Over the past three weeks, we’ve released three episodes of the HER docu-series, spotlighting three women who are making things happen. In other words, we’ve been giving them their flowers, and we’re not ready to forget about them.
So, here’s everything we love about the women we’ve put in front of you, the process of creating the series and what we’re doing to #ShiftTheStory.
- These Women Said No to Convention
Each of the women we’ve spotlighted said no to doing things the conventional way. Whether it’s IBK choosing to start a business with her friends over a comfortable 9-5, Tara’s passion about a sport women rarely follow or Nneka making a life for herself in a completely different world, these women decided to do something different and continue to stick by their decisions. Maybe that’s something we need to do as women. Maybe we ought to say no to convention more often.
- Community Was Prominent in Their Lives
Whether it was IBK’s community, Tara’s customers and friends or Nneka’s classmates and fellow K-Drama lovers, these women held community close. For them, it’s more than just having people in your life. It’s about having your people share and believe in your vision. Having them push for it just as much as you do. Their communities included friends, family and even mentors who’ve watched and helped them build things from scratch.
- They Had Men Who Supported and Encouraged Them
Emphasising the importance of community also brings us to another point, which is possibly one of our favourite things about the series . IBK, Tara and Nneka all had men who believed in and supported them. IBK’s father and brother spoke about her like they knew her beyond being family. Tara’s biggest supporters as a young footballer were her male teachers, and Nneka started watching K-Dramas with a group of men and had a cousin with whom she shared her money-making ideas. We can all agree on the importance of choosing the right kind of men to have in our lives and sharing our ideas with.
Also Read: Tara Gave Up Football, Learnt Henna, & Took Back Her Life
- Our Women Are Money-Making Women
Let’s be serious. Our girls were not just learning languages, or new skills and studying numbers just to sit at home and watch TV. Even if they were, that’s definitely not where it ended. At some point in their lives, money became an important thing, and they leveraged what they had to get it. Whether it was skill, knowledge or networks, they utilised these things to the best of their ability. Survival for them was key, and they realised the importance of money in ensuring that.
- It’s Important to Tell Our Stories As Women
These women’s stories have surprised and inspired us. Having the behind-the-scenes context of everything they did to get to where they are, and the things they’re still doing has shown us how important it is to do the work. How hard it can be to balance life and career, but also how necessary and important it is to do it.. Shoutout to our women for sharing their stories with us, and shoutout to the women who do it everyday.
- We’re Learning New Ways to #ShiftTheStory
Here’s another thing we’ve loved about the docu-series and the #ShifttheStory campaign, we’re seeing the nuances and similarities in the lives of women and learning from them. Despite their differences, you’d be surprised just how similar each woman’s story is. It’s helped us identify niche stories of women who need amplification. If someone has gone through this, then there’s the possibility that something similar or completely different exists! And just like that, we’re filling holes, closing gaps, letting women know that they’re not alone and that we recognise their differences.
But then again, that’s the whole idea of the campaign. Learning, relearning and unlearning. Understanding that there’s much that’s the same about us, despite our differences. We have so much more in store for you, and we can’t wait for you to see it. Things are about to get really interesting. Stay tuned!
Next Read: What We Know About Ibukun Akinola, the Money-Moving Woman at PiggyVest
