An act of courage submission for the 1000 Acts of Courage campaign – a community-building conscious action campaign collecting one thousand courageous acts for the well-being, empowerment, and equity of girls and women:

As I’ve moved through my fourth decade on this planet, I have become acutely aware of the many ways that our patriarchal society – both implicitly and explicitly – teaches girls and women about our “role,” our worth and our “place.” I am so often dismissed or second guessed by men that I find myself actively avoiding many situations in which I would need to associate with men that I don’t know. I have created my own safe spaces in my life where I surround myself with powerful, confident women and reflective, self-aware men.

I am raising three young boys. My husband and I have never told them that “pink is for girls” or that “boys don’t cry.” I cringe when I hear women tell their boys to “man up.” My boys are loving, sensitive, compassionate, curious people. They like to wear my shoes and necklaces and they like to flex in the mirror. They watch me put on makeup and ask if they can try. They have baby dolls and Legos. They love each other ferociously and show it. They hug. They snuggle. They cry. They get afraid. They get nervous. They are human beings. We surround them very intentionally with adults that will not introduce or reinforce toxic gender stereotypes. We teach them about consent and that when someone says no they need to stop.

JOIN THIS POWERFUL MOVEMENT – SUBMIT YOUR ACT OF COURAGE TODAY!!