it was sampled in Beyonce’s “Flawless”, aka it’s hella awesome.

I hope these two feminists inspire you to embrace and love your powerful lady-self as much as they did for me!

Anthony:

Michelle Obama

The recently ex-FLOTUS is the epitome of what a public figure should be: confident, caring, and genuinely concerned about the future and well-being of the people she served. Also she was a strong inspiration and set the bar incredibly high for all female politicians moving forward!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQTGu_QBwJ4/?taken-by=ellenpage

Brittany:

Ellen Page

The talented Canadian actress has not only done amazing work on screen but also became an advocate for LGBTQ rights. She announced in a speech at THRIVE, a conference to promote issues of the gay community, that she was homosexual. Since then she has worked to support the LGBTQ community including a documentary series called “Gaycation” travelling around the world showing the good and bad of life for LGBTQ people around the world.

Emily:

Malala Yousafzai

You’ve definitely heard of Malala, the teenager who became a well known advocate for women’s education in Pakistan and was shot by a Taliban assassin. Despite being in critical condition, Malala recovered and continues to advocate for women’s education. At just 17 years old, she became the youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate. She founded the Malala Fund and co-authored the best selling book, I Am Malala. She has been named one of the most influential people globally by Time Magazine and was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. She understood at a young age that fighting for equals rights was important and has not let anything stand in her way. Malala is only 19 years old and has already inspired people around the world. I can’t wait to see what else she accomplishes. “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back” – Malala Yousafzai

Jessica:

Beyonce

While I don’t need to tell you all the reasons this woman is an absolute icon my reasons for loving her are perhaps unexpected. This is a woman who has been put on a pedestal and idolized by millions. I myself have even used the phrase “Praise, Beyonce” on occasion.  She’s talented, gorgeous, and hardworking but most of all she is human. At her 2016 MTV VMA Lemonade performance a message flashed behind her loud and clear “God is God, I am not” reminding us that she is just like us after all. A Houston girl lucky enough to live her dreams but still just as flawed as anyone else. After announcing that her and husband Jay-Z were expecting twins she hit the stage just two weeks later to perform at the Grammy’s. Visibly pregnant she put on a show to remember putting her lyrics into real action “strong enough to bear the children, then get back to business”. She’s unfortunately since had to pull out of her Coachella headlining performance this summer after reportedly being medically advised to keep a less rigorous schedule, just another reminder that again she is human. Although she’s shown us she can command a stage and raise a family at the same time she knows that her own wellbeing, keeping herself and her family healthy is top priority (and now we all have a year to save up for her rescheduled performance in 2018). Thanks for giving me a new reason to love you this year Bey!

Justine:

Arlene Dickinson

Talk about a lady boss! Arlene took a small, local communications firm and grew it to one of Canada’s largest and most acclaimed firms, despite being a struggling, single mom of four with little education. She’s the true embodiment of “you get what you give,” proving that hard work really does pay off. Plus she’s 61 and STUNNING!

 

Mackenzie:

Audrey Hepburn

Actress, fashion icon, role model, and above all, a humanitarian. Audrey believed that “happy girls are the prettiest girls” and encouraged women around the world to love themselves and to enjoy life to the fullest. In her remaining years, Audrey became an ambassador for UNICEF and dedicated her life to helping impoverished children, showing unconditional love for the world until her last day.

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others”.