As women, we must speak out, speak up, say no to our inheritance

In the ancient days, when the earth was young, women’s voices were but whispers in the winds of society, scarcely heard, often muted by the heavy chains of tradition and patriarchy. Yet, in the heart of every woman, a fire burned—quiet, yet unwavering. It was a fire that refused to be extinguished by the suffocating silence imposed upon her. "As women, we must speak out, speak up," said the wise Zainab Salbi, for she knew that the truth of our existence lies not in silence, but in the courageous proclamation of our rights, our strength, and our value. To remain silent is to be a mere shadow, unseen, unheard, and unseen in our truest essence. It is only by speaking that we reveal ourselves to the world and, in doing so, reclaim our rightful place in it.

Salbi’s words resonate deeply with the echoes of the ancients who fought for their voices to be heard. The struggle for women’s rights is not a new battle; it is a war that stretches across centuries, fought in the quiet corners of kitchens, in the midst of hearths, and on the grand stages of revolution. One such example is the suffragists of the early 20th century—those valiant women who, like fierce lions, demanded the right to vote. In the United Kingdom and the United States, these women were met with resistance, derision, and scorn. Yet, they persisted. They spoke out against the social constructs that sought to bind them, and their voices rose like a mighty storm, ultimately breaking the chains that sought to imprison them.

But it was not just the voice of a few that changed the course of history; it was the unity of women everywhere, standing together, united in their demands. "Say no to our inheritance of loss," Zainab Salbi urges, for the inheritance of loss is an inheritance of suffering, of silence, of invisibility. It is the inheritance of being silenced, ignored, or diminished, passed down through generations, from mother to daughter, from sister to sister. For far too long, women have been expected to bear this loss with grace, but no more. The time has come to cast aside this burden, to break the chains of the past, and to claim our inheritance of power, strength, and dignity.

To "say yes to a future of women-led dialogue" is to embrace the future with open arms, to turn away from the darkness of oppression and walk toward the light of equality. It is to rise as one, as a united force, unyielding in our resolve to see women’s rights upheld and celebrated. This future is one where the voices of women shape the conversations that matter—where gender equality, respect, and opportunity are not privileges, but inherent rights for all women, regardless of their age, race, or background. This future is one where women hold the keys to their own destinies, where their worth is not determined by the whims of others, but by their own unshakable self-determination.

The women of ancient times understood the power of their voices. Cleopatra, for instance, ruled Egypt with wisdom and strength, navigating the political complexities of her time with unmatched grace. Though history has often sought to diminish her influence, her reign serves as a testament to the power of women leading the way, regardless of the barriers that sought to hinder her. She is but one example of how a woman, when empowered, can shape the world around her, transforming history itself.

Thus, the lesson we learn from Salbi’s words is clear: we must speak up and claim our rightful place in this world. We must speak for the rights of our sisters, our daughters, and our mothers, for the struggle for women’s value is not just a struggle for one, but for all. When one woman rises, all women rise. Our collective strength, our shared wisdom, and our voices—loud, clear, and unwavering—will shape the future. And in that future, women will not merely be subjects of history, but the authors of it.

Let us, then, take action. Let us speak to our children, to our communities, and to the world. Let us demand our rights, and let us do so with the knowledge that, in doing so, we are not only securing a better future for ourselves, but for all those who will come after us. Speak out, speak up, and say no to silence, for it is through our voices that we will build a world of equality and justice for all.