International Women’s Day has me thinking about how far women’s equality has come – and how far we still have to go. It’s just heartbreaking that women and people from minority groups are still having to fight for equity in all areas of their lives. I remember going on equality marches with my mum back in the nineties – and here we are, 2023, still fighting for the same things.
But I also like to focus on the positives – of which there are many. I have hope that with all the work women are doing, we will see some significant and positive changes by the time my four-year-old niece grows up. (Or else I imagine that there’s a parallel universe somewhere where everyone is treated equally – it’s why I love the old Star Trek series so much!)
I’m lucky to have grown up with a mother and a community of women who modeled that desire for equity. My mum’s friends were like my aunties when I was growing up in Bristol. And they are all an inspiration to other women: I’m inspired by their generosity to the community and their loved ones. By their strength and emotional intelligence. And by the unconditional love they’ve shown me throughout my life – and even now, as I’m living on another continent!
It is that background that gave me the confidence to “go for it” as an author. I recently got a publishing deal for a novel I wrote during the pandemic called Yeseni and the Daughter of Peace. Getting the book to publication has been a tough journey with what felt like a zillion rewrites and challenging editorial feedback.
But I persevered, and now my novel will be coming out in the fall of 2023! You can actually pre-order it in Barnes and Noble – when I saw that, I was so surprised.
I’m excited about what the future holds – and I hope my story can serve as inspiration for girls and women to pursue their own dreams. Happy International Women’s Day!
Read another IWD guest post from Ana Roldugina, Full-Stack Developer at Property.ca Inc. And read more perspectives from the women on the Property.ca Inc. team here.