“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
I was raised in a family of men, but I also was raised by a formidable mother to believe in the power of women. I was told that everything my brothers did, I could and should do, too. And so I went out and did it.
But slowly I realized that tackle football wasn’t my idea of fun, nor was being held down in water polo until I couldn’t breathe. And while it’s true I did like going to football and baseball games with my brothers, I soon realized I wasn’t paying attention to the same things they were.
My mother always told me, “It’s a man’s world out there, and you need to be tough to compete,” but she also stressed that being a woman was my greatest asset. She spoke often of the power of women and motherhood and the pivotal role of Mary in the Catholic Church. And she would point to her own mother as the single greatest example of strength she had ever known.
In spite of all this, growing up I always wanted to be one of the boys, but once I was grown up, I realized my mother was right.
While I was First Lady of California, I was privileged to meet many different types of women whom I more than likely would never have met otherwise, and I was moved and inspired by them all. I produced what grew into the largest women’s conference in this country. At our annual gathering, thirty thousand women from all walks of life came together to learn, to grow, to share, to be empowered. It was a life-changing event every year, and it taught me that my mother was correct indeed. I saw female strength, courage, resilience, brilliance, and determination up close. These women taught me that women—when seen and heard and validated—can do anything.
Today I love being a woman. I love the energy I can bring into a space. I love being different from men. I love working from both my femininity and my strength.
The power of women has evolved in my lifetime, and in my children’s lifetimes, it will evolve even more.
May we reassure ourselves that being a woman isn’t a liability. It’s an asset. Like any asset, you must invest in it, care for it, recognize its uniqueness, and nurture it forward.
So, unlike my mother, I don’t tell my daughters, Katherine and Christina, it’s a man’s world. I tell my children it’s everyone’s world. We all bring something unique to the table. And when we women sit at it, there is no doubt in my mind that it becomes a more compassionate, caring, and collaborative table.
If you’re a woman, never doubt that you belong at the table. Never doubt that you bring something to it. And never forget to save a seat for someone else.
Dear God, thank you for the good memories of my youth and the women who helped shape my life. Please bless each of them and enrich them for the way they influenced me. Help me to live their wisdom and strength. Help me continue to embrace your plan for my life and keep moving forward into the life you envision for me. Amen.