Wonder Woman

I have loved Wonder Woman as long as I can remember. I have revered her strength, her beauty, her mystique, her heart. I eagerly awaited the most recent instalment of modern DC movies focusing on the legend of this great warrior. Saying I was not disappointed would be an understatement.

During a scene where Diana courageously steps onto a battlefield alone, tears came to my eyes. I wept watching her battle a legion of armed soldiers to reach a fallen city and save it's inhabitants from slavery and death. Despite my history of emotional outbursts during cinematic experiences, I felt this was an odd moment to become teary. It was war. A thought occurred to me: I was weeping for myself, for my gender. It had been so long since I had been presented with such an impactful display of female heroism. I was so happy to see a strong woman on screen fighting for what she believed in, and protecting those who could not fight for themselves. I could feel years of oppression streaming down my face. No, I have not had to fight the hardest battles in the war on gender equality, my brave predecessors did that for me, and I am so grateful. Still, almost every day I find myself fighting harder for so many small things because I am a woman. And as Westerner, my struggle is minute compared to those of my fellow sisters abroad.

Strength is beautiful, but only if you use it wisely, otherwise it becomes tyranny. Just because you have something, does not mean you have to use it, and just because you use it, does not mean you are not good and kind and compassionate. Strength shows up in so many different ways. The runway model who makes a living on her looks works hard for her physique, empowers herself with her body. The biologist who studies every day in a lab to develop life saving drugs selflessly gives her mind to the good of others. The mother, who stays at home so her children may learn from her, and the mother who leaves every morning for work, both make sacrifices, both have their own challenges, and are both doing what they are meant to.

I recognize the power in women. I celebrate our courage, our compassion, our intelligence. I am so proud of the sisterhood of  support that we create. Women are beautiful, mysterious, complicated beings. They intrigue me so, even though I am one of them. There is a trendy phrase thrown around these days "Girls compete  with each other, women support each other." I think this gives a sad connotation to the word girls, a word I like, but the message is still important. We have lived so many decades in dominantly patriarchal societies. We see war and hate rage on. We see also love and progress, but it seems that we fight so hard for them to prevail. I always wonder, would it be so different if women, born nurturers, were the ones holding the majority of power? This is a subject in which I am not well versed, and do not wish to make ignorant comments on, just a wonderment. Perhaps a study for another time.

I want to be strong, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I want to challenge my body, expand my mind, open my heart. I wish I had the laser focused discipline it takes to improve upon these things every day, and work to improve them. Some days my softer side wins, and that's ok too. I need to be soft sometimes, to float the way my hair does in the breeze, to wander without aim, to love without agenda. To sit quietly and read or reflect. I feel those are strong moments too, the ones I allow myself to take just for me. Sometimes our greatest fight is to be honest about what we need, and let ourselves have it, even if we feel it might make us seem temporarily vulnerable.

By coincidence, one of my best friends sent me a message the morning I planned on watching the Wonder Woman film. It was a picture much like the one above and it said "...Time to kick some ass. You're my Wonder Woman!" As a WW idolizer, that was a huge compliment. And a reminder that every day, we have the choice to let life's struggles break us, or to pull on our battle armour, grab our golden lasso and our swords, and fight back. Be your own Wonder Woman, today.