A blog post by Pepetoe.

A Day That Makes Me Pause

International Women’s Day, on Sunday 8th March, isn’t just another awareness day that appears on social media once a year. For me, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on what it actually means to grow up and exist as a woman in today’s world.

Feminism isn’t something I talk a lot about (if at all) here on Pepetoe, I guess because I never really ground myself in it. Like many of us do, I suppose I just get on with it, accepting that society is simply how it is, like that’s enough. But I’m trying to tap back into my femininity (as well as feminism) as I know I have a voice on my blog, socials etc., and I hope it might help a few of you feel less alone in your struggles.

That said, it’s easy for the day to become a collection of Instagram posts and hashtags, but underneath that there’s something much deeper. It’s about recognising the progress women have made, acknowledging the challenges that still exist, and thinking about the kind of future we want to create for the next generation of women. And that’s the kind of “feminism” I’m talking about. Not picket signs and protests. Not demanding, not necessarily complaining. Just shedding a light on these positives, but also some of the challenges we may face, in a gentle, informative way.

For me personally, this day brings my mind back to three things: ambition, strength, and voice.

Ambition: Women Dreaming Bigger Than Ever

One of the most beautiful shifts we’re seeing in modern society is that women are being encouraged to dream bigger than ever before. Even if you don’t see it on a daily basis, I do believe that we are allowed to use our voice. Even if also some people shut us down.

Now, we’re told we can travel the world. Build businesses. We can lead companies. We can create art. We can run marathons. We can start podcasts. We can raise families. We can live independently. Or do all of those things at once.

That freedom to design your own life is something previous generations of women often didn’t have in the same way, and not until very recently either.

But I should also shed light on the other side of this ambition, as it can make a woman can still feel… complicated.

We’re encouraged to succeed, but sometimes we’re still expected to do it quietly. We’re praised for being hardworking, but we’re often judged more harshly if we appear “too ambitious” or “too confident.” We’re applauded if we can raise a family and juggle a career at the same, but then we’re frowned upon for not spending more time with our children.

International Women’s Day reminds me that ambition isn’t something women should apologise for. Wanting more for your life isn’t selfish, it’s powerful. And we shouldn’t have to choose between one thing or another

Strength: The Quiet Kind

When people talk about strong women, they often picture someone fearless and unstoppable. Like political idols, CEOs, even artists, and especially athletes, as we are all too quick to jump to the impression that strong is a physical thing.

But I think real strength looks much quieter than that. Strength is rebuilding yourself after heartbreak. Strength is showing up to work even when you feel underestimated. Strength is healing your relationship with your body after years of criticism.

Strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s simply refusing to give up on yourself. And women demonstrate that kind of strength every single day.

Raising Women With a Voice

If there’s one thing International Women’s Day makes me think about the most, it’s the next generation. Young girls today are growing up in a world that is both incredibly empowering and incredibly overwhelming. They’re exposed to social media earlier. They’re surrounded by constant comparison. They’re navigating a culture that tells them they can be anything, while also quietly pressuring them to look and behave a certain way, – or do everything all at once.

What I hope we’re creating is a generation of women who feel confident using their voices. Women who speak up in meetings. Women who question unfair systems. Women who know their opinions matter.

Because every step forward for women today creates more freedom for the women who come after us. And that’s something worth celebrating.

Join me this #IWD and celebrate what we can achieve, not what we can’t!