On this International Women’s Day, celebrated during Women’s History Month, I’d like to share a poem written when I returned to work after my son was born. In the hyper-polarized world that we live in today, can we pause, reflect, and begin to see each other in a new light?
Seeing the Her in Hero
“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”
so says Maya Angelou, her quote on a Women’s History Month calendar.
Maya Angelou. A worker of words. A feminist. A philosopher.
If she doesn’t see it. How can we?
Why can’t we see the her in heroes?
Why do we need to make the he a she?
He. She. It’s not really the problem. Is it?
Me. We. The problem is often between us women.
Stay-at-Home Moms. Working Moms. Women who aren’t Moms.
Competition. Criticism of Choices. Cattiness. Can this end?
Why can’t we see the her in heroes?
Is it because we refuse to see the hero in her?
She may not agree with you. Act like you. Look like you. But wasn’t that the hope?
To find her way. Her voice. Her choice.
Her. Here. Now. Heroes are among us.
In the everyday. In big and small ways. Can we begin to see?
Why can’t we see the her in heroes?
And, why must we wait for Women’s History Month to try?
Poem by: Kerri Laubenthal Mollard, Founder & CEO
