You probably fell in love with Lea Michele as Rachel Berry on Glee, and you're probably a little bit terrified of her on Scream Queens — after all, her character is obsessed with death. But now you're going to worship the actress even more. Lea Michele wants women to unite, as she explained in an op-ed she wrote for The Daily Beast on Wednesday. Far too often women are pitted against one another and the 29-year-old star is ready to change that for good. The singing sensation wants women to form a sisterhood and become an undivided force — something I couldn't agree with more. She wrote,
History has told us that giving women a voice is important and can be a catalyst for change. Yet so often women pit themselves against one another rather than come together. I hold this truth to be self-evident: I owe my voice to the unwavering support of a select group of family, friends, and believers who encouraged me to keep going despite disappointments and failures. To say this support was life-changing would not be an exaggeration.
Like Michele said, giving support to someone is a great act and can be "life-changing," which is why more women need to come together. How can they do that? By using their voices, just like Michele. She's using her voice for more than just singing, and hopefully, others are going to listen. She is hoping to teach and empower women by participating in campaigns and spreading awareness through organizations. Michele has partnered with the #ActuallySheCan campaign, which is a movement celebrating women and their ambitions, and it embraces millennials and their dreams.
"#ActuallySheCan praises millennial women for their successes and encourages them to believe in their individual and collective potential," she wrote. "It gives millennial women everywhere a chance to vocalize their aspirations and be themselves, and I am proud to be a part of it."
Being vocal, and not just through song, is quite powerful, especially when you're standing up for yourself, other women, and something you believe in strongly. Women, like Michele, Lena Dunham, Gloria Steinem, Amy Schumer, and many others, continue to do just that. So, don't be afraid to use your voice. There are many ways to do that, like joining a cause like Michele's #ActuallySheCan campaign. Several organizations exist that bring women together, including the I AM THAT GIRL organization and Glamour's The Girl Project initiative.
"My voice has not only provided me with a career and innumerable opportunities, but more personally, it has helped me to work through some of my insecurities and make peace with myself — flaws and all," Michele said. "At the end of the day, we are all human and have moments of doubt but my voice has pushed me forward and it has nurtured my confidence and self-worth."
By using your voice, not only do you showcase a true strength, but you also prove just how fearless you are in supporting yourself, other women, and your ambitions. As Michele said,
I encourage all millennial women to stand proudly on the platform and share their voices in the best way they know how — and to support others that do the same. We have to be diligent, we have to be willing to take risks, we have to be willing to celebrate one another and accept the challenges we face individually and collectively.
Excuse me while I go put on a Lea Michele song, aka my new anthem, and let my voice be heard.
Images: Giphy
