Before I begin this post, I feel compelled to name my privilege and place. I identify as a white Canadian woman from the settler society living on unceded Coast Salish territory1. On the royal “we” that I use below, I’m speaking to western women, specifically online business owners. I acknowledge that I don’t understand the experience of every woman on this planet. Yet I have so much to be thankful for. And with that, here we go…
I believe that when your website doesn’t have the impact you wanted it do, it has nothing to do with your worth or value—it’s a disconnect between your brand and your strategy. And that’s totally repairable.
I believe that the Internet puts too much pressure on changing your personhood and not enough emphasis on diversity.
I believe that diversity is so incredibly important for healthy online businesses. Scratch that—for healthy communities in general, and online business communities, too.
I believe diversity is vital in order to not get emotionally sick.
I believe diversity keeps us in check. Diversity keeps us honest.
Diversity keeps us curious.
And that’s how we grow, reach more humans, and make a bigger impact in this world.
I believe that women are super strong business owners, and the work we do online, much like unpaid domestic work, often gets overlooked and undervalued.
I believe we are stronger together.
I believe our voices need to be heard.
I believe we minimise our power, importance, knowledge, and authority (I do this daily!) for no other reason than we are conditioned to by our shared histories and the (white, western) patriarchal culture in which we exist.
I believe that the Internet has given us both a deepening of these problems and the tools to overcome them.
And I also believe that I’m a dynamic human being, and may quite possibly change my mind tomorrow.
You too? Join me for discussion on my Facebook page or below in the comments.
1. Interested in what “Unceded Coast Salish Territory” means and want more info? COOL! <-