Still Breaking Down Barriers

Today, I celebrate the many triumphs of women! Women have been uprooting and tearing apart the foundations of barriers at its core. These barriers were in place to hold women back for so long. The barrier could have been physical, mental, or spiritual, but it became a blockage of greatness of a woman. Throughout history, women have been faced with many barriers in which they have overcome. History has taught us that a woman will find a way to accomplish a task that wasn’t meant to be achieved.

Women have faced barriers placed on them through laws or policies, in their marriage, household, career, schooling, church, and more. Even though barriers were presented, women still mustered up the courage, commitment, motivation, and determination to overcome. When I think about barriers women have had to overcome, my mind quickly shifts to the story of Esther.

Esther was a Jewish woman who hid her identity from others. She was raised by her cousin Mordecai due to the death of her parents. Her people were kept in captivity. Queen Vashti was married to King Ahasuerus. Her disobedience towards the king caused him to banish her. The king sought a new bride. Esther was chosen to become queen. A scheme was devised to kill every Jew in Persia by Haman. Mordecai learned of the scheme and told it to Esther. He informed Esther she was brought into the kingdom, “for such a time as this.”

Esther strategized a plan and sought to face the barrier that was upon them. Esther risked her life to serve God, and to save the Jewish people. Esther was truly a heroine. She was an overcomer even with the odds faced against her. She overcame fear, repression, and the laws decreed by men. Despite the odds against her, she found a way to prevail. She united with other Jewish people to approach her barrier. She changed the system of men from the inside out. Her bravery established new decrees that would change the lives of the Jewish people.

Women have tackled problems of sexism, racism, sex-based wage discrimination, victim blaming, slander, workplace discrimination, underrepresented in politics, and more. Barriers may have been placed in our lives, but women are created with the innate ability to overcome. They’re having their “for such a time as this” moment.

In 2016, Hilary Clinton became the first woman to earn a major party’s nomination for president. Around that same timeframe, seven other women had historic victories in their state elections. Women in the military can now enlist in combat jobs. In the summer of 2016, the women’s gymnastics team won a prestigious gold medal at the Olympics. Women are becoming more educated than men. Lastly, in August 2018, there are more women than ever breaking the record to become nominees for governor in one single year.

Women are on the frontlines paving the way and teaching other women how to be successful. They have unique characteristics that set them apart from men. They are tenacious, driven, thinkers, visionaries, assertive, and goal-driven. Women are becoming more focused to establish a goal, implement a plan, and accomplish the goal. Women are overcoming adversity and receiving the respect and recognition they deserve. Women are still breaking down barriers!