I love this year's International Women's History Month theme, #acceleratingaction. But when it comes to advocating for the diversity of the "sis"-terhood, and not just the "cis"-terhood, we have to ensure that our actions are inclusive of ALL women.
When we consider the multitude of intersections that women possess, whether it's related to one's race, ethnicity, age, size, shape, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, nationality, physical/mental abilities, religious beliefs, education, marital status, political affiliation, communication style, socio-economic status, zip code, parental status, work and/or life experience, and more, we have to understand that the embodiment of any combination of these human traits does not qualify one as more or less of a woman.
As a diverse woman whose humanity is currently under attack, I navigate a culture daily that is conditioned to believe that any experience other than that of a white, straight, cisgender female, is one of an imposter or interloper. Because of this reality, I and other diverse women are oftentimes deemed illegitimate and a threat to our society's identity or safety. Look at the legislation that has been emerging across the land. When in fact, this fear-based erroneous belief is merely a reflection of our own culture's insecurity in itself. Just because one member of the sisterhood may have a different lived experience from another, it doesn't deem one to be illegitimate or threatening to another.
Imagine overlooking a field of diverse wildflowers and observing there beauty and magnificence. The lily doesn't say to the daffodil, "You're not a REAL flower because you don't look, smell or pollinate like me." Nor does it say, "You don't belong here in the field next to me for fear that you will rob me of the sunlight and nutrients that I need and deserve." No, a field of diverse wildflowers doesn't concern itself with such folly. Its member's collective coexistence is nonthreatening to any given member and is much more magnificent than if it were a field of only one species. If anything, its complexity and nuance accentuates each member's brilliance, uniqueness and resilience, and collectively brings beauty and harmony to the field. As well, their collective coexistence doesn't diminish, invalidate or jeopardize the next species identity or well-being.
In the same way, when we're willing and able to weed through and transcend the polarization associated with the rhetoric centered around "human difference," we will begin to see that our differences are in fact our strength...not a threat to our legitimacy. Our uniqueness is our super power. As a nuanced, complex and diverse sisterhood, we are absolutely more brilliant and powerful together. And when leveraged, we can fulfill this year's International Women's Day theme and accelerate equitable action to create a society where ALL women have the opportunity to flourish, thrive and prosper...because we know...when one of us blooms, we all bloom!