Last Friday, I went to see the Broadway Show “& Juliet” with a group of powerful women. The premise of the show is that Juliet decides to not kill herself when she awakes to find Romeo dead. Instead she decides to live and find out who she really is. The show is funny and a musical trip down memory lane (chock full of 90s songs such as “Oops I Did It Again” by Britney Spears and “Roar” by Katy Perry).
It is also a show that reminded me that as women we have choices. Patriarchal and overbearing men may try to take away our rights but we can stand strong and choose to live according to our values. We can love who we want and decide what our families will look like. We can choose ourselves. And when it gets difficult, we need to work harder and not give up.
My entire career has been dedicated to empowering women personally and professionally, so last week’s election was a punch to the gut. The question I had to answer was “Have I worked this hard, along with so many other women and allies for change only to have us turn the clocks back to the 1950s?” The answer I came to is a big fat no!
Over the next four years, I pledge that I will not give up. I encourage you to do the same. If Juliet can change the ending to her story, all of us can band together and change history to ensure that no matter your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, or religion, you will be treated equitably. It’s a long road ahead but I am up for the challenge. Are you?
Let’s work to change the story so all of us can have a happy ending.