The original article can be read here.
Grecia Figueroa, whose complaint against Supervisor Nathan Fletcher was filed yesterday, posted the following a few weeks ago for International Women’s Day…
“I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” –Maya Angelou.
This is a phrase I like to repeat to myself whenever I’m about to face a challenging situation and when strength is my only source of courage to stand up on my own two feet.
I come as one, but I stand as 10,000. As a woman, as a woman of color, as a woman raised in a foreign country, as an immigrant, and as a Latina who has not only benefited from the fight by many others before for equal education for Latinos and against discrimination, but also from the thousands of women who fought for equal rights for all.
I come as one, but I stand as 10,000. We all do, I feel like in some way we can all say that. Our strength and potential are not only ours. They are also fueled by the many people who came before us, in any way and capacity that could be.
It doesn’t matter where you came from, or the color of your skin. There were people who came before you whose fight and courage was essential to your present journey and is allowing you to live your full potential today.
But there’s still so much that needs to be done.
It’s not enough – for men and women- to publicly support women’s rights, if what you do behind closed doors or in your daily life objectifies women, or degrades them.
Talk the talk, and walk the walk.
If you are a woman, hating, gossiping, and judging are all elements that contribute to our division. Staying quiet when you hear other women, such as your mothers or grandmothers encourage gender roles in the household is enabling sexism. If you are a manager and refuse to stand up for a coworker asking for a raise is a form of enabling gender disparity.
If you are a man, it’s not hard to be an ally. Don’t feel threatened by us highlighting our rights on days like today, we are just tired of being afraid of walking alone at night, or getting roofied by our dates, or needing to carry a pepper spray and share our locations with our best friends when we go out. It’s exhausting, but that’s our daily life.
If you are a man, don’t just post about women’s rights, respect them in your personal life. Respect their boundaries, their bodies, and how you treat them. It’s hard to realize that we have to remind people that we aren’t objects for their entertainment, and even harder when we realize even those who say they support equal rights, end up categorizing us as such.
Today, we commemorate International Women’s Day. Please take time to reflect and think how you, in any big or small way, can contribute to helping women’s fight for equality every day.
Even the smallest gestures speak volumes, because… remember we ALL come as one, but stand as 10,000.
Here’s to International Women’s Day!
Original Article Link: Grecia Figueroa: If you are a man, don’t just post about women’s rights, respect them in your personal life – SD Rostra
Image Credit: Canva
