There is definitely a strong system of socialization in place which continues to devalue women’s work and lead us to believe that we’re worth less than our male counterparts. People still think that someone’s ability to raise and bear a child (and the possibility of it happening, however remote it might be), is enough for some businesses to devalue a woman (I’ve heard this. Very recently.)

Be passive, and you’ll never get what you’re worth. Be too aggressive and butch, you might end up being a bitch, or trying to be one of the guys. It’s ridiculous the kind of pressure we’re under.

But power is not something that is had and given—it is something that is negotiated through everyday actions. Being strong and conscious of your own agency and your ability to negotiate power is one way to turn “that’s just the way it is ::shrug::” into change for the better.