“Babae ka, you tend to be more irrational and emotional when it comes to decision-making.”
“Babae ka, you should always be understanding, caring, and nurturing.”
“Babae ka, doing household chores is expected of you especially cooking.”
“Babae ka, yes you can wear makeup but if it’s too much it looks like you’re trying too hard for the male gaze.”
These are just some of the typical stereotypes and prejudices women from all walks of life have to deal with daily. Frustrating isn’t it? It’s already 2024, yet society as a collective still has a long way to go when it comes to creating a genuine change in how women should be seen and treated.
This is why (we can’t stress this enough), it’s so important to tell your story. Our story.
To all the strong wonderful ladies reading this blog, know that your voice and story matter. Why? The more outspoken and transparent we are about our unique journey (be it about love, health and fitness, professional career, academia, family, finer pursuits, self-discovery), and the list goes on… the more we can raise awareness as a collective that those common stereotypes and labels society has assigned to us no longer hold the power to weigh us down because we’ve come so far and we’ve lived way too many lives that only a few can truly fathom.
Women are wonders. No doubt.
An inspiring example that I’d like to share with you, not just for blogging purposes, but because this story is one that is genuine and has honestly moved me (my name’s Danielle, and I’m the content writer specifically assigned for this blog), is how I met my boss babe, Ms. Mika.
She goes by several names actually: Sexy Chef Mika (because she’s literally an amazing cook at home and loves to experiment with new recipes while wearing her iconic deep red colored lipstick), Ms. Mikaragua (the pambansang raffle draw prize sponsor), and Michelle “Mika” Miranda (also professionally known as The VA Hub’s Chief Operating Officer).
Her story was something I’d never heard of before and with her approval to share this publicly, I will try my best to give this justice without sounding too flowery and biased.
So who exactly is “Mika”? Well, she’s many things.
A mother to her speech-impaired daughter whom she unconditionally loves, a sister, an aunt, a loyal lover to her partner, a former factory worker in Japan, a then executive assistant (who used to sell leche flan and sandwiches during her break time) turned COO, a hands-on and very approachable boss who genuinely takes the time to know all our virtual assistants and support team members, a professional karaoke singer who loves eating cake, a friend, a classmate, a daughter who supports her overseas mother, and above everything else… a woman at the end of the day.
Mika Miranda is just one out of the millions of women who have a story to tell. Each of us has our own unique story with different characters and this is why somehow and eventually… it becomes our duty to let the world know about it.
"..our exemplary virtual assistants who were able to push beyond the boundaries despite not always having a “sunshine and rainbows” life."
One word: Representation.
Have you ever wondered why little girls still think that only people with light skin color are considered the “prettiest” or if they easily feel self-conscious about pursuing a more male-dominated career? Again, representation. Stories exist to inform and inspire people, especially the youth. The world needs to know that such realities can and do exist but how can we make that possible if we don’t speak up?
This is why this Women’s Month, The VA Hub ended March with a fun virtual recognition event entitled “Thank, Value, and Honor: MARCHing Together Towards Greater Success” where we give credit to where it is due—our exemplary virtual assistants who were able to push beyond the boundaries despite not always having a “sunshine and rainbows” life.
Ladies, as we bid farewell to March, just like any month that passes by, may we not only feel empowered during this particular month but may we strive to live every day as if it is Women’s Day because gone are the times when we have to water down who we truly are just because of society’s stigma and stereotypes.
Remember that you are good, you are amazing, and you inspire.
Go out there and live to tell your story,
The VA Hub Team
