Progressive Women Co-founder, Caroline Watson writes on Championing Women.
Enjoying the blistering sunshine this week I have found myself admiring many summer outfits on women walking around London. I also have to confess that I have harshly judged some of these outfits and been scrutinising myself too. Then this email popped into my inbox from the fantastic Miss Representation campaign and reminded me of some valuable truths to refocus my priorities!
Dear Caroline,
We began 2012 by focusing individually on getting healthy – being conscious of the media we consume everyday, and how it impacts us on the inside. From there, we looked at how we can each take small actions to begin to better value ourselves in spite of the media’s negative messaging.
Over the next few weeks we’ll use this new found self-knowledge and confidence to inspire others. It’s time for us to be a mentor and a model for the women and girls in our communities.
Unfortunately a roadblock to effective sponsorship of women is the tendency to compare ourselves to one another. It’s not uncommon for women to initially see each other as competition, and the media only perpetuates this behavior. Meanwhile, men are as complicit in aggravating the divisiveness amongst women, often participating themselves in the culture of judgment.
For the next week, let’s all make a concerted effort to see women as allies instead of enemies; and let’s stop judging other women for their success, their talents or their looks.
Before we give a woman walking into a room the once-over and before we start to feel threatened by another woman’s accomplishments, let’s dig deep and recognize where that judgment stems from: the assumption of scarcity and the feeling that there isn’t enough room for all of us. Reject these thoughts, and instead celebrate the fact that we are all in this together – that one woman’s success is a success for all of us.
In accepting this and incorporating it into our lives, we pave the way for a more just and equitable future for everyone.
Onwards,
Jennifer Siebel Newsom, CEO and Founder of MissRepresentation.org
To find out about forthcoming Progressive Women events - inlcuding our Summer Party on 17th July with guest speaker Natasha Walter email progress@progressivewomen.org.uk Follow us on twitter @sylviapankhurst
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