Empowering Women through Web 20

“When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.”

Audre Lorde’s words keep ringing in my ears. When I have second thoughts whether I should speak or just be silent, her words are enough to inspire me to speak up, or else I will lose the opportunity to be heard.

A woman, no matter what her economic status in life or level of education is, for as long as she has the desire to grow, she has that potential to reach her full potential. And with the advent of the Internet, the more that she is given a wider opportunity not only to grow as a person, but also to make herself an instrument to also empower other women.

Web 2.0 is one internet tool that every woman can tap, to realize her vision, as a person. I feel guilty that even if I am aware of what Web 2.0 is, I ignored its uses. Only when I applied to the VOF 2010 Program of WorldPulse was I able to have a full grasp of what this Internet tool can do to empower me more, as a woman.

I thought that what I used to do as a woman, as a mother, as a worker, is enough. I confined myself in my own family, my work, my community, and my country. Reading the journals in WorldPulse, however, made me reflect about my life and what I can for the betterment of this world. God has gifted me with skills and talents and resources -- gifts which I can use to reach out to more people, sans the geographic boundaries.

I believe that I have a mission in this world. I believe that as a woman, I can do something to also empower other women, especially those whose voice are being silenced or not being heard, or welcomed.

Through WorldPulse, I am very excited to be interacting with other empowered women of the world. We will not only speak our minds and our visions, we will also share our unique experiences, our success stories, hoping that they will also inspire others and eventually create social change. We will pool our resources and support each other for the achievement of a bigger mission.

I believe that through Web 2.0, women who give up their power simply because they think they don’t have it will start to get out from their shell and contribute in transforming themselves and this world.

As Margaret Sanger says, “Woman must not accept; she must challenge. She must not be awed by that which has been built up around her; she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression.”

I would like to join the multitude of women who commit to make this world a better place. I accept the challenge…and I know that WorldPulse is there to guide me through this great mission…which is not impossible, after all! #