Women Empowering Women
It takes a village to raise a child. If this is true, what would happen to that child if we ostracized one of the women of that village? You might consider her role in the village; was she the skilled artist, did she oversee the budget of the village, did she make the finest silks that you sought out, was she high ranking, did she have an addiction, had she ever stolen anything from someone, or was she the mother of that child?
Regardless of who the woman is that is singled out to be stricken from society, we must consider the impact of losing that person and what benefits our decisions really have.
Have you ever been to a social gathering and listened to a friend as she whispered about the recent affair of another friend? Or been enveloped in emotions as you discussed another’s woman’s recent mistake or loss? We gain nothing but providing pain to someone else who was once kind to us. It’s common to learn bullying behaviors like this in pre-teen or adolescent age. It's important for these age groups to be educated that this type of behavior can be harassment. It’s not healthy for all those involved.
Let’s take a moment to focus on the woman with an addiction, or the one who stole from your garden last week. If we publicly scorn the behavior, laugh and joke about it at the latest party, wipe our hands clean of the issue, labeling it as their problem, not yours...what happens? The problem often worsens. Now, if you took a moment to lend your ear to the woman with addiction, listen to her struggles and encourage her to get help, we could avoid that woman committing manslaughter through a DUI when she leaves a party the next time upset after hearing other women sneer at her. We could encourage the woman who stole to utilize resources in the community to get her financial needs met, and avoid her children being placed in foster care once she is incarcerated for the next elevated crime. Criminal behavior is not acceptable, but it’s a village problem where we all reside.
Let’s look at women again in other settings. It's a common theme for women in the workplace or at social gatherings to relate to one another through clothing. If you have the newest and brightest bag, then you are supposedly desired. But then again, if you are the owner of the newest and brightest bag every week, you may be perceived as shallow, spoiled, or worse. We forget that clothing is more meaningful when it’s an extension of our personalities, interests and reflects current issues of the world. Why not look past the latest Louboutins and try complimenting a woman on her latest accomplishment, or let her know you are happy to be in her presence just because of who she is. This might be something you say you want to hear from a man (why is he only paying attention to my looks!), but why not a woman?
Women should empower women. Women should build one another up. Think about how strong that village could be if all the women worked together, shared their skills and left the gossiping out every day. That village may become known as the best silk manufacturer in the world, and the secret would be that it took a village of women to open up and be vulnerable to one another, to overcome their fear that one woman could be better than the other, and be confident that they are strong even when crying on the shoulder of the woman with Louboutins or the mother of that child.
You are unique and special regardless of how successful your sister is. Appreciate women for their skills and talents, build them up with a genuine compliment and avoid trying to belittle their skills to feel better about yourself. If you know of a woman who is struggling, don’t make it your own entertainment. Be a lending ear, encourage her to seek professional support and use resources in the community. Our village will be better off when women empower women.