Chair Corner with Sara Mellady

March…in like a lion and out like a lamb, right? It is the month of MADNESS, of time changes, of spring! It’s the month Mother Nature shows us how truly indecisive she is, as we witnessed by ice one day and 60 degrees the next, but more importantly, it is Women’s History Month.

There is a popular quote, “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” I have inadvertently been reflecting on this quote and the power of women since the middle of February, when I was inspired to make an all-female playlist. Of course I titled it ‘Run the World’ – thank you, Bey. I have found myself, since that time, reflecting on the woman I have become, those who shaped me, those I love and value, and those who have an impact on me, even if they are unaware of that impact.

At a young age, I remember my father encouraging me to be independent. He encouraged me to be myself. He encouraged me to form my own opinions. He would tell me that not everyone in this world will like you and it is not your job to make them like you. My mother was also a huge part of shaping me. She listened to me, she encouraged me and she showed me what it was like to work hard without recognition. I am blessed to have parents and siblings who are still praising me in my independence, supporting me, encouraging me and commending me for setting strong boundaries that protect my children and myself. These people have shaped me and their support has allowed me to be confident in who I am.

In addition to the love and support of my incredible family, I am blessed with many strong female friendships. I have numerous females in my life that I love; we support each other, we listen and we are honest. We mentor each other and each other’s children (a role that I cherish and do not take lightly), we console each other, we stand up for one another and we check on each other. We make time in our busy schedules for one another. We have fun doing nothing but connecting. I know that as adults, we can struggle to maintain meaningful friendships, but the trust, respect and love I have for these women is priceless. 

My family and friends have all had tremendous impacts on my life, but there are many others – some personal, others professional, still others that are public figures – who have impacted my thoughts, feelings, behaviors and freedoms. Life as we know it would not be the same without female pioneers who have paved the way for the rights of women. Some of these include Eleanor Roosevelt who advocated for women’s rights while being the first lady; Susan B. Anthony, who raised awareness and lobbied for a woman’s right to vote; Rosa Parks, who fought for civil rights; Margaret Sanger, who advocated for women’s health rights; Shirley Chisholm, who was an activist and political leader and the first black woman elected to Congress; Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court; Edith Wharton, who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize; Katharine Graham, the first woman to become a Fortune 500 CEO; and Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Aretha Franklin, Madeleine Albright, Melinda Gates, Malala Yousafzai, Kamala Harris … the list goes on and on. Knowingly or unknowingly, these women are an integral part of society today. Their work has allowed women to have the freedom to vote, own land, make financial decisions without a male, hold others accountable for unconsented acts on our bodies. Their work has allowed us the ability to choose our professions (from a lawyer to a singer to a congresswoman to a CEO to an astronaut to a doctor), serve on a jury, be eligible for equal pay (we are still not quite there), determine our own health options and serve in the military.

While we as women have come so far, we still have room to grow. We are still at $0.82 for every $1 a man earns per the 2019 U.S. Census, and for women of color, this gap is much worse. We are still fighting for control over our bodies. We are still fighting for equal representation where we are just as (or more) qualified as our male counterparts. We are still fighting for fair punishments for violence against women. We are still fighting for fair treatment in the workplace. We are still fighting…

I know that I am beyond blessed by the support from my family and friends, but not everyone has this luxury. It is up to us to raise the next generation of women, to create a world where they have fewer struggles, more freedoms, and equality. It is up to us to create this world where women band together in strong meaningful friendships, professional relationships and in advocacy. So here is to strong women. May we know them. May we raise them. May we mentor them. May we encourage them. May we support them. May we fight for them. May we love them. May we BE them.

As always, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also visit our website for additional information or email me at cssacexec@purdue.edu or sjmellad@purdue.edu.

All the very best,

Sara