Woman:
Linda Belans, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Then
Denied promotion for poking a paradigm.
Fired for speaking truth to power.
Fired for having "Too much power."
Threatened: “Stop shooting from the hip.”
Rebuked for asking for a raise: “Be grateful you have this journalism job.”
Rejected by a Master’s journalism program for low GRE math scores.
Shamed: "You will never qualify to own a home."
Rebuffed: “You will never afford to retire.”
Admonished at 67: "Aren't you too old to start a doctoral program?"
Questioned at 70: What do you mean you're a dancer?"
Each warning, denial, firing, rebuke, rejection, shaming, rebuff, admonishment, questioning was wounding, sometimes paralyzing. Sometimes sent me to bed.
Nevertheless…
Eventually,
I was promoted, he got fired.
The hip-shooting boss ceased fire: “I'll stop when you tell men to do the same.”
Received equal pay at a newspaper of record.
Hosted an award-winning radio program.
Earned a doctorate.
Now.
I choose how much work I want to do.
Wrote these words in the sunlit home that I own.
Feel grateful to dance the work of choreographers I have long admired.
Penned a book about creating equitable, compassionate schools.
Ongoing...
Supporting women claiming space and voice..
