Women's History Month

We are now nearly two full weeks into Women's History Month, and reflecting on all of the incredible women who have shaped America's story makes me proud to be an American woman. Women, both young and old, living in America have been blessed with so many opportunities that allow them to thrive and make their everlasting mark on history. Even during times of segregation and oppression, women could still rise up, have their voices heard, and ultimately change the course of history.

While opportunities and privileges afforded to American woman makes me proud of our rich history and hopeful for what is to come, this realization also saddens me. I feel this sadness is for all of the oppressed and marginalized girls and women I met during my travels to Africa and Eastern Europe, women who are desperate for opportunity. The reality is that because many of these women live in circumstances that prevent them from using and cultivating their innate talents, they will not be able to make their own mark on history and better the world. No human being, man or woman, deserves to fade away without the opportunity to make their mark on society.

As we are now a decade into the 21st century, cruel, unjust, and often times unspeakable practices directed towards females in Africa should be a thing of the past. These girls deserve to grow up to be the nurturers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and political leaders, they dream of being. They deserve to be able to live in peace, without fear, and see prosperity in their communities. Girls and women living in Eastern Europe deserve to have cultural opportunities to expand their global mindset and continue to crush the failed policies of communism and marginalization of those who are different. Both of these groups of women and girls deserve to live free from the omnipresent threat of being sold into prostitution or slavery.

I want these women to be able to stand up and take their place in history -- to be the next Rosa Parks, Sandra Day O'Connor, Muriel Siebert, Barbara Walters, etc.