THE FUTURE IS FEMALE...

Yesterday I changed my FB cover photo to “The Future is Female.” I want to clarify what this means to ME. Here are some basic stats that I accumulated from StatusofWomendata.org, United Nations Statistics Division, and Bustle. 
1- Women’s earnings: Women earn 78.3 cents for every dollar a man earns. At the current rate, women won’t receive equal pay until 2058. Equal pay would cut poverty in HALF for families with a working woman. 
2- Women in power: “Inequality between men and women tends to be severe and highly visible in power and decision making arenas.” From UN Stats
In 2017 the Fortune 500 list included only 32 female CEO’s, that is 6.4%. AND that is the highest it has ever been in the 63 years that the list has been compiled. 
Women make up 1/5 of Congress, holding 105 of the 535 seats between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
3- Violence against women: 10 million women a year are victims of domestic violence, and 1 in 3 women have experience physical/sexual violence in their life. In grades 9-12, 14.4% of women (GIRLS!) have experienced dating violence.
Not to be a Debby Downer but what does this mean? It means (FOR ME) that women have made and ARE making progress in many ways. But we CLEARLY have a long way to go. We women need to link arms in a POSITIVE way and have our voices be heard. Yes, #MeToo is a start. I was in corporate America for over ten years and experienced sexual harassment, thankfully not to the extent that some of my fellow sisters out there have endured. The MeToo movement has given those victims the courage to speak up.
As mothers (and fathers) we need to teach our daughters to stand up for their rights, express their minds, stand in their self esteem and be independent, healthy human beings. I always say that when I grow up I want to be like my wildly independent, smart, and compassionate daughter, Courtney. She is a role model to me.
We all can be leaders in our own way and modeling that for our kids is important. Being a contributing member of your own community is important. Reach out, volunteer, get out there! Why do we only make up such a small percentage of our politicians at higher levels? Not enough women city council members…city mayors…governors…legislatures. On up. It is ON US. I am not blaming men, there is no power in doing that. WE have to be the change. 
As for the lack of female CEO’s and women owned businesses…this is what I love about my profession, Network Marketing.  #Youngevity. No glass ceiling. He earns a dollar, I earn a dollar. No discrepancy. I get to be an entrepreneur, teaching other women how to own their own business, part time or full time. Having choices is true power.
I hope I didn’t insult any men, that is SINCERELY not my intention. I am blessed to be the wife of a man who has only encouraged me to step into my power over our twenty years together. Never being intimidated by my being in the limelight, we have only become better together by raising each other up. Thank you Tom.
The Future is Female, our voices must be heard. No shrinking violets here, especially when the going gets tough. Support each other. Raise each other up, even when your opinions may differ. My motto that I aspire to has always been to be kind but firm. State what you believe, step out unapologetically into the world and make a difference my sisters! Yes, the Future is Female.