Monica Zarate
(Original publication in Spanish)
AS PART OF AN INTERNAL INITIATIVE AT SOFTTEK, WOMEN WERE ASKED WHAT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY (CELEBRATED ANNUALLY ON MARCH 8TH) MEANS TO THEM. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ONE OFFICIAL DAY TO DENOUNCE INEQUALITY AND CELEBRATE PROGRESS AS IT RELATES TO WOMEN, THESE TOPICS ARE RELEVANT 365 DAYS PER YEAR. WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH IS ALSO CELEBRATED IN MARCH, SO IN HONOR OF LAST MONTH'S FESTIVITIES, WE SHARE WITH YOU ONE SOFTTEKIAN'S WORDS.
I was born at a time when women who wanted to study at a university, could. My mother didn’t have that opportunity and therefore always encouraged us to seek personal and professional development opportunities.
My mother is the oldest in a family of 13 kids. At age 7, she took care of her brothers and sisters before doing homework late at night on the candlelit patio. Hearing her story constantly reminds me that I am privileged, not only because I’m her daughter and I still benefit from her wisdom today, but also because International Women’s Day is an entire day dedicated to honoring the strong female figures of our past and present.
Although college was not an option for my mother, she became the driving force in prompting my siblings and me to pursue a degree, study
a different language and travel—things I’m sure she would’ve loved to experience. She raised the strong and independent men and women we are today, because in her own way, she has always been a feminist.
I know that behind the opportunities I had, there were many great struggles of women like my mom to make our rights what they are today. There is certainly a long way to go, but if the smallest candlelight exists in the center of the patio, there will always be hope that more women will achieve their dreams.
