It's never gonna happen...until it does!

My jaw dropped when I read the news. How is this happening in 2022??

For the last 20 years, Afghan women have been going to school, working, and no longer had to wear a hijab in public. And now that's gone!

A new Afghan government is in control. One of their new laws is that girls only go to school up to the 7th grade. Beyond that, women no longer have the right to an education. My mouth was literally open while I was listening to this story thinking about how their lives changed overnight and I was angry with them.

Girls now feel like prisoners because they are stuck at home. Some are taking online classes but they are lonely and miss their friends, teachers, and books.

They thought "it's never gonna happen," until it did.??

With the change in government, women were ordered to start covering their faces in public and were informed they could no longer leave their houses without a male babysitter. Husbands, sons, brothers, and uncles were now responsible for making sure the women in their lives covered their faces in public. I'm sure many got an earful in private.??

Some women lost their jobs and can no longer support their families. This entire situation is infuriating! It is outrageous knowing that these young girls want an education, and men say they can't get it just because they're girls. They were given no information on why that decision was made. Afghan women are left confused, powerless, and angry.??

Many women are considering leaving the country but could die trying to escape. Public posters and billboards are being painted over to cover women's faces. It's like the Afghan men in power want to completely erase women.

Why is it that Afghan women are worthless to the men in their own culture? I listened to an interview with Mahbouba Seraj who is a Women's Rights activist in Afghanistan and she said she's feeling defeated with little hope left. But she is staying in the country that she loves and will keep fighting.

This is another way women are put down just for being women. They can't get the education they want which would give them the freedom to work, become independent, and have choices.?There is certainly no hope of a girl advancing in her career today.

I thought "it's never gonna happen," until it did.

Last week was like a bad dream when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Yes, this is different from the Afghan situation. But it is similar because women's rights were stripped. In some instances, their life may be in danger due to a lack of proper healthcare. Women aren't always allowed to make the best decision for themselves.

I know there is a lot of noise in the world right now. It's ok to not know how you feel. It's ok to take time to process and decompress.

Set time aside to talk to your friends and family. If you are a people manager, let your team know that you are open to having the conversation. If you are a male, just listen and don't try to fix it. I know my husband has been laying low and letting me vent. I don't have all the facts or the answers about everything, and that's ok. It will take time for all of us to figure out what this really means.??

That one SCOTUS decision can impact a woman's career due to an unplanned pregnancy like:

• Not getting the promotion due to being on maternity leave.
• Having to pay for daycare for a baby.
• Having to quit work to take care of a baby.
• Not being able to get a job when pregnant.
• Having extra expenses when already living paycheck to paycheck.???

I did my duty by voting in my state primary, which is the extent of my political involvement today.???Take back the power and exercise your voting rights in November.??

I can tell you that, regardless of your personal situation, you do matter. You still have choices, and collectively we will keep fighting the good fight. When there is a will, there is always a way. It may not be easy, but it will be worth it to exercise your right to do what is right for your body.??

As Lisa Thompson , a confidence expert, says, take time to just 'sit in the suck.' I want to encourage you to not let this derail your career goals.

Be smart and take preventative measures so that you aren't faced with even more difficult choices.

I have a mission to eradicate the gender gap in the corporate world by empowering women in their career development. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I never imagined I would be a women's rights advocate. Yes, I am 100% Mexican and fluent in Spanish, if you were wondering.??

I attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I love my alma mater. There is an engraved statue on campus of a woman with arms wide open, which reads: "To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings." That saying encompasses my duty and responsibility to women of the future and coming up behind me.??

I want younger women to know that I am thinking of you. I want to fight with you and for you. I want to pave the way for younger generations, as so many women have before me.

I encourage you to take action and stop holding yourself back in your career. Advancing in your career and earning more money is a way to claim your independence and have choices.

Women deserve to live in a world where the equality conversation is a thing of the past. We deserve to be treated no differently than men. And this applies to all people, not just women.??

I can't begin to compare myself to real-life heroines, but I am Rosie Zilinskas and passionate about women's rights. You may not know me or remember my name, but if I impact just one woman to get promoted and have a better life, that will be enough. I would have made a difference in this world.?

I hope Afghan women will someday be free again just as I hope that Roe v. Wade will be restored.??

Remember,

Be Brave. Be Bold. Take Action!

#womensupportingwomen