The Sad Truth Behind Girl Power Quotes

Earlier today a lady friend of mine shared the above quote on Instagram. At that moment I wasn't even aware that today is International Women's Day. So I commented to a gentleman friend: "Isn't the mere fact that women have to peptalk themselves this way depressing?" Just do a Google image search on "girl power quotes". Each of those image results begs the question: "Why do women need to tell themselves this?" And the answer to that makes me sad. Namely that for as long as we can recall women have been conditioned by men and most religions to accept a traditionally inferior role, both in the household and at work. And now, thankfully, that is changing by way of feminist empowerment – and girl power quotes.

What followed was an interesting conversation with my gentleman friend. He told me about his upbringing in the catholic south of Holland were his two more complacent sisters are happy to accept the traditional household role that they where brought up with. As kids they had to help with the dishes. He was told to leave that to them as doing dishes was women’s work and it would make him less of a man. Even today one sister will work extra shifts to pay driving school fees for her twin sons while those sons lie around and would not even do the dishes.

I imagine that these days fathers and mothers still bring up their kids this way. The result of that is that women too often timidly accept receiving fewer professional promotions and lower pay. This is commonly referred to as the glass ceiling. I also believe that this depressing inequality needs an attitude change in both sexes at ages and at all levels in society. In other words each and every one of us needs to take their responsibility in breaking down that glass ceiling. 

Back in 1970 my dear grandmother on dad’s side was already a household feminist. Shortly after my parents’ controversial mixed race wedding my mom realized that her husband did not like her creole cooking. So she went to her mother-in-law and asked for cooking guidance. Because that’s what you do: please your man, right? Grandma sharply replied: “Don’t even dream about it. He shall eat what you serve!” And thus happened.

So to you women out there: keep empowering and motivating yourselves until hopefully one day girl power quotes are no longer needed. Let your male counterparts eat what you serve. Have them serve equally in turn!

And to my fellow men: time to recognize women’s struggle and recognize how far back this goes. And how far downstream it reaches. Be a champion of female empowerment in your partners, your daughters, your sons and basically everyone around you. It will make you more of a man.