By LIZ LOPA
There are many things I can’t be. Many things I can’t do. And many things I will never see.
But none of this is because I am a woman.
I will never be a brain surgeon. My brain is not equipped.
I will never climb Mt Everest. My body is not appropriately designed (and my spirit not willing)
And I will never see all the countries of the world. My bank account and time are not on my side.
But none of this is because I am a woman.
You see, all my life I have firmly believed that I can do anything I want to do, be anything I want to be and while a lack of talent or ability might hold me back, I would never be held back because I have a vagina (yep, I used the word).
But this week I am starting to believe that being a woman is a disadvantage.
I have always been scornful of women who behave as if being a woman is a disability to be overcome. Things like affirmative action have never sat comfortably with me as I have always believed that women can succeed on the basis of being smart and capable and getting positions on the basis of being a woman only gives men more opportunity to dismiss you.
I have always viewed being a woman as a strength. I have felt powerful. I mean look at us – we produce the next generation, we play the main role in moulding them (usually), we work, we have the innate ability to form unbelievable friendships and create deep and lasting connections, we are smart, savvy and formidable.
We are women – hear us roar!