We are now coming to the end of Women’s History Month and I wanted to use this time to reflect, celebrate and honour all the amazing achievements and contributions of women worldwide.
Throughout the month of March, our weekly virtual Sister Circle sessions, recognised Women’s History Month with a series of discussions. The series of discussions have been drawing on the knowledge of female academics, activists, educators; looking at how these trailblazers forged their own future in an overwhelmingly male-dominated society. This Friday we hosted our last Women’s History Month discussion honouring the power, resilience and strength of women around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
A large cohort of the women we support at RISE Projects come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and experience several ladders of disadvantage, the support we provide continues to be vital, particularly during this difficult time. Women’s History Month isn’t just a month long celebrations dedicated to womanhood but also an acknowledgement of the lived realities of many women who continue to be victims of crime, who are more likely to be adversely affected by Covid-19, who are underemployed, underpaid and who have limited access to opportunity. By working to support those women on the periphery of our society, we continue to enable them through our services, encouraging them to be active agents in their lives and work towards proactively changing their lived realities for the better.
It is also important to note that women are not a monolithic group and it is important that we highlight the achievement and challenges facing women who come from all walks of life and not only a select few. Using our online platform, we have been able to create a safe space to encourage personal expression and dialogue and draw on the different experiences of women across the UK. Going forward, and after lockdown, we plan to resume our weekly face to face Sister Circle sessions and it promises to be bigger and better.
The fight for gender equality is not over yet but leaving on a high note, I leave you with an excerpt from Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Women.
“Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
Written by Mushtaq Ahmed, Community Connector Officer and Sister Circle Lead at RISE Projects.