Journal Entry: A Letter to Women and Young Girls

A Journal Entry for all women and young girls reading this,

These days it seems like there’s nothing but bad news for women. It feels like a constant uphill battle — not just against men and politicians, but social media, colleagues, family, and, unfortunately, other women tearing us down, silencing our voices, deciding our worth and value. The constant feeling of being ignored, pushed aside, or degraded is enough to make anyone want to give up. Some days I question how far we’ve really come, or how much more we have to fight just to be seen, heard, and respected as equals. It’s exhausting. I am exhausted.

But this is a reminder to all women, including myself: we cannot give up. That’s exactly what our oppressors want — for us to give in, silence ourselves, and fall into submission. But that cannot and will not happen. Why? Because we are the backbone of society, the heartbeat of everything around us. We literally give life; we keep everything moving whilst on our periods; we run households, we run businesses, we’re educators, politicians, mothers, creatives, carers, academics, innovators — we do it all!

Now more than ever, we must reclaim and remember our value as women, the strength we possess, and the unstoppable power of our voices — especially when we use them together.

We matter. You matter. As women, people will try to put us in a box, tell us who we are, how far we can go, what we should want or not want, and how we should look. Ignore it. Never let anyone tell you who you are. Never let anyone else define your worth. Never let someone silence your voice or stop you from advocating for yourself. Please don’t shrink to make others comfortable. Your weirdness, your kindness, your anger, your passion, your creativity, your intelligence — bring it all and stand confidently in every facet of yourself. Let’s be clear: we are multidimensional; we come in all beautiful shapes, sizes and skin tones, from a range of traditions,  cultures and backgrounds, and we are filled with a range of emotions, dreams, beliefs, wants, and desires, and we will not be defined by anyone else; we will not shrink to fit a world built on outdated expectations by those who benefit from our silence.

Every time we let ourselves dream, choose our happiness, or speak honestly — even if our voices shake — we are doing something brave. Maybe another woman will see that and feel braver too.

When I feel like my voice is too small to matter, or when life feels impossible, I try to think about the women who spoke up before us — who refused to be silenced by those who tried, again and again, to erase them. I think of all the mothers, sisters, and daughters who have paved the way so we could stand taller, speak louder, and dream bigger. Every time we speak up, we open a door for another woman to step through. Every time we refuse to shrink, we prove to the world just how powerful women are.

Even in these distressing times, I see the beauty in how we rise, day after day, for our families, our friends, our dreams, and ourselves, even when the world tries to render us invisible. Our strength isn’t just in how we endure, but in how we uplift, create, innovate, and fiercely protect what matters most. It’s in the way we support each other, speak out, and refuse to shrink for anyone else’s comfort. We define ourselves, every single day.

Our value isn’t up for debate; men, our past experiences, how we look, or our bodies don’t dictate our value. We have every right to take up space, raise our voices, and live as equals. We do not need permission to exist fully or speak our truth. It’s not about being the loudest in the room, but about standing confidently in who we are and knowing our worth.

So tonight, and every night, make a promise to keep showing up. Remind yourself and every woman around you that we are strong, valuable, and absolutely essential to society. Let’s keep sharing our stories, checking in, and supporting one another. Most importantly, keep going. Even on the days you want to give up. Even when it feels like no one is listening, you are seen. You are loved. And you are so much more than what anyone else can measure.

Here’s to never letting anyone silence our power, our stories, or our dreams.