“You don’t get to run. You’re a gladiator. Gladiators don’t run, they fight, they slay dragons, they wipe off the blood, they stitch up their wounds, and they live to fight another day” - Olivia Pope
In the past four years, the impact the show “Scandal” has had on women of the 21st century has been tremendous. Women in general have been able to identify with the main character Olivia Pope on how she portrays an independent woman in the work force, ready to confront any obstacle that comes her way. Pope's famous phrase, “it’s handled,” has been connoted as a phrase that asserts power and determination. These two words describe what the 21st century woman establishes herself to be.
As a fan of the show and a woman who will be involved in politics and law throughout my days, Pope is someone who inspires me to break down barriers in my career and personal life. Something the show really focuses on is the idea of women being able to save themselves constantly. At the same time, the show also highlights the idea of how important it is for women to empower one another. You see, if we as women want to change the way the world views us, then we need to be able to resonate those aspirations and sentiments of empowerment across the board. Change first occurs within ourselves and later with the projection and teaching of what we have learned from our experiences to those around us.
1. It begins with you!
It’s important to understand you are making the decisions in your life. The belief that you, as woman, have control over what you say and think. As Pope said, it’s your world, your rules, belief in yourself and that you have control over your life, not society, or anyone else.
2. Confidence
As a girl in my 20s, I understand how hard it can be to have self-confidence. But I can tell you one thing I have learned and that is you need to have confidence in yourself before anyone else does. If you, as a woman, think you are capable of changing the world, then believe you will. You are your own superhero, not a fantasy; you are real.
3. There’s always another way.
At times, things will not turn out the way you planned them to happen. It’s OK! Don’t give up! Women in the 21st century need to continue fighting for what they believe in, whether it’s in their career or personal life. You are making a difference for yourself and for the rest of us.
4. You are prepared.
We can only hope that one day society will not be afraid or discouraged to have women in power. That one day, we will support and value women’s work as much as we value those of men. At the end of the day, women and men are working towards progress in our world. We are working towards the same cause and need to support one another.
5. Help future gladiators.
Lastly, help future gladiators. It’s crucial to accept that change becomes impactful when we let others learn from our experiences. Every woman has had their share of stories in developing in the 21st century. We have all failed and grown from circumstances in life and career. Those failures have helped us be the gladiators we are today. Other gladiators out there may be struggling through a similar situation, where you may become their Olivia Pope, by sharing your advice and resonating all the attributes that make you a 21st-century woman.
