A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships

Fernie is a community that is full of strong, fierce, and dynamic women and girls—and that’s something to celebrate!
International Women’s Day is an annual opportunity advocate for women and girls around the world. It’s a time to disrupt gender bias and dig a little deeper into what we really mean by gender equality.
I’ve dedicated my life to the advancement, fulfillment, and empowerment of the outdoor women’s community. Here are a few of the things I’ve learned along the way.
2. Not one woman can speak for all women. I’ve spent 20 years in the outdoor industry and remember when the groundbreaking women’s skis were quite literally pink, small, and floppy. If your business plans to sell products to the 50% of the world that identifies as women—it’s worth asking at least a few women for their opinion.
3. Someone once said to me, “What’s the big deal about women? If you want to be equal to men, you can’t complain if someone treats you differently.” It has taken me years to really articulate the best answer to this question because, “98% feels offensive when you’re used to 100.” (Robin D’Angelo). It turns out the United Nations sums it up quite nicely: “Investing in girls is one of the smartest things we can do to promote a healthier, more prosperous world. Every girl has the right to be in charge of her future and her fate, and we have the collective obligation to protect her rights and promote her wellbeing. Empowered girls are key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families around the world.”
5. Practice Radical Self-Love. Society hints that we’ll be happy when we climb the ladder. If we look a certain way, buy a certain thing, or achieve a status—guess what? There’s another ladder to climb! Don’t get me wrong: Do. All. The. Things. But do them for you. Otherwise, get rid of that ladder and practice some radical self-love, the belief that you are enough, despite all your shortcomings (no one is perfect!). PS: This is another thing I learned from a Black woman, Sonya Renée Taylor—check her book out, The Body is Not an Apology.
As we round the sun to mark another holiday (and don’t forget, the entire month of March is Women’s History Month), remember that what we even define as gender is constantly expanding. As women, we can lead the charge to ensure all marginalized communities benefit from the advocacy, self-care, and empowerment that we embody in our local communities.