Honouring Women: The Strength, The Struggle, The Light

For as long as stories have been told, women have been cast as both the foundation of life and the cause of its downfall. We have been praised, blamed, burdened and overlooked. Yet, despite it all, We endure, We create, We nurture, We build and We rise.

Through my work, I explore different facets of the female experience – one marked by resilience, struggle and an unwavering connection to life itself.

                                                                                                                                                        

She was cast as the villain in the very first story ever told. The temptress, the sinner, the downfall of man. And what was her crime? Her curiosity? Her desire? The same qualities that have driven humanity forward for generations?

For a moment if we return to that biblical story, if it had been Adam that committed the "unforgivable sin", by the standards at which men are held today, would he not have been celebrated, and continue to be celebrated for His curiosity? His desire? The same qualities that have driven humanity forward for generations?

I came across a TikTok where someone asked ChatGPT what would have changed if men had periods instead of women? The response:

Source: TikTok - tala.realme

I had a chuckle, but the humour was laced with frustration. The creator gave a disclaimer that this wasn't to hate on men, however it highlighted an important issue on how differently women's health concerns are treated compared to men's. The question itself points to a long-standing reality – if men experienced what women do, there'd be more funding, research and recognition of issues that are often dismissed or told to "just deal with it." The disparity in attention and societal attitudes towards women's health is a reflection of how deeply ingrained gender bias still is.

A perfect example of this is a comment made by an Australian radio host who suggested that Endometriosis is not real.

Source: ABC News | Georgie Hewson

This kind of ignorance is not just dismissive but actively harmful, considering the millions of women who struggle for years to get a diagnosis while their pain is downplayed. It's a stark reminder of why conversations around women's health and rights still need to be fought for and amplified.

For centuries, women have borne the burden of blame, of violence, of expectations too heavy to carry. Judged for speaking, for existing, for simply reaching for more. Yet, despite the weight, despite the scars – we continue.

We've all come from a woman. Life itself has passed through her hands. We owe her more than judgement. We owe her respect, grace, and reverence. 

Eve was never the enemy. She was the beginning.

                                                                                                                                                        

She was told To be careful. To be quiet. To be small. And still, when harm found her, the world asked what She had done wrong.

For centuries, women have carried the weight of expectations that were never theirs to bear. If life does not begin, it is Our failing. If violence finds Us, We should have known better. If a man loses control, it is Our fault for tempting him. The weight of guilt, expectation, and suffering is placed on Our shoulders, while the world turns its head, pretending not to see.

Despite the weight, despite the scars, We continue, We bloom. Not because it's easy, not because we are unbreakable, but because we refuse to let the world define us by the things we never asked for.

Bleu is not just survival, She is resilience. Quiet yet strong, unfolding in her own time.

                                                                                                                                                   

She turns toward the light, not because the darkness isn't there, but because she refuses to let it consume her.

The world has tried, and continues to try, to quiet us, to shrink us, to tell us we're Too much, Too bold, Too soft, Too everything and not enough. But we know better. We know that joy is an act of defiance, that peace is not given but made.

Like the sunflower, we stand tall, even when the storm bends us low. We soak in the warmth, knowing we deserve it. We embrace stillness, not as weakness, but as strength – the kind that radiates from within.

Soleil is not just light. She is the quiet power of choosing joy, again and again.

                                                                                                                                                     

Celebrating Women, Celebrating You!

This International Women's Day, I invite you to celebrate the women in your life - the ones who have carried burdens unseen, who have risen despite the weight, and who continue to bloom in their own time, because they deserve to and have earned every right to do so.

Chido Bianca x