Wild Fang

I’m so completely thrilled to announce a 2 week giveaway for a Feminist Start Kit: a bundle of wardrobe essentials from the innovative girl brand, WILDFANG, to build upon or give your burgeoning feminist wardrobe a boost. Now, I’m fully aware of how much I’ve been trumpeting that feminism doesn’t look any particular way, but hear me out.

First of all, when I wear something that proclaims a statement, I feel supportive of the cause. It’s a solidarity thing. These shirts are definitely badass and you will feel it all around you when you have them on. Two, actually wearing a statement creates a mindset. Much like the negative things we tell ourselves and believe, the positive stuff has the same effect. So, why not surround yourself with a positive message, you Wild Feminist?! Third, and most importantly: Your kids will ask you, Hey Mom, what’s a feminist? And you can communicate a discussion that will change family thinking for a brighter future. Feminism is a family value. The more families out there boosting this message, the better. Join me!

I have only two weeks to hustle this giveaway. Enter through rafflecopter. Here are the details:

1. Follow WildFang & So Called Mom on INSTAGRAM (@wearewildfang) & (@thissocalledmom)

2. Repost the contest IMAGE from my INSTAGRAM & tag @wearewildfang and @thissocalledmom

3. Subscribe to So Called Mom on Youtube.

I’ll draw the winner and announce it August 1st.

Good Luck!

So Called Mom

I have four girls age 9 – 15. Each are strong in their own way; each more different than the rest.

Milla is my second girl, and at 14-years-old, she is very much her own person. Earlier this year she announced to the family that she was a lesbian – a pretty big admission for someone so young. Ever since, I have been encouraging her to keep carving her own path. While she has no trouble doing this, I’m still a bit nervous for when she enters high school this fall. Milla describes herself as “odd,” and I think that’s pretty self-aware for a kid.

My goal is to help protect her sense of difference in a high school culture where being the same is critical for inclusion – and usually safe from being teased and bullied.

I have total confidence that she will ultimately find her way, because she doesn’t share my fears. She’s utterly committed to who she is and has a few really smart things to say about being a strong woman.

Milla is a hero in her own right, not because she’s wise beyond her years or possesses a voice that can rock the nation at 14 years old — it’s that she already honors herself first. She’s up for the challenging road ahead; having chosen to oppose conformity even though she knows that makes her an outlier, even in a so-called progressive city like Portland.

She is courageous and taking an active role (whether she fully knows it or not) in establishing the new “normal”.

This is a great example of feminism that goes against the grain of stereotypes. The stigma of feminists is that of a loud, in-your-face activist female, an image ingrained after years of seeing and hearing about only this one narrative. And while we love, embrace and honor these brave souls, there are many faces of feminism.

You can be a strong, self-assured and uncorked 14 year old with a mission.

It’s about being the persistent, unstoppable, you.