Rules and Reasons
42 years ago on July 14th, I was having the happiest day of my life, according to my social constructs and rules at the time. I was dressed in a lacy white gown, attended by girlfriends, we were all too young to know the implications of the ritual that was taking place. Yes, I got married on July 14, 1978, at the ripe old age of 20. I was not even legally allowed to drink at my own wedding. But I followed the path trodden by my grandmothers before me. However, things were different in this modern world.
In the ’80s divorce rates were at 50%. Women were gaining more choices. Did you know that in 1974 there was a law that forced credit card companies to issue cards to women without their husband’s signature? Or how about getting fired for getting pregnant – that changed with the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of *1978*! Or being able to take legal action against workplace sexual harassment in 1977! And in August it will only be 100 years since women were able to stand up and vote, that is just 40 years before I was born! Rules, rules, rules…many ARE meant to be broken. Decide who made those rules, and why should you accept them or not.
In reality, we are all still in the infancy stage of our full rights. And that is why it is ok to be a rule breaker. Women are strong, resilient, clever, fun, unique, and full of ideas. Women have history too… herstory? Learn more about the incredible women who have given us inventions, processes, and hope. Make a point to bring those lives into focus, talk about, and promote. Guy’s we need your support too, in recognizing our rights.
- Kathrine Johnson, calculated trajectories at NASA for space flights to the moon.
- Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first American Indian woman to earn a medical degree, graduating at the top of her class and a year early.
- Emmy Noether, a mathematical genius, devised Noether’s theorem laying the foundations for quantum physics.
- Vinnie Ream, 1866, at the age of 18, was selected by the U.S. Congress to sculpt a memorial statue of President Abraham Lincoln. This made her the first female artist commissioned to create a work of art for the United States government.
- Sybil Ludington was 16 years old when she rode 40 miles on horseback one night in April 1777 to warn her father’s troops about a British attack on Danbury, Connecticut. (over twice the distance of Paul Revere)
- The Sanitary Pad was developed by a black woman called Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner of Monroe, NC. Until sanitary pads were created, women used all kinds of reusable fabrics to absorb menstrual flows. Mary’s invention was initially rejected. The first company that showed interest rejected it because of racial discrimination. It was later accepted in 1956, 30 years later.
- Kathrine Switzer became the first female to officially enter and run the Boston Marathon in 1972. Men forcibly attempted to stop her.
Strong, resilient, clever, fun, unique, and so are you.
What rules are you waiting to break? Watch Too Many Choices Tuesday -my live video every Tuesday at 10 am. Or maybe you are ready to break out of your routine rules and get your brand going. Check out the Brand Fix Kit. Not sure which rule to break? Let’s talk about that! Free 30-minute brand overview, a 30,000ft view of where you are on your brand, and what you could do next. DM or email me and we’ll set something up!
