Earlier this year, in the spirit of our #FierceWoman icon of the year, Malala Yousafzai, we set our intention for 2016 to be Exercising Your Feminine Voice and encouraged our readers and ourselves to ask how we would use that voice to create positive change. We wanted to check in on how those vocal cords, typing fingers and social media platforms, are being used and see if you need some help? We put together a list of Three Ways to Make Your Voice Heard and a bit of a recap of how we’re doing to help encourage you to keep the momentum going!
Our Voice on the Path to Menstrual Equity
For starters, we’ve been all over getting rid of the #tampontax and are proud to see that our support of this issue is breaking grounds not only in our home state of New York, but also all over the country! Last year around this time we explored the question, “Are Periods Taboo?,” and were sad to conclude that there were still many challenges in having comfortable conversations around menstruation. One year later we’re happy to report that just last week, the topic of menstruation made Newsweek’s cover story with the title “There Will Be Blood…Get Over It,” proving that all the grassroots style talks we’ve been having can snowball and affect the mainstream! Last but not least, we released the details of our #FierceWomenFunded campaign that gives the voices of our partners of non-profits for women’s empowerment all the more power to do the great work that they do.
So whether it be matters of menstrual equity or women’s health, we’re feeling real good about meeting our goal for the year and can’t wait to roll out all the more that’s yet to come.
Make Your Voice Heard on the Path You Choose
At Maxim, we aim to empower women and girls with the ability to make informed, healthy choices. Often, that relates to using organic and natural menstrual care products for your feminine health needs, but a large part of our overall holistic health is driven by our mental and psychological health.
Our relationship with our self and how we use our mind are two factors that greatly determine our identity, our self confidence and expression, and our values. Values are always evolving with our circumstances, but like a muscle, can weaken without use over time. As we have seen Malala prove time and time again – life is about choices, not just circumstances. Choices and action are what build our identity and we hope that each and everyone of you is as fierce as the women we feature each month. As Chelsea Vonchaz, February’s Fierce Woman of the Month said, “every girl can be their own fierce woman.” There’s nothing wrong in being your own role model.
Ferocity comes in many forms and sometimes, opinions take time to form or it may just be unclear on how to let yourself bloom, so here are three ways we’re encouraging you to find and to channel your inner Malala.
1. Write a blog.
The primary objection most people have to blogging is a lack of followers, but that vein of thinking succumbs to the illogical fear that no one will read your words and that thus, they do not matter. What does matter are the ideas you are pushing out into the world; that you are creating thoughts of your own and publishing them so that random others across the globe can connect to you and each other. Malala actually first claimed her voice by blogging for the BBC in Urdu at the age of 11.
Publish your vision; write your tone, your language, your words and let their power spread as they become adopted. You can write posts every week or post photos instead to document experiences and moments instead if you are more of a visually creative person. Many have also turned to vlogging for a multi-dynamic platform that lets users express themselves in previously unparalleled ways. If blogging is too much of a commitment for you, try posting comments in public forums or discussions on social media to have a voice, but also to engage with others and to further develop or critique your own point of view.
2. Join or host a Meetup.
Chances are that if you’re interested in something, so will other people. That’s the beauty of Meetup– type in your keywords and wait while the site generates a list of local groups with co-planned events that you can join. If you don’t find a community you identify with or you want to create a new, more nuanced one, you can too! If you’re not sure about becoming a regular, input your interests and browse the calendar of events for chances to meet like-minded people or simply join a TED Salon in your city to have compelling discussions every week, generally following a curated viewing of a TED talk.
3. Lend your skills.
Each of us has something unique to offer; as we go through school, internships, jobs, and career changes, we gain new skills and become better at the things we were already great at. Consider using your talents, whether it be graphic design, organization, writing, or accounting, to help a charity pro-bono. There are sites like Catchafire who pair organizations that are strapped for cash with altruistic individuals, allowing important projects like branding or crowdfunding, to be handled by the pros for smaller organizations without the resources to do it themselves. Choose a cause that you care about, view and match with open project requests, or find a group you can help to send them a message; passion is what makes your skills so valuable.
Remember, your voice is only as loud as the decibel at which you let it be heard. As you develop your passions this year and find your own ways to give back, don’t forget to check back in each month and vote with your purchase as we continue our #FierceWomenFunded initiative and celebrate the work women are doing for their communities.