We took the plunge - our 2021 International Women's Day campaign is live and, let me tell you, planning and implementing it over the past few months has been thought-provoking, thought-changing and empowering all at the same time.

This article is about why we came up with a campaign for International Women's Day in the first place, how I have changed personally over the past few months and what important insights I have gained about being a woman* and femininity during the conception process.

If you were to walk into the JUNGLÜCK office in Munich on a normal working day - let's imagine Corona was behind us - yes, 30 pairs of curious eyes would look at you questioningly. But you would quickly notice: Almost all of these eyes are looking at you from the faces of women*. Et voilà! So it was only natural that last year we decided to set up a campaign by women* for women*.

So we got together in a small team (virtually, of course) and talked about what we wanted to achieve and what we wanted to share. Conversations arose about what it means to be a woman*, what exactly International Women's Day actually means to us and how we position ourselves in this female cosmos. As inspiring as I found this entire brainstorming session, what was I doing here? Sure, I define myself as a woman and I have an opinion on what that means for me and how I deal with it, but am I qualified enough, am I self-loving enough, am I opinionated enough, am I feminist enough - am I even woman enough to be in this position to tell other women* about being a woman*? And also be able to give a sense of empowerment with my contribution? I really wasn't sure. And after a long period of pondering, I realized something: That's where we have the sticking point:

This insecurity about the value of our own femininity runs like a red thread from the large social structures to the small connections within ourselves. If you look at the last few decades of our history, it's hardly surprising how this insecurity can still have such a profound impact even on bright, modern, independent women* in 2021.

Admittedly: We've come a long way.
At least it feels long, but in retrospect it is shockingly short. From today's perspective, it is hard for most young women, especially in wealthy countries like Germany, to imagine what has happened since then. That we have only been allowed to vote and be elected for 102 years. That we have only been allowed to open our own bank account for 59 years. That we have only been allowed to work without our husband's consent for 52 years. That we have only been legally protected from marital rape for 24 years and that it is considered a criminal offense. "Human dignity is inviolable" - Article 1 of the Basic Law was established 48 years before this law was passed.

Our history is still young, but we can and should look back with gratitude and pride on the many women and men who stood up for a future with growing self-determination, prospects, freedom of action and freedom of expression for future generations. And we should continue their struggles, because we are still a long way from reaching our goal.

What resonated more and more strongly in our team meetings was how much the lack of acceptance for female voices, opinions and appearances has crept into the smallest details and levels of our lives and personalities. Every woman* is fighting a battle to accept herself, a battle with her own insecurities of being a woman* and at the same time a battle against toxic ideals that are imposed on her. And she is made to believe that she is completely alone, while so many other women* and men* are standing right next to her, busy with their own struggles.

If there is only one thing you should take away from this, it is that you are not alone.
We are all standing next to you, with the same insecurities and the same goal. And maybe once we look up, we see that we are all as individual and different as can be, but that together we can achieve appreciation, self-love, acceptance, equality, respect and the sanctity of our dignity in ALL areas.

This call to courageously say "yes" to ourselves in our very own way and to live this message without apologizing or compromising has lifted my gaze, shifted my view of our community of women* and changed my perception for good. I finally got hold of the thread, pulled on it, untangled my previously largely foreign understanding of being a woman* and realized that I am not the only one holding the thread and certainly not the only one pulling on it. So I was able to take my place alongside my wonderful, versatile, inspiring (the list of such adjectives could go on forever) female colleagues. And I don't think it's just me when I say that we've learned so much from each other over the course of this campaign, we've lifted each other up, lifted each other up and come together and simply experienced how beautiful it is to be a woman*, how essential it is to be ourselves and to feel just as valuable, beautiful and comfortable.

And this feeling gave rise to the message that we want to pass on and live by, not just this week, but every week: Being you suits you.

Because being a woman* is not one thing.
Being a woman* means that we all have the right to accept ourselves and our fellow human beings as we are and as they are. Being a woman* means so much more than just a label or a gender. Being a woman* means potential, hope, courage, drive. Being a woman* means being yourself. And perhaps for you, as for me, it means developing an awareness that we are a community. That every woman* is enough, just as she* is. That every woman* has the right to use her voice, to define her* personal femininity and to live and love her* truth.

Because "being you suits you".