7 Women We're Celebrating for Women's History Month
By Kelsey Hoff
We’re happy to celebrate inspiring women any day of the year. However, March is Women’s History Month, so we thought now would be a good time to highlight some women who have been particularly influential to our founder and board.
Our mission is “to empower women and girls to be the ultimate versions of themselves despite their adversities.” As survivors of trauma and abuse, we know that women can only shine their brightest when they receive the support they need during their darkest moments. The women on this list have paved the way for others to heal and seek justice by sharing their own experiences, speaking out against abusers, and taking political action. They’ve quite literally made history for women’s rights and well-being during our lifetime.
Without further ado, here are 7 women we’re celebrating for Women’s History Month:
Tarana Burke — Tarana Burke is the woman behind the epic Me Too movement that started in 2016. She’s personally responsible for helping an untold number of women feel safe speaking out about their sexual assault. She has worked extensively with young women of color and Black arts organizations, using her own experience with sexual assault to create an emotional connection.
2. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, is the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district. She started her political career in 2016 as a volunteer organizer for Bernie Sanders, and she traveled to South Dakota to stand with the indigenous communities protesting the oil pipeline at Standing Rock. As the youngest Latina ever to serve in Congress, she has wasted no time passing legislation to serve average citizens and surpassing expectations left and right. Some of the first bills she worked on were the Green New Deal and the Loan Shark Prevention Act.
3. Jennette McCurdy — This iCarly actress made jaws drop when she released her book “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” (If you haven’t read it, it’s definitely worth your time.) In this memoir, she details the impact of her mom’s narcissistic abuse as well as her experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and grooming by a person at Nickelodeon she only names as The Creator. McCurdy turned down an offer of $300,000 for her silence about her experiences at Nickelodeon.
4. Jane Fonda — Jane Fonda has been advocating for women’s rights since the ‘60s. She practiced true intersectional feminism, allying herself with the Black Panther Party and Native American demonstrators. She’s also not afraid to get arrested! Sales from her top-selling workout tape funded the Campaign for Economic Democracy, which she co-founded to help educate people about how a democratic government should empower them as citizens. She also co-founded the Women’s Media Center to help amplify women’s voices in the media.
5. Lady Gaga — This world-famous pop star is on our list because she’s been open about her own traumatic experiences and continuously advocates for kindness and mental health through the Born This Way Foundation. She’s written some incredible girl power anthems, too. Scheiẞe, Americano, dANCE IN THE DARK, and Free Woman are some of our favorites. She also wrote Til It Happens To You for a documentary called The Hunting Ground, which talks about rape on college campuses in the United States.
6. Michelle Obama — Once the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama has come into her own as a leader. She has been a big proponent of healthy eating, especially advocating for healthy options in school cafeterias. She was born and raised here on the South Side of Chicago! In her early days, she was an associate at a local law firm and held many positions in the nonprofit and public sectors. Her mantra “When they go low, we go high” has become an iconic rallying cry for keeping a positive outlook.
7. Gabrielle Union — You might know Gabrielle Union from her roles in Bring It On, She's All That, 10 Things I Hate About You, and other films and TV shows. We love her because she’s an advocate for sexual assault survivors. She herself is a rape survivor, and she has spoken openly about how therapy helped her recover. She was appointed by President Obama to work with the National Advisory Committee for Violence Against Women. She has also been a spokesperson for campaigns sponsored by Planned Parenthood and President Barack Obama.
Connect with our community of inspiring and supportive women at &Rise
These women have done so much to make the world a safer place for women and lift others up with their own success. Unfortunately, the struggle for equal rights, personal safety, and autonomy is one we must keep fighting. There are people in high places and people in our daily lives who use sexist power dynamics to try to silence and harm women just because they can. There is power in numbers. Each one of us has the power to make a difference when we show up for ourselves and for other women.
Toni Morrison wrote, “If you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
At &Rise, we help women trauma survivors get what need to free themselves so they can care for their families and keep paying it forward. There are many ways to get involved, whether you’re looking to give support or receive support. Weekly support groups and free counseling are our main offerings. We also host regular events and fundraisers. If you’re interested in giving, here’s the link to donate now.
The best way to stay in the loop is by subscribing to our newsletter. You can expect a weekly dose of empowerment, news about our support groups, and notifications for upcoming events.
Thank you for celebrating Women’s History Month with us!
