International Women’s Day 

By

Dear Daughter,

Today is International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day is a “global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity” (https://www.internationalwomensday.com/About). You have been born in a time where women in the United States have more rights than ever before, however, this progress has not yet made women equal to men in many ways. Men still outearn women doing the same job, breastfeeding is still not commonly accepted in public places, and there are few women in the highest ranks of the military, the corporate world, or the political realm. This is not to say there are none. We have moved forward as a society, but not far enough. I hope to be the generation that changes this. I hope that by the time you are a mother, we have seen women presidents, more women CEOs, CFOs, and COOs, and more women in charge of our military. I hope that the pay gap between men and women has closed and that more women than ever have burst through the metaphorical “glass ceiling”. I hope that you will have every opportunity that men have.

I also hope that this is the generation that can bring gender equality to the rest of the world. You have been blessed to have been born in the United States. Being born female in many other parts of the world is perilous. Being born female in China may mean you will never grow up because of China’s One Child Policy, and the fact that many Chinese families would prefer to raise a male child. Being born female in Iraq means you may not have freedom to choose to attend school, freedom to dress as you choose, or the freedom to choose whom you marry. Being born female in many parts of Africa means you may be subject to unspeakable violence. The United States has its share of problems, whether you are born female or male, but the danger of being born female in the United States pales to the danger of being born female in many other parts of the world.

I know that change comes about slowly. I know that we women have been crusading for a long time, and I realize that the fight will continue on. I look at you, dear daughter, and I see endless possibilities in your eyes. I see you shooting for the stars, making your mark on society, being a global warrior for change. I see a little girl who is not yet jaded by the world, and I hope that you never are. I hope you look in the mirror everyday and you tell yourself that your voice counts and that you can make a difference. No matter what you choose to do in life, be proud to be a woman. Be proud to be strong. And always know that I, not only as your mother, but as a fellow woman, will always stand with you.