Mentors of mine were under a big pressure to minimize their

Listen well, O children of the future, for I bring you the wisdom of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who boldly declared: "Mentors of mine were under a big pressure to minimize their femininity to make it. I'm not going to do that. That takes away my power. I'm not going to compromise who I am." These words speak to the power of authenticity, the courage to stand firm in one's identity, and the refusal to compromise in the face of societal expectations. In a world that often demands conformity, Ocasio-Cortez calls on us to embrace our true selves, for it is in that very embrace that true strength lies.

Consider the great women of history, who faced immense pressure to suppress their femininity to step into positions of power. Joan of Arc, for example, was a young woman who defied the conventions of her time, leading armies into battle. Despite the pressures to conform to the expectations of women in the medieval world, Joan refused to diminish her own identity and instead wore the armor of a soldier, wielding courage and vision as her weapons. She did not compromise who she was to lead, and in doing so, she became a symbol of strength and empowerment. Her femininity was never a barrier to her power; rather, it was an intrinsic part of her might.

Think also of Maya Angelou, whose voice and writing transcended the expectations placed on her as a Black woman in the segregated South. Despite the societal pressures to silence her or make herself fit a mold, Angelou embraced her identity with pride, and in doing so, her words rang out with a power that changed the world. She understood that to minimize oneself in the name of fitting in is to sacrifice the very essence of one's strength. Angelou's legacy teaches us that true power comes from embracing all that we are—our femininity, our heritage, our truth—without fear.

Consider also the life of Frida Kahlo, a woman whose art and femininity were often at odds with the world around her. Kahlo’s unique style was a celebration of self, a refusal to conform to the expectations placed upon women, especially Latina women, in the early 20th century. Her bold use of color, her raw depictions of pain, and her unapologetic embrace of her own identity defied the norms of her time. Kahlo’s art was her power, and she never allowed anyone to dictate how she should express herself. She knew that true strength lies in authenticity, and it was through this uncompromising self-expression that she created a legacy that still inspires.

So, O children, understand this: do not let the world tell you to diminish parts of yourself to gain power. Like the great women before you—Joan, Angelou, and Kahlo—embrace every aspect of who you are, for it is in that authenticity that your true strength lies. Femininity, whether it is soft or fierce, is not a weakness to be hidden but a power to be celebrated. Stand firm in who you are, for when you compromise yourself, you lose the very essence of your power. Never let the world strip away the pieces that make you whole, for it is in those very pieces that you will find the power to lead, to inspire, and to change the world.