This International Women’s Day, we took half the day off one of the working days to celebrate in each other’s company. The theme that we have set was self-care as we wanted to remind one another that it is important to be mindful of the self, both physically and mentally. After taking a vote, we decided to have a hearty hotpot meal and take a yoga class together. As part of the self-care package, we each had to share the reason we are proud to be a woman, and who our female heroes are. The time spent together was very empowering and we would like to share that experience with everyone. So in this week’s Joe, you are going to get a taste of that.

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Q: Why are you proud to be a woman?

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Maria: I am proud to be a woman because I think the female body is beautiful.

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Nella: I am proud to be a woman today because I think society has taken huge strides forward in terms of women’s rights.

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Evelyn: I am proud to be a woman because I feel really happy, comfortable and free. Also, I feel that as a woman or as a man, we should all be proud of whatever we are.

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Yu Ting: I am proud to be a woman because I was born this way. And I feel that we are all unique in our own ways and I am proud to be able to embrace my uniqueness.

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Q: Who is your female hero, and why?

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Maria: Frida Kahlo

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For the affinity that they share with creative work

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Just like Maria, Kahlo is Mexican. On top of that, the both of them are women who share the passion for creativity - Maria’s in graphic design and Kahlo’s in painting. Having overlapping backgrounds, Khalo’s journey to becoming a successful artist inspires Maria in her own journey as a graphic designer.

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For Rocking a Unibrow

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Back in the ‘40s, Kahlo was already challenging beauty ideals for women by embracing features that went against stereotypes that were deemed attractive. Her self-confidence was also displayed in her self-portraits where she unapologetically celebrated and embraced her Mexican identity, unibrow and the facial hair that sits above her lip. She was not going to let the opinions of others get in the way of her self-expression and that is a strong statement that continues to inspire many.

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“I am my own muse. The subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.” — Frida Kahlo

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Nella: Emma Watson

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For inspiring her to learn, unlearn and relearn

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“Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.” — Emma Watson

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Watson is the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador who has, over the years, continued to challenge the prevailing ideas of feminism in efforts to advocate for gender equality. She champions the movement HeForShe, “an invitation for men and people of all genders to stand in solidarity with women to create a bold, visible and united force for gender equality,” as stated on the website. Changing the way people think about feminism, Watson’s activism encourages everyone to constantly question what they know and how things work. Society can only grow as we learn, unlearn, and relearn.

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“If you stand for equality, then you are a feminist. Sorry to tell you.” — Emma Watson

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Evelyn: My Mom

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For doing so much

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Evelyn’s mother gets it all together for the family. It is impossible to get it right all the time, but her mother is one of those that might have almost achieved it. An acknowledgment for the love that you receive goes a long way. As much as we must remember to celebrate ourselves everyday, we must not forget to celebrate the people around us whose help and love often go unnoticed.

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For being thrifty (but not with her love)

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One of the superpowers that Evelyn’s Mom possesses is the ability to “earn money by saving money”. She is always looking out for the best deals and promotions, making sure that she does not let go of the chance to be thrifty when she can. As frugal as she is, Evelyn’s Mom is never stingy when it comes to spending on others. Saving money is for her, an indirect way of showing love for those she cares about, and that is something we can all learn from.

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Yu Ting: Greta Thunberg

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For standing up for the climate; for herself

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Great Thunberg is an environmental activist. In 2018, at age 15, Thunberg started to go on a school strike for the climate. Today, she leads climate strikes and attends global summits to push for immediate action to address the climate crisis. If there is anything that Yu Ting has learnt from her is that there is no place for us to be if we do not all see ourselves as part of the problem and the solution to global warming. Thunberg is unapologetic about speaking from her heart and fighting for a future that she knows she deserves. She is putting herself first, and urging everyone to do the same.

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“We deserve a safe future. And we demand a safe future. Is that really too much to ask?” — Greta Thunberg

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For having the courage to fighting for what she believes in

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Unafraid to tell the ugly truth to people who need to hear it, Greta Thunberg has a fearless spirit that is infectious. She speaks with conviction and takes ownership of her speeches. Walking the talk is not easy, but Thunberg does it instinctively because she is living and breathing what she believes in.

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“The moment we decide to fulfil something, we can do anything.” — Greta Thunberg

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