Being born a woman is a disability. From the minute we are brought into the world, we are told how to act and who to be. We are told to be feminine but not high maintenance. We are expected to succeed at work but not let that take away from being a mom. We are shown that our bodies are only beautiful if we mold them a certain way and how to do our makeup so we hide any flaws.
Being a woman is navigating a maze. It's being nice but not too nice so that we aren't a tease. It's having opinions but not too many because we wouldn't want to be seen as bossy. Being a woman is worrying about being called a slut but being a porn star for our men at home. It's being fit but not manly and muscular.
Life as a woman is existing in a place where life is a competition between other women. We are taught to compete with other women, to compare ourselves to them and value ourselves based upon how we measure up. We talk behind each other's backs and we sabotage each other in work and in relationships.
I'm a woman. And I don't want to be what it means to be a woman as I was brought into this world to believe. I want to love myself for the loud, sassy, sparkly person that I am. I need to feel value and success at work and have a partner to create a team at home. I refuse to compete with other women and I vow to uplift my fellow boss babes in work and in life. I choose to think I am beautiful, flaws and all. And I am strong because of my muscles and scars. I will not let anyone dictate my sex life but me. I will never feel shame for whatever that life is for me. Above all - I will dedicate my life to equality - amongst men and women. And I will value people based on how great they are as a human being. I will not be defined by gender roles and if I'm lucky enough one day to raise children, I will take the responsibility of raising them to believe in equality very seriously.
Being a woman today is hard. But it's also an opportunity. An opportunity to change the way we exist in the world. Talk to the women around you - get to know what being a woman means to them. And even if the way they live is not for you - tell them you're proud they're living life as they feel most authentic as a woman. Because truly, being a woman is really kind of awesome.