I wanted to be a collegiate cheerleader. Their fancy outfits, powerful moves, ability to bring joy, and the drive to cheer others on was inspiring to me. Every game, they would dress up and show up. I mean, really show up as they bravely flipped into the air.
I spent most of my life thinking I didn’t do a single thing to make that dream come true (other than wearing one Halloween costume). But eventually I realized I am a cheerleader, because you don't have to flip over backwards to uplift others or cheer them on.
Though I encourage joyfully uplifting everyone you can, there’s a special power that comes from women supporting other women.
As a xennial (a microgeneration on the cusp between Gen X and millennials), I grew up in a time when women didn’t always help other women at work. Or looked at in a different light, they supported other women in the best way they knew how with the information they had at the time. For some, they didn’t want to help other women because there was a perceived (or real) scarcity of roles available. For others, they felt that women shouldn't get extra support, because they hadn’t received any during their own careers. I always found this way of thinking troublesome. If I disrespected or undermined others because that had happened to me, I wouldn’t be the kind of leader, colleague, or friend I aspire to be.
Instead, I want to be a part of changing the narrative and opening every door I can for other women—even if those doors had been closed to me—and I’m happy to say I think many others are moving in this direction, too. Let’s explore a few of the most straightforward ways you can help open these doors.