A girl should be two things: who and what she wants
-Coco Chanel
First and foremost, Happy International Women’s Day to all the goddesses out there! I choose to come into work today because I love what I do and luckily my bosses are women. It is so inspiring to be in an environment where my superiors are empowering women who always motivate me in all aspects in my life.
It’s 2017, and we are still fighting for our rights and our voices to be heard whether it is on a political stand point or even in our own communities. I live in Texas of all places and I struggle with the constant battle of being “accepted” by the Bengali-American community here in Houston. Many people have not quite grasped onto the fact that we are not living in Bangladesh, it is not the 1880’s and no the women should not be given a separate criteria and list of expectations to follow. Why am I expected to look, walk, talk, and be a certain way but the men in this community are not?
I think God has truly blessed me by giving me the mother I have, who in many ways has influenced my personality even though we are nothing alike. Although I was brought up with Bengali traditions and taught the culture she told me to worry less about fitting into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings. Of course, I will admit that I have been a big influence on my parents to educate them on different careers and push them to see that I can be a strong, successful woman without having to fit the typical Bengali mold of what I should be. The women in my family may not all have college degrees but have always been supportive of my aspirations and goals. I could tell them I want to own the moon and they would reference a successful person who has worked hard towards their dreams and tell me to go for it.
I would like to thank my mother, my aunts and the women in my life for encouraging me to know my worth, for telling me not to wear my skin like an apology, accepting my free-spirited, wildness, teaching me to be giving, to take pride in my unique features, ignore the negative comments, for teaching me beauty goes beyond your physical features and for simply always reminding me that I am beautiful. I am the fierce, loving, confident, positive, intelligent woman because of them and I hope to be that for everyone around me.
Love,
The Bengali Belle 