Being raised by two phenomenal women who are my mother and my grandmother has greatly shaped my perception of being a woman. It has made me realize that being a woman is more than just biology and gender being socially constructed. To me, being a woman means being brave enough to face head on whatever challenge that comes my way. I am capable of penetrating the spaces that the society considers “predominately men” yet still preserve my roles and duties as a woman. I am not afraid to voice out my thoughts, especially when it comes to injustices, all kind of injustices. I am intelligent, confident, sassy and analytic. I will not be belittled by negative perceptions of other people, I know myself, my worth and my value. I love dressing up, smelling nice and showing up.
I am dramatic and emotional sometimes. I love being a woman and I wouldn’t have it any other way. In celebration of National Women’s Day and in honor of the 64th anniversary of the historic event that birthed the women’s day celebration in South Africa, I decided to share the different perspectives on what exactly it means to be a woman from five amazing young women dear to me.
Bongie
Being a woman is an amazing and yet daring profession. I call it a profession because you learn to survive as a woman, make mistakes and get the same mistake correct the second time around. Despite all the downs it comes with, being a woman is an adventure. With all the efforts of taking care of others and yourself, running a household, your job, dressing up, getting new looks and looking at your self in the mirror and say, “Wonder Woman where did you come from?”. It’s an amazing journey that has a thousand of chapters and countless pages.
Being a woman is amazingly difficult and amazingly fun at the same time. 😍😘
Tendai Dahwa
Being a woman means to be strong and resilient. At times you have to be docile because the world has not learnt how to embrace strong women, especially if they are of colour. As a woman, I walk with my head held high because I know that I am a future nurturer for all my unborn children, I know that I am the missing rib for that Adam out there, and most importantly I am independent. It may seem coy but I can do anything if I set my mind to it.
Girly
Being a woman means being able to be vulnerable yet courageous enough to be both firm and kind. I take pride in being a woman because it defines who I truly am. I am strong, I am willed.
Unapologetically I am a woman, proud and happy because in it I am truly defined.
Mosky
I recently heard someone tell me that "all women are good at is being beautiful". Initially it angered me until I realised how right they were.
All that women are good at is being beautiful.
Walk out onto the streets and everywhere you look,
You will see women doing what they do best beautifully.
You will see women caring and loving their sister beautifully.
You will see beauty in the way women celebrate the achievements of others,
Even when they have not yet achieved it themselves.
You will see beauty in the way women hustle,
From the mothers selling in the streets to the CEO's in their proudly owned businesses.
You will see passion bleeding into everything they do,
Because they do it beautifully.
You will see beauty in the way women stand up for others and make sure their voices are heard.
You will see the greatest beauty in the way women have never stopped reaching their potential since the very beginning of time.
This world would be an ugly place without women,
Because women are beautiful, gorgeous even.
Women are the living and loud definition of beautiful.
"Whatever road you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope you choose not to be a lady, [instead] I hope you find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of other women" - Nora Ephron.
Zinhle
What does it mean to be a woman? A simple question but not an easy one to answer without praising too much or undermining even more, but that’s the character of a woman, complex and curious…
Being a woman means dedication,
She’s a leader, she’s compassionate,
She's affectionate, she’s complex.
She’s delicate,
She’s fragile yet strong,
She’s brave and beautiful,
She's curvy and cute,
She's all the words can describe,
Yet so complicated nothing can define her.
As a woman, I am complete.
Created to perfection with great precision,
Nothing about me is a mistake,
I was created whole and beautiful.
To be a woman means strength,
Smiling at the face of fear,
Standing up for what I believe in,
Being independent.
Being a woman means courage,
Standing when no one is willing,
Looking up when nothing is working,
Kneeling in prayer when everything is failing,
Standing up for multitudes and believing on someone higher than your being.
A woman should be the closest person to God.
For she is entrusted with nurturing and procreating God's handiwork,
She’s entrusted with a heart as soft and loving,
Yet fearless and daring,
She’s donned with beauty and a belt of favour surrounds her waist.
Being a woman means to be chosen by God himself,
Selected and trusted to birth nations, generations upon generations,
All born from her and on her back find a bed.
She's precious, a pearl,
She’s complete,
She's perfect in her imperfections,
All the scars and wrinkles tell a story about who she is and where she’s been,
Through fire and beyond,
To be a woman is to be myself,
Not apologetic …
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