Final Post:

That's all she wrote folks! 15 posts.  I'm done, finished, outta here!

Okay, so before I go just a little reminder to all of you:

• Never take no for an answer
• Never stop trying
• Never stop being yourself
• Never stop dreaming
• Always stay positive
• Inspire others to make great choices
• Shine like the star you are!

You are capable of more than you know.  Go show the world what you're made of; or more importantly, show yourself.

Firsts: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Saint Frances Cabrini, sometimes called Mother Cabrini, was the first naturalized American to be canonized by the Catholic church.  She was an Italian-American religious sister who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880 with six other women who had taken religious vows with her.  They took in orphans and foundlings, opened a day school in order to help with expenses, taught needlework and sold embroidery in order to make some money for the institute.  The institute was able to establish a free school and nursery and seven homes in its first five years.  All of this good work earned Cabrini the attention of Blessed Giovanni Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza and Pope Leo XIII.

Cabrini founded several institutes that helped many immigrants find homes and learn English.  She also founded orphanages and hospitals.  One such orphanage is still around today and is called the Saint Cabrini Home.

Cabrini was beatified in 1938 by Pope Pius XI and was canonized in 1946 by Pope Pius XII.  She is the patron saint of immigrants and hospital administrators.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini had a good heart and was willing to help anyone she could.  She took it upon herself to help make the world a better place.  She showed men what a woman could do if she sets her mind to it and got recognition for it.  Be like Cabrini and give people the chance for a better tomorrow.

Firsts: Diane Crump

Diane Crump became the first professional female jockey to compete in a pari-mutuel race in the United States in 1969.  Crump was so unpopular at the first that she needed a police escort to walk her to the track so she wouldn't get attacked by the angry mob of spectators.  Spectators yelled at Crump to "get back in the kitchen" and "stay away from horse racing because she would ruin it for everyone".  Crump refused to listen.

Crump came in 9th place for a 12 horse race and won the next race two weeks later.  After winning she gained support from fans and from the track officials who told the male jockeys to leave Crump alone and act professional.  This had to be done because in 1968, male jockeys threw rocks at the female jockey trailers and threatened a boycott if female jockeys competed.

Crump was the first female to ride in the Kentucky Derby in 1970.  She won her first race on the underdcard and then placed 15th out of 17 horses on a horse named Fathom.  She ended her racing career in 1985.  She rode 235 wins, although, she is officially only credited with 228 wins.

Diane Crump ignored everyone who told her she wasn't good enough and that horse racing wasn't her place.  She persevered and it paid off.  Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something because only men can do it.  Keep on riding away from the negativity and towards what you want.

Firsts: Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.  Before she was able to do this, however, she was the first female passenger on a Transatlantic flight in 1928.  Earhart didn't argue being only a passenger because she recognized her limitations when it came to the technology being used for the flight.  She did, however, decide that one day she would fly across the Atlantic all by herself.

Earhart became quite famous for being the first female passenger.  Fame is nice and it definitely helped her career but she still wanted the world to recognize her as a topnotch aviator.  The world did just that when she completed the first female solo flight across the Atlantic in 1932.  Although she didn't reach her destination of Paris due to many complications with the weather and mechanical difficulties, she made it to a small village in Northern Ireland.  Earhart won many honors for being the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic.  She flew more solo flights and kept trying new challenges when it came to flying.

Earhart may have disappeared on one of her flights but her spirit still flies high.  Keep accepting new challenges like Amelia Earhart and let you imagination soar.

Firsts: Kathrine Switzer

The purpose of this post, as well as several other posts to come, is to give a shout out to some incredible women who have achieved some really big "firsts" for women.  In this post I will be talking a little bit about Kathrine Switzer.

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to run a marathon.  She was told that a marathon was too great of a distance to run for a "fragile women".  She didn't believe that it was too much for a woman and so she trained hard and entered the 1967 Boston Marathon as a numbered entry.  She entered under the gender neutral name of K. V. Switzer; even though she has always done this and this was in no way used to fool any officials, it still fooled officials and that is how she was allowed to enter.

During the race, race official Jock Semple tried to stop Switzer from running by trying to push her off the course and grab her bib off of her shirt.  Switzer's boyfriend who was also running the race saw this and shoved the race official to the ground.  Switzer finished the race and proved to everyone that a woman can do anything a man can do.  Five years later women were officially allowed to run in marathons.

Switzer believed in her herself and showed everyone that just because a man says you can't because you are a woman doesn't mean that you actually can't.  You can do anything you set you mind to.  Be unstoppable like Kathrine Switzer and just keep moving forward.

100 Days!

No, I am not about to discuss Trump's 100 days in office.  I am about to discuss the fact that it has been 100 days since the Women's March on Washington!!

It is hard to believe that it has only been 100 days but it has.  I am proud to say that I was a part of the march on New York.  It was an incredible experience and I would definitely recommend it if you have never been to a march.

Even though it may not seem like a lot has happened since then, don't lose faith.  We got our message out there and that is what matters.  Keep speaking out and let your voice be heard.  Remember, you are not alone.  Happy 100!

Pro Women

While I was flipping through photos online, I stumbled across the following quote:

I really like this quote because I think that it is something more people have to believe.  I constantly hear accusations that any woman who is pro women, doesn't like men or totally wants to cut men out of her life.  This isn't true for everyone; just because you want a better world for yourself or for your daughter doesn't mean that you have to cut men out of it.  We must educate men on feminism so that they can better understand what we need and possibly even change their minds on the meaning of being pro women.  If we work together we can change the world for the better.

9 To 5

Last week I discussed the musical Legally Blonde and how the story can be used to inspire young girls everywhere.  This week I want to discuss the movie and the musical 9 To 5.  Whether you go and watch the movie or listen to the cast recording of the hit musical, the message is the same.  You have to stand up and fight for what you want.

The three main female characters take control of the business after capturing their boss because he is a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" who threatens to have them arrested for a simple mistake that could have killed him.  Some may say that he had every right to do so because the mistake that was made could have actually killed him, but he is a two-timing low-life who only cares about himself and making money.  He must get what he wants or else everyone will suffer.

The three leads take over the business and it does better than it ever had before.  The business improved so much that the company head came down to see what made efficiency and productivity go up so much.  The three leads give the credit to their boss in order to keep him from changing anything they did because they did put everything in his name after all.

In the end the three leads get exactly what they want along with justice for all the other employees.  All they had to do was stand up for themselves and fight for what they believed in.

I highly recommend watching the movie and listening to the cast recording because both are funny, entertaining and empowering.  Also, never take no for an answer.  Stand up for yourself and what you believe in.  Keep fighting until your voice is heard because you matter.

Legally Blonde

So, for this week's blog I will be plugging the spring musical my college is doing.  My school is doing Legally Blonde for the musical this year and I couldn't be any more excited.  It is such a good show with wonderful messages throughout, especially for girls.

Short synopsis (only some details mentioned; for more information please leave me a comment): The main character of the musical, Elle Woods, must find herself after she is dumped by who she believes is the love of her life.  Elle decides to attend Harvard in order to win this boy back but soon realizes that she does actually love law and helping people.  After she is hit on by one of her professors, she questions whether or not she is actually good at law or even smart.  Luckily, with the help of her friends and her new love, she gains her confidence back and shows everyone she is a force to be reckoned with.

Elle believed that her worth was based on her looks and because she believed this, it was easier for people to judge her on her looks alone.  After a while she realizes that she is more than just a pretty face, she has a brain and is worth a whole lot more than some pretty little thing to be admired.

This confidence is what all young women need.  Girls deserve more than to be viewed as only some object for people to admire and control.  We have brains that are full of opinions and ideas.

Never let anyone tell you that you aren't smart just because you are pretty.  You will be underestimated but you must overcome and persevere in order to show everyone who you truly are.  Take the lead of Elle Woods, but most importantly, never believe anyone that tells you that you are just a pretty face.  Be true to who you are and believe in yourself.  Own your confidence and show the world that you are a force to be reckoned with.

I found this picture online and I thought it was inspiring because for one thing, Wonder Woman is a total bad-ass and not afraid to go after what she wants.  The other reason why I found this inspiring is this comic shows just how awesome all women are.  Like the comic says, we are ALL Wonder Women.  It doesn't matter what you look like or if you are different than everybody else, if you are being yourself then you are unleashing your inner Wonder Woman.  Never stop being you.

Purity Balls

One word.  WHY?!?!?!? WHY DO THESE EXIST?!?!?  For those of you who don't know, Purity Balls are father/daughter dances but with a creepy twist.

Allow me to explain; daughters (mostly starting at ages 6-7) dress in white ballgowns and attend these Purity Balls with their fathers.  The girls then dance ballet around a room full of large wooden crosses and finally, for the main event, promise their VIRGINITY to their FATHERS!  I kid you not, young and adolescent girls promise their fathers that they will abstain from sex until they are married.  Along with this promise, girls give their fathers a little pink box to symbolize their virginity.  (Can it be any more obvious?)

Now fathers, too, get a role in these balls.  Besides getting to hear what every father wants to hear, they too must make a pledge to their daughters.  Fathers must pledge to cover their daughters from anything that might risk the loss of virginity before marriage.  The daughters also receive a gift from their fathers.  This gift is a necklace with a lock and key charm.  The daughter, however, only gets the lock while the father holds on to the key until the day he can give it to his new son-in-law.

So not only does the father basically own his daughter's virginity like property, but his daughter is letting him!  We have basically traveled back in time to when girls were sold for livestock!

But don't worry, it's not like these still go on today, right?  WRONG!  Purity Balls started in 1998 and are still around today.  Also, get this: Purity Balls are FEDERALLY FUNDED!!!  That's right, you can thank the government for these awful, nauseating events that make girls believe that their only worth is their virginity.

Purity Balls should not exist and yet they do.  Why?  Because apparently girls are only worth something if they are virgins and also they apparently can't be trusted enough to stay virgins on their own.

I would like to personally thank my parents for never making me go to one of these.

Finally, Purity Balls: WHY?!?!? Just WHY?!?!?

2 Dope Queens #22

Today I listened to a podcast by 2 Dope Queens.  I listened to the one from November 15, 2016.  The episode was #22 Trying to Work Through the Feels.  The guests were comedians Langston Kerman, Emmy Blotnick and Alingon Mitra.  The podcast is hosted by Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams.  These are two incredibly funny women with opinions they are not afraid to share.

The episode I listened to was right after the election so it was very funny to listen to Phoebe and Jessica's opinions on what our nation is now faced with.  All the guests touch upon different topics based on their own experiences as they try to survive everyday life and make a living.  One topic I particularly liked was talked about by Emmy Blotnick.  Emmy mentioned that not all girlfriends want to be taken to superhero movies for a date because they all start to look the same.  That may not be the case for me but I definitely know some people who say the same thing so it was funny to hear some more commentary on the subject.

I definitely recommend listening to this podcast.  Even if you don't subscribe just check out an episode from time to time if you need a good laugh.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Never Stop Being a Force to Be Reckoned With

Be Confident and Bold

This poster hangs above my desk in my dorm room and it is by far my favorite one.  I'm pretty sure it says it all.

Benevolent Sexism

This past Friday we discussed in class the different types of sexism.  One type of sexism that we talked about was benevolent sexism.  Benevolent sexism is when men act chivalrous toward women, this may seem desirable but in the end it makes women appear weak and incompetent.  I never realized that this was a form of sexism and wondered whether I have experienced it before, looking back I realized that I have.

When I was in high school I had a friend who wanted to be closer to me than he already was.  At first it seemed harmless because all he would do is run ahead of me in order to hold the door.  This attitude became more extreme as time went on because it turned into waiting for me by my locker, taking the umbrella out of my hand when it was raining, and walking me to my bus every single day.  I began to question what was going on because I am pretty sure I am capable of holding an umbrella and finding my way to my bus without completely falling apart.  I made the decision to confront him about it when we got back from Christmas break.

During Christmas break, however, he would text me everyday and started to seem really clingy.  I ignored two of his texts because I was working and wasn't allowed to check my phone and he never talked to me again!  I found it really ridiculous to throw away a friendship just because I couldn't answer him right away.

Anyway, I look back at that moment and realize that I was a victim of benevolent sexism.  I now understand how it feels to be treated with this type of sexism and it made me feel incompetent and uncomfortable because I wasn't able to do anything for myself.  I personally don't want to feel that way again.

First Post: Being a Feminist

For class I had to read a book that was based off of the Ted Talk called We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.  This book questions the societal "norms" expected of women.  I highly recommend it because it touches on a lot of facts that don't necessarily have to be true anymore; for example, women are expected to get married and have children and always compromise with their husbands.  Today that doesn't still have to be the case; women don't have to get married to be happy.  Women also shouldn't be judged if they do not get married, after all men aren't.  Unmarried men are praised by their peers as being bachelors but women are constantly being asked when they are going to get married so they don't become spinsters.  Why can men live life unmarried and women can't?  It's completely unfair and adds unnecessary pressure to a young woman's life.