International Women's Day Thoughts from 15 Modern #YGK Moms : Press for Progress
- theygkmom
- Mar 8, 2018
- 17 min read
Happy International Women's Day!
This years theme for International Women's Day (IWD) is #PressforProgress and I've asked a selection of #YGK moms to share with you their thoughts on IWD, this years theme or just about being a mom in the #YGK. Some of these women are close friends and others are friends I've met via social media. For me here at The #YGK Mom it's about raising each other up, about creating that sense of community and about celebrating the diversity of motherhood. Just like our individuality as people motherhood is personal, it's unique and every journey is a little bit different.
I hope you enjoy reading about all of these #YGK mommas! Here they are (in alphabetical order), where you can find them on the internet and their thoughts. Enjoy!
Abby McIlquham
The 2018 campaign theme of “Press for Progress” is an interesting one considering the past 12 months or so. The voice for gender equality seems to be getting stronger and that’s something I cannot ignore as I raise my two young daughters. The media attention gender equality has received has kept this important goal top of mind, making it easy to find teaching moments all the time to help instil a strong sense of self in my daughters. When my one daughters says “That’s a boy colour....or that’s what the boys play” preferring to a more physical game on the playground, I am quick to spend the time with her discussing that there’s very little that truly separates “girls and boys.” There’s no colour just for boys or just for girls and there’s no activity that she should ever feel she can’t tackle just because she’s a girl. Eventually these discussions on equality will shift towards the more serious side of consent but for now, I enjoy the simple lessons I get to teach my girls.
Amelia Viveiros
Owner and Designer of KWC KnitWhits Couture
Press for Progress, what pops in my head when I hear these words in regard to International Women’s Day?
ONE ULTIMATE GOAL: Join and PRESS on together to gain attention towards the ultimate goal of GENDER EQUALITY.
Does this mean act like men, be men, what does this mean? It means that when I apply to a job or in my case, approach a retailer to wholesale my products at, that I will be considered an equal, and not lose an opportunity because I am female and may not be able to “handle” the pressures or demands of this opportunity.
Women have made a HUGE stride in society, and the momentum has got to continue.
How do we do this? Continue to speak out, to push your limits, to “can” your “cants” and to surround yourself with like-minded positive women, women who motivate you, who boost you up and leave you feeling refreshed rather than deflated.
When I hear the words “international Women’s day” I think of Rosa Parks, who bravely decided to make a change and sat at the front of that bus. I also think of my grandmother who immigrated to Canada by herself and her 6 children, to escape the life that she suffered from, and start anew. To create a better life, a life that allowed her to work outside of her home and to make an income, to better her soul, and her children’s lives.
What does all this make me feel in regards to being a mom and business owner?
As a mom of two boys, my ULTIMATE goal is to raise strong, respectful, open minded men.
Men who will not objectify, and belittle women, or anyone else for that matter, but instead raise them up to the sky and encourage them to soar! Living in a household as the only women, I am proud to say that they do just that. My husband continually ensures and encourages them to respect and love their “mama”, this may come from the fact that he lost his own, too soon, or the fact that he was raised by a tribe of women growing up. Whatever the reason, this is one of our household ways.
So, find your tribe and love them hard, and always thank your MOM, MOTHER IN LAW (she is the one who raised your partner after all) SISTER, DAUGHTER, AUNT, GRANDMOTHER, and lets thank all the women who have paved the way for us and continue to fight for us!
Caitlin Burns
Growing up I never really thought about International Women’s Day, I didn’t recognize its significance or realize why it was important. This year will be my second year celebrating IWD as a mom and now I get it. This is a day we can take a moment to reflect and rejoice on how far we have come, celebrate the strength and resilience of our community as women and remember that together we are a force to be reckoned with. It is a reminder that the support we provide to one another makes all the difference and we are not alone. There are still hurdles to cross and changes that need to be made but this can be our motivation to press forward. We must continue to stand strong while pushing for progress to improve the outlook and future for our daughters. #pressforprogress
Erica McIlquham
The topics of feminism and gender equality over the past year have been creating movements, empowering women and girls and hopefully making people really stop and think about what these things mean and how their life has or can be impacted. For me, "Press for Progress" means that we've taken steps forward and created awareness, but just because a
small difference may have been made it's not time to stop. It's time to press on, to press for more progress and greater actions. A few years ago I was attending an event about Diversity & Inclusion and one of the speakers said that the actions we take today will make a difference ten years from now. 10 years! That's a long time. The only way that this gap can be closed is by pressing for progress. For challenging the status quo and as a mom for helping to raise the next generation as people who are empowered by differences in any which way or form. I believe that we took last years theme, #BeBoldForChange and we were bold and that made a difference. Kicking off this year with the theme of #PressForProgress we can be reminded that whether we feel empowered, we feel the change or maybe we feel defeated - that the only way we can truly make a difference is by pressing on and standing up for what we believe in.
Since becoming a mom I have noticed even more gender challenges, inequalities and nonacceptance. You may have read about the mental load that women and moms carry for their families - this unspoken massive list of expected tasks and chores that moms take on to fill the gaps in families that no one else things about. The burdens that moms strain themselves with to not sound "nagging" to their partners when they may need help and support doing simple tasks. The mom-shaming that sometimes happens when we are expected to fit into stereotypical boxes (ie. "soccer mom", "boy mom", "cool mom", "green mom", etc.). The challenges that women in the workforce continue to experience upon returning to work from parental leaves and how they are treated and considered by fellow colleagues. As women and as mothers we not only have a role to raise our children to be thoughtful and accepting, but we have a purpose to stand up for ourselves now. To make changes in our lives to create more equality and balance in our homes. To speak up at work when being treated without consideration. To try to understand that everyone is different, that the journey of motherhood is different for everyone and that as examples to our children and our community, we should show acceptance and love toward the differences in others - whatever those differences may be.
On my personal journey of growth and in my position as a mother and figure in my community I will continue to press for progress, I will challenge the norm and I will speak to others with compassion and empathy to accept differences and show my children that what makes them different may in fact be the best part of being them.
Jenn Murphy
Owner/operator of Cove Esthetics / Call/Text 613.266.1627
International Women’s Day.. A day to acknowledge how far we’ve come and in many ways how far we have to go. For me personally, this
became apparent the moment I became a mom with the pull of responsibilities to my incredible little being. I always knew I wanted to be a mother and I always knew I would be a working mother. My mother was and she made it look effortless, but no one ever told me how hard it would be at times. Balancing mom life, work life, wife life, home life is incredibly rewarding, as most would tell you, but very challenging. This doesn’t even include balancing friends, family and #selfcare. As a new business owner and being the sole person that provides the product of my business, I’m it. There is no one that can step in, and as a mom when my little one needs me, I’m it...it can be a hefty responsibility but motherhood always wins. As a woman, a working professional, I realize these are parental things in today’s world that still don’t effect many men. That’s when it hit me how incredibly celebrated and supported women need to be.
I’m so lucky to have found the worlds most supportive circle here in the YGK, women & mothers that I look up to daily. They are supportive, go-getters, hustlers and motivators. Everyone should be so lucky to surround themselves with these women.
image by Niche Photography (@niche.photography)
Dr. Jillian Murphy, ND
www.foodfreedombodylove.com
Competition with other women is an accidental by-product of the oppression imposed upon women for centuries. Internalized misogyny exists so deeply buried in our bodies that we mistake it for ourselves. It lives like a bully on
our shoulder, whispering slyly and subtly in our ear – convincing us that our access to love, belonging, beauty, happiness, success etc. depends upon being better than other women. It causes us to shame, doubt, and undervalue ourselves, and the women around us. It suggests that our worth is up for debate. It’s insidious.
So when I see inspirational quotes about “real women raising other women up” it feels a bit….empty to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sentiment – it just gets me thinking about all the times I couldn’t authentically conjure the feeling and why? Am I not real? Am I not strong? Am I not good enough? Oh look, there’s that “worth thing” I was talking about…..
For me, Press for Progress is about looking inside myself to see where I have been unintentionally culpable - where I’ve been too hard on myself and, consequently, too hard on the women around me. It’s about recognizing that those stomach-churning thoughts that keep me unsteady, competitive, and unsure weren’t born in me or of me – they were fed to me. In celebration of IWD, I intend to flip the script. I will Press for Progress by radically approving of myself. I will decide (and continue to decide over and over again) that I am beautiful, smart, worthy, loveable, and desirable – exactly as I am – without needing to earn any of it. And then? From a place of solid knowing that I don’t need to earn or compete for my worth, I will enjoy the feeling of that approval spreading to all the women around me. I will go out of my way to extend acceptance and sincere compassion to every woman I meet. I will compliment and thank and offer a hand to those who have stumbled. It’s just so much easier to raise other women up when I’m not sweating and struggling to get up myself, you know?
Photo credit: Wild Little Hearts (http://www.wildlittlehearts.com/)
Julie Boucher
I recently shared an article on Facebook on “How to Raise a Sweet Son in an Era of Angry Men” and commented that my goal has always been (and will always be) to raise a good human that is kind and generous with his time and love. But what does that look like in 2018 when women are still fighting for equality? As a boy mom, it is important to me that my son has strong independent women around. That he sees and knows them as heroines, as trailblazers…as equals.
Press for Progress in our house means celebrating the women in our lives daily. And it means helping women feel empowered to use their voice.
image by Niche Photography (@niche.photography)
Kelli Rain
www.holisticrain.com
What #PressForProgress means to me is the time is now to collectively take action towards real change. It’s about gender equality in every facet of our lives. It’s about modelling this behaviour to our children.
With the recent #metoo and #timesup movements taking centre stage, women are being called to rise up and be heard, and the energy behind this movement is palpable. We’re taking our power back and we’re demanding to be heard. We're shining a bright light on the darkness and bringing it to the surface for healing. We’re creating the space to nurture, nourish, and heal ourselves and each other. We’re setting the stage for a very different reality for the women of our future.
I encourage my son to comprehend that anything is possible for him – that he can soar higher than he can imagine in this life. He’ll also understand that the more women he surrounds himself with and the more women in leadership positions throughout his journey, the more beautiful and peaceful this life will be.
We all have fears as mothers about the future of this world for our children, but on this IWD I trust that we’re entering a time that we will look back on with pride for being a part of, that we were a part of our history through which we empowered each other, re-wrote the next chapter and co-created a brighter future for women - and fuelled the next generation of women to carry the torch.
About Kelli:
Kelli Rain is an entrepreneur, Reiki Practitioner, and Founder of Holistic Rain, a lifestyle brand focused on creating tools and providing services and events that heal you holistically, from the inside out. Kelli's work brings communities of like-minds together to inspire, empower, and lift each other up. She’s also a wife and mother, Partner at Aurora Water Health, is a Crystal Consultant, and is studying to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist.
Laura Doherty
My action to Press for Progress is inspiring my girls to be determined. We read Strong Is The New Pretty most mornings - a beautiful book full of amazing, colourful photos of girls being brave, kind and joyful.
Our favourite quote/photo is of a horseback rider named Cara. She says "I am able to hold on and trust an animal five times my size with my life. Strength is not a physical measure, because no matter how "strong" you are, you cannot out-muscle a horse. True strength is a quiet determination."
Thank you to all the quietly (and some not so quietly) determined women who are shifting the status quo and to my employer lululemon, who brings tears of gratitude to my eyes for their work in helping me to feel my #worth100.
Photo Cred: @ericaemma1
Melissa Yakabak
We live in a world where technology and other aspects of life seem to have come so far. People have walked on the moon, a car can drive itself, we can connect to anyone with a click of a button, and incurable diseases are being cured every day. Then why is it that we as women, still feel that gender parity has a long way to go? Why do women have to work so dang hard to get the same admiration, respect, pay and rights as men? Why is this still an issue and something we have to think about? Luckily, this gap doesn’t seem to stop us. In fact, it empowers us, moves us and helps us find our tribe and community. It encourages us to think outside of the box and create our own opportunities. It makes us want change. Change for ourselves, humanity, our children and future generations.
My daughter gets told all the time how beautiful she is. She is, but she is so much more than that. Knowing this early on will be a game changer for her and how she views herself and what she can do. She needs to know that her heart and kindness are what make her special. Her confidence, cleverness, stubbornness, and respectfulness are the traits that are going to allow her to be whatever she wants to be. As a female, I never want her to feel the barriers that are put up by others. So, instead of telling her she’s beautiful, other words about her heart and soul are going to come to mind.
My son is lucky to be surrounded by males who know the importance of equality and respect. He will have these examples and guidance to grow into the type of man this world needs. The women in his life are as strong as they come and the notion that we are not created equally will be something that will never cross his mind. That is my goal in life as a mother is to raise kind hearted and well-adjusted children.
Like everything else in life, we have to work to get there. It starts with us and the little leaps and changes we make every day. We may be a couple of hundred years away from seeing true progress, but for every one person that gets on board, every one person that stands up for themselves and every one person that opens their mind and their heart to other ways of living, we will get there sooner then we think. #pressforprogress
Natalie George
www.go-greenbaby.ca
As a female entrepreneur, there is no place more visible to me to #pressforprogress than in the business world.
Historically the business world has been filled with men. Men have dominated this market for years and we are now seeing a surge of women powering up and destroying barriers! As a woman and mother to four children who has carried a business now for 10 years, the challenges have been many throughout the years. Overall though, the conversations, the community and the relationships built with fellow female entrepreneurs throughout these years has been crucial to my success and to the success of many other female entrepreneurs. Challenging stereotypes, celebrating women's achievements, and influencing others beliefs and values has been an essential part of our business and how we #pressforprogress. We as a family and business are actively fighting and contributing to change the status quo, to make the future different for our children so that they can all create and build the future they want for themselves, whatever that may be!
Natasha Anderson
thepurplebeanblog.com
For generations women have been conditioned to think that there is weakness is vulnerability, and that silent suffering is their only option. They forced themselves to internalize whatever adversity they were facing. I firmly believe women can and have begun to change this lens, and to illustrate the great strength that comes with being vulnerable.
In the age of social media, where the tendency is to display the highlight reel of life, it is sometimes difficult to be bare your soul. Yet, this is exactly what we need to do sometimes. We need to “Press for Progress” by using our voices and our testimonies to uplift and encourage each other. We need to share our struggles AND our victories. We need to be present when we or someone we know needs help, whether this be because we were a victim of harassment or sexual assault, whether we would rather pursue a career vs. having children, whether we be suffering from post-partum depression or infertility, or whether we have any mental health challenge. We need to be able to share our stories. I think it is vital that we encourage each other as women to talk about our struggles, to make each other aware that we are not alone, or unique. What you are facing is not something you need to endure relying on only your own strength. Don’t let society bend your mind to believe that there is something wrong with you. You have the right to choose your life’s path, and you have the right to seek help along this path if you need it. There is a solidarity in sisterhood and womanhood, and I have definitely found this solidarity in my community.
Photo credit: Ina Soulis Photography
Romy Cald
“Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without courage, you cannot practice any of the other virtues consistently.”- Maya Angelou
This last year has been a powerful one for women globally. We have seen a lot of brave women expose a lot of
abuse that had been swept under the rug, and courageous men support them. Women have been stepping out of their comfort zones and speaking their truths, loudly and unapologetically. I think this is bigger than gender, I think International Woman’s Day holds its space, not as an “exclusive” day for those with the lady parts to match, but for Femininity in general. With so many of us having platforms on the internet to take a stand, raise awareness and touch upon this subject it is more important than ever that we use it and #pressforprogress. We are often targeted for our emotional sides, for our empathy, for our natural care giver instincts, when we should be revered for it. Our capacity to love and fight for what we believe in is what drives this world for the better. We are sisters, mothers, wives, entrepreneurs, dancers, astronauts… We have carved out a place in so many fields, and yet we are still viewed as lesser than male. . In Canada, full-time working women earn 74 cents for every dollar earned by men. GENDER SHOULD NOT BE A WAGE DETERMINANT. Individuals hired for the same role should be considered equal so long as their qualifications are, regardless of their anatomy or gender identification. We should all be aware of the beauty that comes with knowing and embracing your feminine side. Males: don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, to have emotions, to recognize the things you have done wrong, to own your truths too! We certainly have a long way to go, but the more we stand together and the louder we speak, the more change we will create. We hold the power to mold the future for our children so let us be courageous! Let us give them a society that better recognizes the importance of both the feminine and the masculine, respect, consent and equality of human beings.
Sira Schaffner
International Women’s day. It’s one day where we seem to melt together, be one, fight for the same, support each other, embrace each other, encourage, understand, forgive, speak up, make progress, shout out the truth, change. Feel brave, confident, sexy... feel ourselves, proud of our gender and the things we have accomplished. I wished this day would be a year. Celebrating US every single day. I want that spirit of IWD and that feeling to be present every single day, in every day to day chores.
As a mom you encounter a lot of judgement, directly or indirectly, in a kind way or aggressive way. Let us be us.
The way how we chose to be OUR own best version. The way how it works for each individual woman, mother, wife. While I could write a book about gender parity, I need us to have a deeper look how we women act amongst each other. My press for progress mantra means become a unit, a community! Don’t hold any space for competition and judgements. We need to stop judging, we need to stop worrying what other mothers think about each individual parenting skills. Stop comparing. Everyone... E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. is fighting their own battle. I want us to open up to show that all these struggles are totally normal. I want us to stop talking about community and start communicating... speak up, compliment, be proud of other women’s achievements, give that mom who is struggling to tame a screaming toddler that warm, understanding smile that you would want in that moment, saying: ‘I know & it’s ok. We are all going through the same!’
I want us women to fight together. Sisterhood. Motherhood. Womenhood. It’s community. A unit which is the strongest I know. Press for progress for me, means to manifest this into my everyday life.
As a mom, wife and woman I’ve learnt the most about myself by someone sharing their struggles, their real life, with me. This has helped me to push for progress, grow in a way that allowed me to be myself. And to feel good about it! Why? Cause by sharing I realized I’m not alone. Everything I’m feeling is normal. While men often doesn’t understand woman’s emotions, i believe it’s our duty to support and understand each other. And as a mom of a little boy and a little girl it’s also my duty to raise my boy as a boy but show him that emotions are no weakness but a strength, the most powerful one. And he will watch is sister growing up as a strong, confident and powerful woman surrounded in a community that supports each other.
Tara
http://www.happysoulproject.com
This year's theme for International Women's Day is #PressforProgress.
And that could mean many things.
It could mean woman fighting for equality.
It could mean woman fighting for rights & respect.
It means women all over the world picking up their swords to fight forward.
But, for me I can't help but want to look back.
To be reminded of all the women who paved the way before me.
Be that in equality, the workforce, motherhood or fighting for inclusion for people like my daughter.
Remembering their fight, enables me to press for progress more powerfully.
And it reminds me that we are lucky to be the women of history today.
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