March is Women’s History Month, and as much as I hope we’ll all celebrate the extraordinary achievements of ordinary women in the past, what I want, what I really, really want is for all of us to make some women’s history right NOW.
In the years to come, I want our kids to covet trading cards of the women who:
- On [Fill in Your Date Here], marched into their bosses’ offices and asked for mother-loving raises already, then pushed for raises – and promotions – for all of the women and underpaid folks in their department
- On [Like Yesterday], saved some cash, quit their soul-sucking corporate jobs, started businesses from their passion projects and added their awesomeness to the women entrepreneur ecosystem
- On [Not Tomorrow, Today], stood up to their colleague who always talk over women in meetings and told him they’ll let him know when he can start talking again, thankyouverymuchBobshutit
In the not too distant future, I want schoolchildren to write reports on the women who:
- On [Do it Now], finally pulled their besties aside to say, once and for all, “Girl, no one likes your [significant other]. You’re fantastic. You can do better. You just gotta believe.
- On [The Next Family Holiday], got their uncles to start using a family member’s preferred gender pronouns after years of trying
- On [Are you Kidding Me, it’s 2018], explained successfully why touching someone’s hair without her permission – or really, at all – is NOT OK
These everyday acts may not sound as revolutionary as those by the bold, brave and bad-ass women running for office, teaching our kids, protecting our families and making the world a more fiercely feminist place one day at a time, but we all have a part to play in women’s history.
The Future is Female, the Future is Equal, and it starts today with all of us.
In Rebellion,
Karen
P.S. If you’re in Illinois, don’t forget to vote in the primary election on March 20! Our running list of Chicago-area female candidates is here. Tips on how to support women candidates is here.
And if you’re around on March 8, International Women’s Day, join us for the Rebellious Magazine Anniversary Party.
The Future is Equal Illustration by Lucia Picerno, a London based Illustrator and designer. Follow her on Instagram here.
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And, finally, don’t miss the Feminist Prom on May 19!
