We can do all the things too.
August is Women’s Month in South Africa. It is the month that we celebrate all things empowering. As we move from Mandela Day in July to focusing on the amazing women in both our present and our past, we are constantly reminded of the amazing role the women in our lives play.
We think about the mothers and sisters we cherish. We think of the teachers who shaped our education years, and we think of those women we know who have gone on to do amazing things with their lives – mothers, doctors, flight stewards, CEO’s, influencers, activists; the list is endless.
What this month has me thinking of is those women who stepped into a field that has been historically considered “male”. The world is changing, more rapidly every year. Women are stepping into roles and fields that have been historically considered male roles or male-dominated fields of study and work.
I am reminded of one such woman, Myranda Cozad. My son was, and still is, amazed by her skill, determination and commitment to her career. My son is obsessed with anything motorised – cars, bikes, trucks, you name it. And this amazing lady has the coolest job as far as he is concerned – she drives a Monster Truck! We had the awesome privilege of meeting her at a Monster Jam in Abu Dhabi a few years ago. We had no idea she was one of the drivers, and my son was so amazed that there was a girl driver. It led to a great conversation about what he thought girls could and couldn’t do when they grew up. He knew they could be teachers (I am one), doctors, scientists, actors, radio presenters, but we had never considered monster truck drivers before (or crane drivers, ship captains, pirates; this list is endless too).
When I started working at STEPI a few years ago, we spent days reading the stories and talking about how they can change the way we think about people and the world around us. His firm favourite has remained “Pantone”, but I have seen the immense impact “Amani, the Bodo-Boda Rider” and “Fatima’s Race” have had on his thinking about what girls can achieve with support and encouragement. Fatima always makes me think of the day we met the Monster Truck driver and how amazing she is at her passion.
As I write, I also think about who her support system was growing up and how many times the answer was “no”, because let’s face it, driving a monster truck is not the easiest thing in the world. You must understand the mechanics of flipping it over and balancing on various wheels, all while being 6 feet off the ground. It’s all of that and spending years learning how to do it safely. It shows her dedication and her determination to compete on an international stage in what is considered a “boy” thing. I love that she is breaking the stereotype one competition at a time and loving every minute of it. I am so grateful that we got to meet her that day and start the conversation of “What can girls do that we didn’t think of?”
So, as we celebrate Women’s Month, look around you and acknowledge the women who are doing the things you didn’t think they could do before.
