Guest blog post by philanthropist and author Brenna Smith.
As a child, I wanted to be Barbie. I saw her as flawless in every way from looks, to accessories, to Ken.
I couldn't imagine a better way to exist, and who wouldn't want all of their worldly possessions to come in Pepto-Bismol Pink?! I knew it would be utopia if I could just be a part of her perfectly pink plastic world.
After Barbie was passé, I tried a stint as Punky Brewster, but the ever watchful adults in my life kept me from rebelling too much (thank you).
In our society, the princess culture is well established and little girls are very much exposed to Snow White, Cinderella stories, Barbie dolls and pink products depicting the girlie girl culture.
Many parents call their girls “my princess”. Girls dream of being a princess and hearing it from mom and dad is sweet and wonderful.
By Karachi-born Muslim American Author Dilara Hafiz.
The headlines scream “war, drone bombings, militants, kidnappings”.
With a population of over 15 million, Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city and the world’s 4th largest metropolitan city. It’s a bustling hub of commercial activity as well as a city in the throes of social change.
By DeAnna L’am, speaker, coach, trainer, and author
The query came via my Facebook page:
“My daughter and I are going away this weekend, to be together without interruption” wrote to me a Mom of a 9.5 year-old girl, “I have some special things planned: We are riding bikes together, having adventures along the coast, getting a mother-daughter massage, riding the roller-coaster, can't wait!
The history books are replete with stories of women who changed history. Many of those women, from Cleopatra to Queen Victoria, were born into royalty or power, but there are many examples of women who started out as everyday citizens but went on to change the world.
Wangari Maathai
Maathai, born in Kenya in 1940, is the first black African woman to win a Nobel Prize. She left Kenya to attend college in the United States, but returned in order to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Nairobi. In 1977, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an organization that has since spread beyond Kenya, whose goal was the improvement of the environment by enlisting village women to plant trees in order to counter desertification and to provide a renewable fuel source.
Maybe it was the night I discovered a friend of mine, an artist I’d worshipped for his talent, integrity, politics and productiveness, was a total ‘Tiger Woods,’ a pathological cheat, liar and backstabber, an abusive man.
I saw that it made no difference to his outer success: abusing women is not serious enough to make other men turn away from you.
By Stacia Carr (aka @noisegirl) is a technologist, musician, aspiring amateur boxer.
There’s been a lot of talk online over the last 6 or so months about ‘women in tech’ – to call it talk is an understatement. There have been all out shit storms, brawls, debates, discussions, celebrations, and utter failures.
As a ‘woman who works in technology’ myself it’s been an interesting discussion to watch unfold.
Guest blog post by philanthropist and author Brenna Smith.
By DeAnna L’am, speaker, coach, trainer, and author 
Maathai, born in Kenya in 1940, is the first black African woman to win a Nobel Prize. 
By writer, critic and presenter 
By Stacia Carr (aka