International Women's Day

As an alumna of Wellesley College, International Women’s Day holds a special place in my heart.  I will never forget how empowered I felt on Wellesley’s campus.  Women were everywhere!  In positions of power, on the board of trustees, teaching courses in science and mathematics – nothing was beyond our reach!  I sat in classrooms alongside women from all seven continents, took courses taught by professors that looked like me, and opened my mind to a whole new world of thought.  In the classroom we explored the nuances of intersectionality, black womanhood, white privilege, and the interconnectedness of race, gender, and class.  I was woke before woke became a thing, but more importantly, I was proud of the effect my experiences were having on me.  Wellesley’s commitment to educating women who will make a difference in the world transformed my life.

I wish we could live in a world where all women felt empowered within their respective communities.  However, women worldwide continue to fight for basic human rights, and women in the US face the possibility of losing rights under our new presidential administration.  We have a long way to go, but communities like Wellesley serve as a reminder that it is possible for us to shape a future of equality and inclusivity for all of our daughters.  Today's look features a red duster jacket in solidarity with International Women's Day, and a floral bodycon dress - cause, ain't I a woman?