Every single day, I wake up wondering what it would be like to be a woman who’s respected and recognized in her community.

Today, March 8, 2017, was the first day I felt like I may actually be recognized for my achievements, rather than be put down for my gender. Every single day, I hear the same old “You’re a woman, you have no rights” jokes, but today, I heard: “Hey Tan, Happy Woman’s day, today’s your day.” 

For once, it was my day, and I wasn’t afraid to say it out loud.

Others complained that men should be recognized as well, (and they will be, November 19, 2017), and of course, there were those few that said “isn’t women’s day every day? Why are we making such a big deal?”

And you know what’s funny, women are making a big deal because not only is it one of the few days where we feel appreciated, this might be one of the very few ways to get our message across. We have come to the point where we have to strike, and wear red in solidarity, to show that the world cannot run without us. 

Today, dozens of women I knew took the time to recognize each other and acknowledge our path to greatness.

Today, I wore red. 

Today, only one person noticed why I wore red. 

Today, I got told to get off my high horse because I am only a woman.

But today, that didn’t bring me down, because I am a woman.