The title to this blog is a very powerful statement and perhaps it resonates with where woman are in this day.

We are six days into August and it is officially woman’s month. On the 9th of August it is national woman’s day, a celebration of the amazing feats South African women have done, oh and also a public holiday. Now 16 years into our democracy women’s voice can be heard loud and clear. We form a very big part of the fabric that shapes this country of ours. Women from all works of life are making big strides in a multitude of industries.

In 1956 on the 9th of August 20 000 women marched to Pretoria in resistance against the pass laws. While this might not have been at the height of the apartheid era, over 20 000 women had finally had enough and stood up to the government of the day

These very brave and fed up women fought to challenge the idea that a woman’s place was in the kitchen.  So the women’s anti-pass campaign, the woman’s charter and the famous march to Pretoria became benchmarks in the struggle against inequality.

Fast forward time and we have come a long way period.  We now live in a time that openly celebrates the achievements and progress of women.  Being a woman myself I can do whatever I set my mind to and hopefully I can make a change in the world we live in. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by the most inspirational women.  The women in my family, my circle of friends and the most amazing women that I work with. They have all achieved great things and have still maintained being women.

I think we can take comfort in knowing that even though, as women we also climb the corporate ladder or stomp the concrete in the construction yard we are still women. We are the corner-stone of life and society. We play a very important and vital part of how the world is shaped. We are sugar, spice and all things nice.  Strong, attractive, loving and so much more

Here are some things I like about being a woman

• Being able to play dress up
• Being okay with crying and not having to explain myself
• The fact that I have breast and I love my breast
• Being curvaceous
• Silly sayings like “pains of beauty”
• Beauty products for everything under the sun

Writer: Nonhlanhla Msimango         Photographer: Caprisel