March 8 - International Women's Day

As I am sure you know by now, today is International Women’s Day. I cannot let this day pass without taking a moment to discuss why this day is important. Today’s focus is important because so many women have not been blessed with the opportunities I have been given. Also so many women have come before me to make my opportunities possible. We need to take a moment to remember this.

I have been blessed with the right to vote. While it was easy for me to take advantage of this opportunity, this right did not come easy. Many women suffered, were imprisoned so I could have the right to vote. If you have not had a chance to learn about the history of the suffrage movement, please take moment to visit the History Channel or About Education to learn more about the women’s suffrage movement.

I have been blessed to have a great education. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from BYU. I am not saying getting an education is easy. You have to work hard for an education whether you or a man or a woman. However, compared to the struggle to get an education many women face daily, it was comparatively easy. Please take a moment to learn more about Malala Yousafzai and her campaign to make sure all girls can get the education they need.

I have been blessed with a wonderful husband who loves me and supports me in whatever I want to do.  Many women have not been so lucky. The problem of domestic violence is real. And not all domestic violence is physical. Please take a moment to learn more about the issue of domestic violence because more needs to be done to bring an end to violence against women.

I also truly believe that we need a world where women support other women. Today, feminism doesn’t seem to be about empowering women to have the right to their own thoughts and beliefs. It has become about women trying to force other women to think and feel a certain way. This is just as wrong as when men try to limit women’s rights.

This is only a small peak into the issues facing women these days. There are many other issues facing women daily. Pay equity. Healthcare. Human trafficking. Sexual Abuse. Really this is just getting started. The Huffington Post has a great rundown of some of the issues facing women today.

We need to take the time to learn more about the achievements of women. The Internet makes it so easy to spend just a few minutes every day learning more. On Facebook, you can follow A Mighty Girl and The National Women’s History Museum to get more information about women’s history in your newsfeed. On Twitter, do a search for #IWD2016 and you will find a plethora of information regarding women’s achievements and women’s struggles. The House of Representatives has a website dedicated to the history, art and archives of Congress that includes a section on the history of women in Congress. Maybe today is the day you take a moment to learn more about women in aviation. I could spend all day sharing resources to learn more about women’s history. One great way to get started is with the National Women’s History Project.

This post is like a grain of sand in discussing the issues and history of women. However, I had to take a moment to be a part of this important day. I am glad that we are taking a moment to celebrate women. I am glad to be a small part of that celebration. Until next time, take a moment to learn more about the achievements and needs of women everywhere.