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ARP 013 - Empowering Women on International Women's Day
70 Plays3 years ago
Happy International Women's Day! I can't let the week pass without talking about this very important topic that empowers many women like me. It’s something we women are proud of. Centuries ago, we were not regarded as such. And although we still have a long way to go, we have gone a long way also.
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Transcript
Celebrating International Women's Day
00:00:11
Speaker
Last Monday, March 8th, we celebrated International Women's Day and commemorated the different achievements of women around the world. It's something we women are proud of. Centuries ago, we were not regarded as such. And although we still have a long way to go, we have gone a long way also.
00:00:43
Speaker
Now you may ask, what is an empowered woman? Empowered women means having a voice and a choice to do, act and feel, and most importantly, enjoy and live the life you want and deserve. It is the ability to empower other women to make an impact. The snowball effect of pushing everyone forward towards achieving their goals.
00:01:15
Speaker
An empowered woman is a woman's ability to motivate and encourage herself, find her inner strength, have the confidence to take space and remember that she is in control. To know in her heart that we have the power, the power to choose, change and provide the impact, to be proud of who we are in our journey.
Introduction to Above Ruby's Podcast
00:01:36
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and continue to live life according to God's purpose while creating a community built on strength, confidence, and grace, like how 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verse 11 said, Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up.
00:01:57
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Empowered women means you know how to determine your own choices and take ownership or take responsibility of your decisions. So meaning you are confident to make decisions for yourself and that you also know your life's purpose. And you live in a way that resonates or aligns with it. An empowered woman also knows her self-worth and knows that making herself a priority is important.
00:02:26
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An empowered woman for me is someone who doesn't prefer something or somebody to elevate her game. She knows she has everything she needs in order to step up into her own power and greatness. Also, she is someone who empowers other women to go out and ready their own light into the world.
Empowered Women in the Bible
00:02:53
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Thank you for listening above Ruby's podcast, created by a mom for every mom and parents for that matter, embracing parenthood and sanity. Here to help you get by through weekly discussions and parenting, relationships, home and faith as you juggle daily in life.
00:03:26
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Welcome to Above Ruby's podcast. I'm so glad you are tuning in again today. I've not published a new episode for about three weeks because I need more time at work, but thankfully now I have the time to record another episode just in time for International Women's Day. And although I'm supposed to publish my episode with Sunny today, I thought I should move that for the opportunity to talk about women empowerment.
00:03:54
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Big shout out, and thanks to my fellow freelancers, these women I personally haven't met, but pay high regard for their audio and contribution to this episode. They are MamiRA and MamiSE, who are both pod mamas. Our love for podcasting and podcast services are our common denominators. Mami Nikki, who is also a fellow bistac and an e-commerce trainer and freelancer, as well as Mami Krisha, one of the enrollees of my course at FH Moms.
Contemporary Empowered Women in the Philippines
00:04:24
Speaker
Now, every International Women's Day, aside from thinking about the many empowered women I know and love, I can't help but think about the empowered women in the Bible, too. These were the strong women God used for His glory. And to name a few, we have number one, Queen Esther, who married a pagan king and saved God's people. That is in Esther chapters 2, 7, and 8.
00:04:51
Speaker
We also have Ruth who lovingly took care of her mother-in-law, Naomi, and reaped grain in the field. She later on married Boaz and became the grandmother of King David, entering the bloodline of Christ that is in the book of Ruth if we want to know more about her story.
00:05:08
Speaker
We also have Deborah, the only female judge in Israel, who helped fight against the enemies. That is in Judges chapter 4. Mary, which many of us know, who was chosen by God to bear and be an earthly mother to his son, Jesus Christ. We see that in Luke chapter 1, verses 26 to 33.
00:05:33
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In the New Testament time, we also have Lydia. She is a businesswoman who hosted Paul and Silas in Acts 16, verse 14. I could literally go on and on, but these are the names I have off top of my head. And these were different women from different times in the Bible with different walks of life, but they were greatly used by God for His glory and honor.
00:05:59
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They're all fearless and courageous and have huge faith in God. It's a blessing to have women like them as biblical examples of courage and strength. Now, aside from these women in the Bible, we now have a lot of empowered women, local and international as well, whom we look up to. These bold women have really set good examples for us as well. Here in the Philippines, we're blessed that gender equality has become more and more recognized by people.
00:06:29
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And again, even though others still want to impose the superiority of men, a lot of us have already embraced the importance of gender equality and regarded women as equal to
Personal Admiration for Empowered Women
00:06:41
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men. This also helped greatly in protecting women and their children from real domestic abuse. We are now more valued, our efforts are acknowledged, our works are recognized.
00:06:55
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I have a long list of these empowered women as well that I know. But to mention a few, I really admire my mother for all the sacrifice she's done for our family. There were just some battles that she had to face alone for a really long time and was only reliant on God's help to overcome it. She could have easily just walked away, but she didn't. And she chose to stay strong for us. And for that,
00:07:23
Speaker
we will always be grateful for her. So yeah, you are an empowered woman, Nai. And we also have our women frontliners who have compromised so much time away from their loved ones during the pandemic so that they can take care of the sick people. While we were busy trying to protect ourselves and our homes, they were busy protecting others. So yes, you are an empowered woman.
00:07:50
Speaker
My fellow freelancer moms who are doing their best to work from home will take care of the family. It's not easy and it will never be. Sometimes we have to compromise something just so we can make it through the day. But here we are still standing and staying strong, not only because we have to, but because we need to. So yes, we are an empowered woman.
00:08:18
Speaker
And those stay-at-home moms who chose to give up their jobs to take care of their family, we appreciate you. I know it's not easy for you to do interminable works every day, but you chose to do it anyway because of your love for them. So you are.
00:08:35
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an empowered woman. To all women, breadwinners, salute to all of you. To all men listening to this podcast episode, I want to challenge you. Remember who that empowered woman is in your life and appreciate her for whatever impact she's done for you.
Men's Role in Gender Equality
00:08:50
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If you're a husband, appreciate your wife and your mom. Every woman's value is the same as every man's because both were created in the image of God. He created her as a companion with whom?
00:09:05
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Adam could find his equal. So let her know you appreciate her for all the efforts she's done for you and or your kids. Listen to her. Do not just make decisions on your own. She is a partner and should be part of every decision making that you need to do. Value her and give her time to rest and step away from her responsibilities every once in a while.
00:09:28
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The mental load of women in the household is not easy. Do not be surprised if she's suddenly feeling down, especially when she doesn't even have a quick me time. And most of all, she is your companion and not your slave. Help her as much as you can. You're both tired from all the work that you both do. So it doesn't hurt if you're gonna help her. If there's a warning that I'd like to mention here, it's for us women to be careful.
00:09:56
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Unfortunately, some women use this right to their own advantage. And instead of women using their newfound right to be able to be educated in the service of teaching their children and other women, they now use it to their own selfish ambitions. So let's be very careful not to fall into that same trap.
Empowering Women through Support Networks
00:10:17
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The fight for gender equality is a matter that should concern everyone, not just women.
00:10:25
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And because empowered women empower other women, let's briefly talk about how we can empower other women. As the saying goes, behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back. How can we empower other women in this case?
00:10:45
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There are three things I'd like to mention. Number one is encourage other and not bring each other down. You know, gossiping is something we all are guilty of doing, even though we know it isn't helping us. It's something that
00:11:02
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has become habitual to us. So let's try to minimize this and slowly take it out our system. No gossiping tears us down and instead of lift us up. So let's encourage each other in whatever field we want to focus on, whether that's at work or at home.
00:11:22
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Number two is teach. You may not realize it, but teaching others have great impact. So let's keep teaching. Be that friend who someone can ask a question to, someone can be a mentor, someone can turn to for help or clarification.
00:11:40
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And number three is build a network of non-toxic women. You know, we have one other saying that says, tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are. That's an oldie but a goodie. That still stays true. So the only way to be empowered is to be with a group of other women who aim to empower others as well. The more we work together and support each other,
00:12:05
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the more will be heard. Our age, our role, or our experience, they don't even matter at all.
Concluding Thoughts on Women's Empowerment
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And on that note, belated Happy International Women's Day to all of us, may we women continue to empower others and be the strength to those who need it. Whatever good work it is that you're doing now, keep it up. And may God bless us all.
00:12:34
Speaker
Hope you enjoyed today's episode. Sign up to my newsletter so you're notified of my next podcast at www.abovepreciousroobies.com or follow me via Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, YouTube, and other channels. Find out on the next episode of Above Rubies Podcast.
00:13:03
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Let's talk about parenting while working from home with one of my colleagues at Zendyaster, someone I consider my podcast coach, Sunny Galt.