A community of optimists hosted by Melinda French Gates

How will you commit to the lift?

A woman sits in a park and plays with her baby.

My first book, The Moment of Lift, is a story about stories. It’s a chance to tell my story, but, more importantly, it’s a chance to tell the stories of the women I’ve met around the world. By sharing their stories with me, they called me to action. By sharing their stories in my book, I hope to do the same for others.

There is no country on earth where women have achieved true equality. That’s not something I’m willing to accept—and I don’t think I’m alone. I’m pretty sure most of us would agree that equality can’t wait.

The question, then, is what will we do about it? And more specifically, what will you do?

Will you talk to your partner about household responsibilities and distributing tasks more equally? Will you ask the women you work with how you can better support them? Will you encourage women in your community to run for office? Will you call out sexist, racist, homophobic, and transphobic language and behavior whenever you see it?

I’m going to do everything I can to ensure women and people of color have access to the resources and networks they need to thrive in their careers.
I can tell you what I’ve committed to doing. I’m going to keep directing our foundation to help close the gender data gap, so that the information we collect about the world accurately reflects women’s experiences, too. I’m going to do everything I can to ensure women and people of color have access to the resources and networks they need to thrive in their careers. And I’m going to keep using my voice to champion equality and the women and men who are working to bring it closer.

I bet there’s a good chance you’re one of those people. So, tell me: How will you commit to the lift?

Share your answer on social media with the hashtag #MomentofLift.

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I commit to the lift