A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships

1. Almost everything I’ve learned about feminism has come from Black women and that’s a really important thing to acknowledge. “Having a monolithic view of feminism is suffocating.” Kimberlé Crenshaw is an advocate, scholar, and activist whose famous Ted Talk on Intersectionality has garnered millions of views by explaining that the intersection between gender and race has a specific violence against Black women. Here in Fernie, we may feel a million miles away from this (our town is overwhelmingly white) but the term Intersectionality can persist as a way for us to tap into the broader, universal quest for equity among women. After all, a rising tide lifts all ships. 

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.”