The underrepresentation of women in media is depicted in our day-to-day lives through the blatant dismissal of female voices. When women are deemed admissible to speak the questions society asks are not of the women, but depend heavily on how their lives intertwine with men.

I wanted to take time to provide a space for women to share their experiences and depth as human beings on a platform where they could feel safe to do so. In honor of the passing of Women’s History Month and all of the women who never cease to amaze me, this is for you.

Interviewer: What are your passions?

Dumebi: Trusting and loving myself along with adapting myself because I am a person who does a lot like roller skating, guitar playing, modelling, screenwriting, travelling... following wherever my passions lead me. Therefore, my greatest passion is being a constantly evolving queer black woman...

Interviewer: What experiences have you been through that you think defined you as a woman?

Dumebi: Most defining moments, when I was 12, I was wrongfully arrested for prostitution because I was walking home after a fashion show wearing heels, a dress, and being a black woman played a role. I was called “slut” and “whore” at just 12 years old. He made remarks such as “if you were my child, I would beat the fuck out of you. While I was with him he threw my underwear on the table as he opened my model bag and called me terrible names. I want to take some control over being an extremely beautiful woman to embrace my power and my sexual energy. There has always been an over sexualizing of black woman since we are young, and our power is weaponized against us.

Interviewer: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Dumebi: Powerful. Creative. Beautiful.

Interviewer: What motivates you?

Dumebi: Get myself at a point where I can transform my environment at my own will and I have this belief where I want to wake up to the sun and wind chimes.

Interviewer: What are your passions?

Cassi: Destroying the patriarchy system that we live in and dismantling misogynistic social structures that we are currently enabling.

Interviewer: What experiences have you been through that you think defined you as a woman?

Cassi: My strength and power make me a woman, I got called a slut in 5th grade, constantly being groped and sexually assaulted because I am viewed as territory and it diminished my value and my self-worth for a very long time. As a woman, daily sexualizing with the usage of words such as bitch, slut, and whore became a norm. There was a particular instance of a man groping my ass and slapping it, I reacted, and he looked confused because of how normalized sexual assault was. Men set up the dialogue that if they sexualize you it’s a compliment, I am not saying it's only women because men also experience it.

Interviewer: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Cassi: Resilient. Bitch. Hopeful.

Interviewer: What motivates you?

Cassi: What motivates me is other people’s passion like during the climax of the BLM movement. It's like what you read in history books; I want to be a catalyst for social change. Activism is a collective effort. Just because it’s broken doesn’t mean it can’t be fixed.

Interviewer: What are your passions?

Ray: Many of my passions derive from being a first-generation woman of color in America. Currently, I’m studying political science to eventually become involved in local government back home in The Bronx so that I can help the community that raised me and raised/will raise a bunch of other first-generation BIPOC.

Interviewer: Experiences as a woman?

Ray: In my specific career field, it’s deemed that women are not strong enough to be in positions of power because we are “ too emotional“. Especially for women of color. In this country, I feel like most of us have been told that we are not smart enough or we are just not enough and that is why my passion is to uplift and help other women, especially women of color.

Interviewer: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Ray: Resilient. Passionate. Loving.

Interviewer: What motivates you?

Ray: Seeing other women of color strive to be the best they could be in a society that honestly rejects them motivates me to go against the grain, especially when it feels like the world has destined you to fail.

Interviewer: What are your passions?

Becca: I’m passionate about making the biggest mark on the people around me that I can. In order to do so, I try to educate myself on all aspects of coursework, social issues, and hobbies. Making other people smile because if everyone is happy then they can continue to be the best they that they could be. Especially complimenting men because they don’t hear it enough and I feel like it could be a trickle-down effect in helping them understand the intricacies of cat-calling since they would see it in a healthy manner. The last passion I would like to mention is that of sports, especially football, I started playing because I wanted to learn something new. And ended up part of a team that needed all 11 players on the field to work together as one, for the 30 seconds in order to get the play, if one person messes up then you couldn’t get the play.

Interviewer: What experiences have you been through that you think defined you as a woman?

Becca: Having to prove myself every time I want to say or do something. There was an instance in doing stereotypical masculine work and my input was being diminished because I was a woman, they disregarded what I had to say. Being a football player in a man’s team, I always have to go through conversations that I was my own person and that it’s my sport because they would assume I was there for a boyfriend or friend. I always have to remind people that I did football, for 6 years, for myself and nobody else.

Interviewer: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Becca: Independent, Inclusive, Bold.

Interviewer: What motivates you?

Becca: My motivation comes from always striving to get better or make things better, learning about various aspects to educate yourself and try to make a change. Along with continuing to educate others and bring peace.

Interviewer: What are your passions?

Lilly: I really appreciate being able to learn from the people around me and being able to communicate with people who I haven’t learned from in the past, new perspectives are really important. I’m huge on sexual health and empowerment along with experiences that come with womanhood.

Interviewer: What experiences have you been through that you think defined you as a woman?

Lilly: I remember in health class during 6th grade, I was wearing a muscle tank and it swooped on the sides so you could see my sports bra. My health teacher told me I needed to cover up, I felt self-conscious and thinking that it was odd for him to tell me. I also didn’t have boobs at the time, so I don’t know what was up with that. I’ve also played sports my entire life and I was never picked because of my gender or people being surprised when I could play sports well.

Interviewer: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Lilly: Outspoken, Empathetic, and Curious.

Interviewer: What motivates you?

Lilly Ballesteros: My mom and my brother are my motivation; they are the reason that I am where I am today and here at all today. There isn’t necessarily an inherent meaning in life, and we have to find our own, it’s important to me to make a difference in other people’s lives and work to create a safe and happy place for those around me.

Interviewer: What are your passions?

Holly: I care a lot about school, academics really motivates me. But further than that, I think about my future and don’t know exactly what I want to do. But I do know that whatever I do is going to make an impact. I care more about making a long-term impact rather than money or fame.

Interviewer: What experiences have you been through that you think defined you as a woman?

Holly: I feel like there are moments where I connect with being a woman or moments where I’m fairly gender fluid. I graduated high school a year early and this guy told me that I would never get into this school because I wasn’t smart enough. He viewed me less than because I wasn’t a man. I don’t feel comfortable speaking up in classes because I feel like my opinion won’t be valued as much since they’re dominated by outspoken men.

Interviewer: What three words would you use to describe yourself?

Holly: Driven. Sister. Strong.

Interviewer: What motivates you?

Holly: Being perceived as a woman (this inherently motivates all of us) as much as I don’t want the opinions of others to define me, I want people to see me as smart and powerful. I want people to be proud of me and I want to be proud of me. Being the best version of myself and motivating others is what motivates me in all aspects of my life.

Thank you all for being strong and allowing me to share your stories, much love xoxo. - Sofi

The Power of You