Aaaahhh, being a woman. What a divine, complex privilege. What a journey of self-exploration, deep connection… and a wrestling match with societal pressures. Whether you’ve been on this path since birth or fought your way here, you probably agree: it’s the rollercoaster of a lifetime.
Hormones and "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named"
If you are a co-gender mate, you might agree that the biological fine print of womanhood can be…a lot. We’re out here navigating periods, hormonal loop-de-loops, and the superhuman ability to grow and birth mini versions of ourselves. How is this not considered the most superhuman feat EVER? Whether you (can) use it or not, this sheer biological wizardry is wildly undervalued.
However, these superpowers come with a monthly price. I’ve always bristled at the "time of the month" cliché because it's usually used to dismiss valid feelings. Yet, I have to admit: things do get intense. This Voldemort phase is often treated like a dark secret we’re conditioned not to speak about and hide, even though it is the very process that makes human existence possible!
Yes, hormones do influence my mood. Some days I can’t tell whether that person deserved being thundered down with a single look, whether unstoppably sobbing over Bambi’s mother is the appropriate reaction to tragedy or whether I was actually destined for an off-grid life after feeling a Woodstock-level high just from a walk in the park.
3AM besties and cheerleaders
But doesn’t it feel like a real privilege to be part of a gender that naturally gravitates towards connection? Whether it be your new 3 AM bestie you just met (ok yes, slightly drunk) in a bathroom club, that woman who came up to you to tell you she loves your sweater or that friend that opens about work struggles… we have a natural tendency to connect, uplift and confide in each other. It is profoundly healing.
Over the years, I have come to see vulnerability as a real strength. Imagine someone coming to you with something deeply personal that they are scared to share. Isn’t that having the ovaries to do something brave? Wouldn’t you feel much more connected to that person?
This is our real superpower: to authentically connect and care for others. And isn’t this caregiving tendency exactly what makes a great leader? Take care of their people instead of feeding an ego that’s lonely at the top? Women are so much more powerful than they think!
Big boss Capi
Let’s talk about the power dynamic we women get caught up in daily. As much as I’d like to say I don’t care about what people think of my physique, let’s be honest: we are still constantly smacked in the face with the idea that a woman’s appearance defines her worth. Imagine if we all just... stopped caring about being “more beautiful”. Capitalism would come crumbling down. Social media wouldn’t be as addictive because the need to compare would vanish. Anti-wrinkle cream ads would have no "customer pain" left to exploit. We would finally have the headspace to focus on our actual life goals instead of trying to fit into a slim dress.
So, here is a homage to women: Trust that female intuition, that inner compass. Show your vulnerability. Care loudly. Let your emotions take you for a ride and feel all the highs and lows of being alive. You hold so much more power than you give yourself credit for.
Happy International Women's day!
June,
Managing Director at Ofa Karri and her own intuition
