I am as powerful as a man. And it drives them crazy.

– Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY

I love women. It’s International Women’s Day and it brings immense joy when the world stops and celebrates women. A hundred years ago, the 19th Amendment passed, granting women the right to vote. Fifty years ago, the Equal Pay Act was passed (though, it doesn’t seem to be in effect much). In 2012, the Affordable Care Act went into effect, requiring most health insurance companies to cover birth control and contraceptives as preventative care. Although we still have a long way to go, we are seeing more strong and bright women taking back power and influencing the world than ever before.

I grew up in a very conservative environment, where feminism was an unspeakable concept and where women were defined by their relationships to the men in their lives. Where I grew up, it was more acceptable for a woman to hate herself than to own her power. The patriarchal society was in fear of women, so they had to control us. What broke my heart the most was that even other women fell prey to this belief, and even went so far as to police any girl or woman who dared to be unapologetically herself. In their eyes, a woman’s fire must be snuffed out. Strong women were seen as threats to a well-ordered society.

I hope they will see how women make the world go around. We need more strong women in our world. Women are intelligent, intuitive, nurturing, compassionate, and just as powerful as men. With more strong women on the rise, it’s looking more promising that the future is female.

Real women lift each other up

I mustered the courage to leave for a more progressive environment, like Seattle–even among resistance in that patriarchal society. I’ve done many incredible things in life, and that fortitude didn’t come from nowhere. Despite the environment I grew up in, here are a few of the incredibly powerful women in my life who shaped the person I have become today.

Aunt Lori

Aunt Lori is my father’s sister, known to be the most important female figure in my life. She’s like a mother to me, and I value her the most. She works hard, and always lives compassionately and fully. Unwavering and unapologetic, she is one who leads by example, always lifting other women up instead of tearing them down. She comes to other women’s defense and will fight for them. My beautiful aunt always means what she says and says what she means. I’m extremely lucky to have her in my life. Sometimes, when I’m in a tough spot, I ask, “what would Aunt Lori do? Aunt Lori would always give her best and never half-ass anything.” Her importance in my life cannot be underestimated.

Alexis

Alexis is a tough motherfucker. Not too long ago, she beat breast cancer with her enthusiasm and her solid can-do attitude. Armed with her razor-sharp wit, a strong drive, and a zest for life, she showed cancer who’s boss. That aside, nothing makes her happier than succeeding and seeing her friends win at life as well. While she seems fun and easy-going, Alexis is sharp as a tack and misses nothing. She is highly creative, an excellent artist, and loves doing her best at work in escrow. Her high confidence is both inspiring and empowering, as is her loyalty as a friend. I am so fortunate to have her in my life.

Lesli

Lesli is a high-powered attorney at the law firm I once worked at. Aside from winning cases, she’s also the front woman of her punk rock band, Skates!. What really drew me to her is her positive attitude towards life. She’s a charismatic go-getter with a firm belief that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it. Her energy is radiant and infectious, and just being around her makes me feel empowered as well. Every goal I’ve had, she always had faith in me, which is exactly how women should treat each other. She’s a good balance of power and compassion, and she owns it fully. We have many things in common, such as cats, art, and vegan food. (She also has a beautiful white cat named Pilot who could have his own blog entry.) Above all, Lesli is the kind of person I strive to be; we could all learn from someone like her.

Kittie

The name of the band, I know. The name Kittie first caught my attention, since it’s widely known that I’m obsessed with cats. In the year 2000, I was drawn to darker music and fashion, and Kittie lured me with their spiked collars, heavy guitar riffs, and Morgan Lander’s screaming vocals. Their passion in music is something to be reckoned with. In a male-dominated music industry, this band pushed through a lot of sexism and even lawsuits. They made their music even heavier as a way of pushing back. They never compromised who they were and always stayed true to themselves. As strong female role models, they showed me to be strong even when the odds were stacked against me. This was important, when I was growing into an age where girls’ voices were starting to be taken away from them. I went to nearly every show when they were playing in town. In my early twenties, I took an opportunity to be in one of their music videos. I made sure to thank them for shaping me into the person I am today.

Who run the world? Girls.

There are countless other powerful women who have been role models in my life. I’m honored to know and be friends with so many of them.

Although our society has come a long way, there is still a lot of work to be done. In the meantime, we should treat every day like it’s International Women’s Day so that real change can fall further into place.