March is Women’s History Month. Aimed at celebrating the achievements of womxn and highlighting the urgent fight for our rights around the world, Marie-Anne Leuty (she/her) shares why the team growing TQTB is intentionally majority BIPOC and female.
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day highlight the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of womxn. These events also draw attention to the continued need for women and allies to advocate for the hard fought rights some of us are privileged enough to exercise but remain out of reach for many.
It’s a reminder too to men that we need you as allies to advocate for and stand with us. As new waves of misogyny generate feverish clicks and womxn’s rights are eroded in legislation worldwide, you play an active role in dismantling these issues.
They affect you too – so be part of a positive change.
Fight like a girl
Navigating life as a womxn is beautiful and challenging. We’re born with an inherent strength and divine femininity that’s – let’s call it what it is – powerful.
Growing up, I knew that I’d simply have to fight harder because I was a girl.
Fortunately I grew up with examples in my family to look up to who were open about the challenges but didn’t let those obstacles define who they wanted to become.
Finding the words…
As I took my first steps into adulthood, I wasn’t able to articulate why or how but situations would come up where I knew instinctively that being a woman played a role – it was especially apparent in the early days of my professional life.
Once we make it into male dominated industries, we find ourselves undermined, underpaid and undervalued.
For Black women and women of colour, the extremes are especially sharp.
Making space for us
So how do we ensure that we uplift, support and create opportunities for one another?
Simply put – solidarity.
In the words of Audre Lorde, “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
When building The Study Group, the non-profit behind TQTB, we’ve been intentional about making space for women of colour. Building something new with people who understand the issues firsthand means we can support ourselves and give a platform to others.
Claiming space
At TQTB, we’re a proudly majority BIPOC womxn team.
Our Editors, Creative and Art Directors, Designers, Production Assistants and Communications Team are all women from historically excluded backgrounds. We also collaborate with BIPOC women entrepreneurs who want to build with us.
Over the past few months we’ve been working in the background to grow the platform and I’m excited that you’ll get to see the fruits of this in the Spring.
Scroll to end of the blog to find the IG accounts of the team!
It’s no coincidence then that our latest publication, Journal 002, is dedicated to womxn – we’ll share more on the blog next week about distribution points where you can pick up a copy.
We move…
From myself and everyone at TQTB, we wish everyone who identifies with the feminine a special Women’s History Month.
You’re seen.
You’re enough.
We’re stronger together.
Love,
Team TQTB
Shout out to the women who make up our team…
Follow Marie-Anne Leuty: @marieanneleuty
Follow Nina Camara: @cnina.copywriting
Follow Chaimaa Meliani: @chaimaameliani
Follow Shariefa Kasimbeg: @sha.diialogue
Follow Ra’iesa Kasimbeg: @ra.viisual
Follow Hannah Rojer: @landingstripper
Follow Barbara Murunga: @barbaramurunga
Follow Korianne Muya: @beyondthestethoscope
Follow Fleur Ricketts: @littyfleur
Follow Studio Notoire: @studionotoire
Follow Aafke Mertens: @riso_pop
Follow Yuteni Martis: @yuteni
