What Women’s Equality Means to the Ladies of Adhere

What does women’s equality mean to you?

It was a question posed to the women of Adhere as we brainstormed ideas for a video shoot to celebrate Women’s Equality Day. This year seemed an especially poignant time to discuss the issue of equality — while it is the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote and we’ve made great strides, we recognize that we still have work to do.

With this in mind, we decided to focus on the promise of the future, one in which the little girls of today go on to take the world by storm tomorrow. This direction evolved into a concept that saw the girls’ dreams being realized by local Houston women who are powerful forces of change in our community. 

Creating this concept was a labor of love and gave us time to reflect on what women’s equality means to us. In our own words, here are the ladies of Adhere sharing what women’s equality means to each of us and how it has impacted our lives.

Amanda Hardin

Account Manager

To me, women’s equality is about the freedom to make the same choices that are available to men, and to pursue achievements that historically haven’t always been available to us. Whether we stay home with our children, sit on a Board of Directors, or find ways to manage both, equality means no one is denied access to realizing their own destiny. Equality affords us the opportunity to dream big, realize goals, and impact this world in ways only we can, and the world is better for it. 

Amanda Yanez

Account Manager

To me, women’s equality means receiving the same level of respect and given the opportunities as our male counterparts. It wasn’t long ago that women didn’t have access to even basic human rights as men. Many incredible women fought hard for the rights that I have today and I am forever grateful. Women have so much to offer to this world and I am inspired by the strong women I am surrounded by on a daily basis. We still have a lot of work to do but I am excited for our future and the wonderful accomplishments we are going to achieve!

Ericka Marett

Project Manager

Women’s equality is so much more than just winning the right to vote. It’s about having a voice and everything that comes along with being heard.

Early in my career it was important to me to put my all into every project, produce quality work, to provide opinions and input worthy of respect, and to be known as being honest and ethical — all of which I hoped would help me to achieve a seat at the table one day. 

Now that I have accomplished that, every day I strive to elevate the voices of my female colleagues, to cheer them on during hard days, to coach and mentor them, to champion their ideas, and to stand in their corner. But most importantly, my goal every day is to lift other women up with me, creating meaningful and impactful change because together we are stronger.

So today I ask you, what are you doing to elevate the voice of women in your workplace, at home, and within your community? What beautiful change are you creating?

Hala Mirza

Marketing Specialist

Equality in my perspective is having options and opportunities. Equality is not worrying if you will be treated differently based on your gender, age, ethnicity, or disability. The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. I would like to live to see the day that this very concept is applied to our professional and personal lives and have it be the foundation of our global society, rather than an afterthought. Let it be something to challenge stereotypes and prejudices once and for all to help us build a better future.

Kirsten Squires

Copywriter

Over the years, I’ve learned that growth is an ongoing process and that adjusting my perspective on things is healthy. If you were to have asked me at age 12 what women’s equality meant to me, I probably would have said that it gave me the opportunity to be whatever I wanted to be.

And, yes, this is true. But it also means so much more.

As I’ve gotten older, my eyes have been opened to the many facets of equality, not simply as it pertains to women, but also in regard to race, religion, socioeconomics, age, and ability. I’m so grateful for the progress we’ve made, but my awareness of the gaps that still exist push me to be an example for good whenever and wherever I can. Having a daughter and two sons allows me the opportunity to model behavior that advocates for kindness, inclusion, and equality for all. I look forward to seeing how we continue to grow and improve.

Have you checked out our women’s equality video yet? Give it a watch and let us know in the comments how women’s equality has impacted your life.