Women supporting women has been a powerful force throughout history, with examples of women coming together to bring about lasting impact, innovation, and magic. From the suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote, to the civil rights movement where women played a critical role, to the #MeToo movement, women have always found strength in numbers, in community and in friendship. Fast forward to 2022, and we see Lizzo using her platform to spotlight seventeen femme activists who are making herstory today.
Looking back over the past 100 years, we see countless examples of women coming together to create change. In the early 1900s, suffragettes banded together to fight for women’s right to vote. This was a monumental effort that required women to work together, using their collective voice to demand change. Without the support of other women, this would have been an impossible feat.
In the 1960s and 1970s, women joined the civil rights movement to fight for racial equality. Women like Fannie Lou Hamer, who co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and Shirley Chisholm, who was the first Black woman to run for president, used their voices to demand change. Women played a critical role in this movement, and their contributions were essential to its success.
Today, we still see women coming together to fight for social justice, to advocate for marginalized communities, and to push for greater equality. The #MeToo movement, which began in 2017, was a perfect example of women coming together to support each other. Women from all walks of life shared their stories of sexual harassment and assault, creating a community of survivors who could lean on each other for support.
Lizzo’s decision to share her People’s Champion Award and spotlight seventeen femme activists on stage is just the latest example of how powerful women can be when they support each other and let go of feelings of scarcity. By using her platform to amplify the voices of other women, Lizzo sent a powerful message that we are all part of a greater good. When we come together, we can achieve incredible things.
It’s important to note that we don’t have to be famous or have a large platform to support each other. We can support our friends, our coworkers, and our communities by being kind, compassionate, and honest. We can lift each other up, celebrate each other’s successes, and provide support when things get tough.
I know this from first-hand experience because three years ago I started a women’s networking community because it is something I really needed. The results have far exceeded what I imagined was possible, and the impact we are having on each other in the community is visible and palpable, it works. The organization is called She Dares Collective, the tagline, “women accelerating women,” perfectly captures the spirit of the group.
The organization spotlights women doing big things by going to their businesses, promoting their passion projects and successes. She Dares Collective provides a space for women to network, share their stories, and support each other in their personal and professional lives authentically. By doing so, the group is creating a community of women who are making a difference in their own lives and the lives of those around them.
Earlier this month the group banded around one of their members, Tamara Johnson, owner of Enso Apothecary to support the launch of her products being sold at REI in Plano, TX. This is just one example of what it looks like when women come together locally to create positive change, it leads to increased confidence, increased sense of agency and economic development.
She Dares Collective is a great reminder that women supporting women is not just a theoretical concept but a tangible reality. By creating these communities, we can amplify our impact and create a space for women to thrive. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to do it alone, and that we can achieve so much more when we support each other.
So, whether you join a local organization like She Dares Collective or start your own, remember that supporting other women is a powerful force for change. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive, empowering, and supportive world for everyone.
When we surround ourselves with people who are a little like us, we create a community that makes us feel good about ourselves. But it’s also essential to allow for others who challenge us and enrich our lives, much like good soil does for plants. Together, we can create a community of women who uplift and inspire each other.
We are all part of a greater good, and when we support each other, we can achieve incredible things. May we all find our people, feel good about ourselves, and create communities of kindness, honesty, and support.
About the Author
Yanira Borges is energetic, encouraging, and brings people together to get things done. Yanira works as a system’s manager at StartOut, a leading non-profit accelerator supporting LGBTQ entrepreneurs, she is the co-founder of a software startup aiming to help neurodivergent people succeed at work, and the founder of a women’s networking community that acts as an accelerator, chamber of commerce and sisterhood that empowers women to do big things. She is also the mother of two, tends to her garden, and loves to laugh.
