Badassery Magazine July 2018 Issue 26 | Page 50

REFLECTING Empowerment RESPECTING AND VALUING OURSELVES IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY BE EMPOWERED. by Alexandra Dolce E mpowering women in its rawest form means transforming unequal relationships based on gender by respecting women, recognizing their contributions and giving them the credit that is due. Yet an unequal relationship “IF YOU DON’T VALUE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO RESPECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS, YOU WILL NEVER BE EMPOWERED BECAUSE PEOPLE WON’T RESPECT AND VALUE YOU. ” can’t be transformed into an equal one until and unless the person receiving the unequal treatment values herself and her contributions enough to command equality. By NO means am I trying to blame the victim. Nevertheless, many times I come across women who are intelligent and who contribute greatly to a cause or a profession but based on their demeanor (their attitude) they negate the greatness of the positive attributes that they bring to the table. Ladies, how you speak, how you dress, what you tolerate and how you treat others matter. If you 50 • BADASSERY MAGAZINE