ALL 👏🏾 OF 👏🏾 THEM 👏🏾

Happy Women’s History Month, Tumblr! 🎉

For the past few years, Tumblr has celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring women who have continuously shaken up our world for the better. We’ve highlighted prominent women in their respective fields, signal-boosted those who were working for or speaking up about a worthy cause, and showcased incredible artists who deserve to be seen.

This year we’re doing more of the same—just a little bit differently. This year, we’re making a concerted effort to give the microphone to women of color, indigenous women, trans women, immigrant women, women who are refugees, and all other types of women who face the effects of marginalization more than others.

Not all of us experience the world in the same way. Life experiences, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexuality, immigration status, and so many other factors can determine how the world sees someone. We hope our interviews, celebrations, and all the other highlighting we do here on @action will allow you to see what it’s like for someone who may live a life that looks much, much different from your own. In continuation of our year-long #BlackExcellence365 celebration, we’ll be shining that spotlight a little more brightly on Black women.

Here is a glimpse of just some of the interviews and other celebrations on our calendar:

3/5—An interview with Colombian artist Stefania Tejada (@stefaniatejada)

3/8—Observance of International Women’s Day

3/12—An interview with Game Designer Mitu Khandaker

3/14—An interview with Brooklyn-based photographer Miranda Barnes (@mirandabarnes)

3/18—An interview with Mexican-American artist Gabriella Sanchez (@thatnoisegallery)

3/19—An interview with Game Designer Catt Small

3/25—An interview with Nigerian activist Kawther Inuwa (@muslimarmy)

3/27—A Celebration of #MuslimWomensDay2019 with @muslimarmy

3/29—An interview with Transgender parent, Kat Rohn (@trans-parenting)

3/31—Honoring the International Day of Transgender Visibility Day with Kylie Wu (@transgirlnextdoor)

That’s not all. We want this to be a community effort. We want to hear from you. How are you honoring the women in your life? How does intersectional feminism shape your art, your writing, or even how you move through life? Let your followers know what’s on your mind by making a post and tagging it #Women’s History Month. We’ll be looking.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Stefania Tejada

In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we’ve connected with some amazing women on Tumblr from different industries and backgrounds to discuss how their perspective shapes their art, work, family, activism, and more. First up is Stefania Tejada (@stefaniatejada), a Colombian artist and illustrator whose work often speaks on taboo subjects women face.

Your latest series, “The Birth of Venus,” explores how women are confronting the world. How did this series start and why was it important for you to create this series?

All of my work is really personal and it’s a response to very specific moments and transitions. I grew up in a time where it wasn’t okay to ask major questions about your body or things you felt that are completely normal. There was this huge taboo about everything: sexual education, menstruation, pleasure, depression, anxiety, homosexuality, etc. I studied in an all-girls high school with nuns so we really didn’t have any sort of sexual education. It was all presented as some sort of sin, and in general, parents didn’t feel comfortable discussing the subject either.

So in some way, “The Birth of Venus” shows the woman that I am today. I think about the girl I used to be when I was very little, very shy about speaking my mind or pursuing something I really wanted. But I’ve been lucky. I’ve met very important people in my life who picked my brain, made me think and understand that I am me, I deserve to live the life I want, the life I choose to have. That I can have my own opinion, that I must speak up, respect myself and respect others. I learned about acceptance and forgiveness. I learned to always stay curious, to work hard, and dream big. I feel very lucky to have my family and friends.

Can you talk to us about your featured artwork and the story behind it? We’re in awe.

This piece was made after Dolce & Gabbana’s statement towards Chinese culture. I was amazed and shocked [by] this way of thinking. For me, understanding other people’s culture is so fascinating. I try to live in different places and learn as much as I can. You need to understand somebody else’s past, present, and future before judging someone.

As Colombians, we have always been generalized for the past. Many of us were scared to try to change things because people were trying to survive. When I was little I remember the Guerrilla coming into our town and the four of us hiding under the bed listening to gunfire right outside our door. The mistakes of a few became the mistakes of all of us. And that happens with so many cultures, but it’s up to us to teach others about respect, acceptance, and forgiveness. It all comes from education.

Could you imagine what we could do if we were to stand together? All of the positive things we could do? There could be a future for all of us. A future we would all be proud of.

We live in a time where it’s important to showcase all identities of women and their contributions to society. How does your art encompass that?

I believe every person is a piece of art. The elements that shaped their personalities, the stories that triggered something inside of them and motivated them to be who they are now—I called them treasures. I’ve watched so many documentaries about people and movements: Nina Simone, Whitney Houston, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Queen, Obama, The Defiant Ones, Steve Jobs, 2Pac, you name it.

I believe you can learn from anyone. I chose to focus on women empowerment because I had to find a way to empower myself because it’s something I needed at the time and it helped me believe in myself. And along the way women I didn’t even knew started writing to me about feeling the same way thanks to my work. In my mind we are all together, all these women that I draw are part of who I am. Some of them have shaped my future, some of them have sacrificed themselves for us so that we can speak up, vote, marry whoever we want, choose whether we want to have children or not. We owe them everything and this is my way of continuing their legacy. To live a life that has meaning.

Thank you for sharing your work with us, @stefaniatejada ! Tumblr, have you made any art for Women’s History Month yet? Show it off by making a post and tagging it #WomensHistoryMonth.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

The area where I live has a relatively higher human trafficking rate than the rest of the US, so this is very helpful to know.

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Women’s History Month Spotlight: Miranda Barnes

Our Women’s History Month features continue! Meet photographer Miranda Barnes (@mirandabarnes ), a Caribbean-Anglo American photographer hailing from Brooklyn. Her unique style has been seen in major publications like The New York Times, NY Magazine, Vogue Magazine, Teen Vogue, and so many more. Now you get a chance to learn just what makes her tick. 

Your work in the West Indian Parade series, Skate Kitchen, and Sarae & Sarai is amazing. What motivates you to focus on telling the stories of Black women?

Thank you! It’s important because for so long our stories have largely been told from a white and male perspective and have been the only way our narratives have been told. For me, it’s important to break stereotypes that have been placed on us by photographing us living and working, even if it’s mundane.

What has been one of your biggest accomplishments as a photographer?

One of the biggest accomplishments thus far has been photographing historical and sensitive assignments. The biggest one, however, was my coverage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 50th anniversary of his assassination for The New York Times. It made A1!

How can people continue to support more women of color photographers?

I think it is important to first acknowledge that womxn photographers have been, historically at a disadvantage. This is even more so for Black womxn photographers. However, it’s important to understand the idea behind reclaiming narratives and it’s very exciting to see this slow, but more awareness towards the inequality that has plagued industries for so long. Reclaiming narratives are crucial and I try to view my experiences as a Black woman as an advantage. Support can be as simple as sharing a website, but also buying prints or investing in a photographer.

Give yourself a little gift today and follow @mirandabarnes . Your dashboard will be better off for it.

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Gabriella Sanchez

Oh, hello. Looking to celebrate an incredible WOC artist for Women’s History Month? Let us suggest one of our Tumblr @creatrs, Gabriella Sanchez (@thatnoisegallery). This LA-based Mexican-American artist is one you’re going to want to pay attention to. In the interest of celebrating women and how they impact their world, we’ve touched base with her to discuss how feminism intersects with her work. Read on, reader.

Let’s start by telling us a little bit about yourself. How did you become the artist that you are today?

That’s a big question in which the true answer is that it’s a result of all my experiences and interactions that are too many to list here. The more direct but partial answer is that I went to college without knowing what I wanted to do and started taking art electives until those became the only classes I was taking. I was really attracted to the freedom of being an artist—the idea that you could spend your time seeking out whatever ideas interested you and then turn into something that people could engage with and it could be under this expansive umbrella of art. That was and still is thrilling to me.

As a Mexican-American woman, your experiences and intersections in race, gender, and socioeconomic status all play a part in your work. Why do you think it’s important for art spaces to exhibit more work by women of color?

I would say that yes, the things you mentioned above play a role in my work, but that’s because everyone’s personal experiences play some role in their work even if they aren’t acknowledged. It’s just framed in a different light when a person from any marginalized group creates art. Specifically, in painting, the work is an assertion of what an artist thinks is beautiful or interesting or worth looking at and that inherently is a message and a showcase of their viewpoint. An artist who paints a flower versus an artist who paints a bus bench with graffiti are both painting what they want you to see. In that sense, the work could be seen as the same. They just get framed in a different light. That’s why it’s important for artists of marginalized groups to be included in these art spaces, so that our context of viewing work gets larger so we can really see the work without knee-jerk biases blocking our ability to fully engage with a work.

Let’s talk about your featured artwork. Women of color and trans women are people most affected by violence. Talk us through the process of this piece and why it’s important?

The idea behind this piece is that this is a collective issue. Not an issue that is just on the shoulders or survivors or only women, but everyone. Only with that mentality will we be able to make moves towards a future where women are safe and we can all move forward [with] equality and equity for everyone.

If you want more of Gabriella’s art, follow her at @thatnoisegallery. If you want more interviews with women making an impact in their fields, stay tuned to @action! We’re celebrating Women’s History Month all month long.

Daeron and Sulirhos

The daughter of Eöl smiled shyly at Dairon from under her eyelashes, her cheeks flushed gently. An almost convincing impression of a shy, well-bred maiden. Almost being the operative word, her eyes glittered too proudly and mirthfully for any courtier worth their salt to believe, and the truth of Sulirhos’ personality was revealed as soon as he told exactly that.

Throwing her arms up and groaning loudly in chagrin, “Ughh! Why must I learn these things in the first place, can I not simply be my honest self?”

As she flailed about with irritating grace, she dislodged and mussed about her carefully woven braids.

“Sulneth, thy true and honest self would bring shame to thy family and send all aside from kin away screaming.” As he spoke, he reached over to her and dragged her nearer to himself so that he would be able to fix her hair.

Sulirhos mumbled under her breath about how all but close kin were cowards and liars.

Dairon snorted but did not refute her claim.

Young as they were, the twin children of Eöl the Dark, and Aredhel Ar-Feiniel, were as wise and craft skilled as their father, and as canny, swift, and sharp as their mother. But Sulirhos was not savvy in the court or with gifts of the mind as her brother was. Instead, she found the truth like a scent hound and could track and claim any quarry in any field from any distance. Sulirhos suddenly pulled away from Dairon’s hands, “I’m bored, I do not think I will be able to do much more lying today,” she gave Dairon a genuinely pleading look, “Wouldst thou playeth for me?”

Dairon huffed half-amusedly, beginning to doubt his ability to correct Sulirhos’ court behavior, but both his uncle and great-uncle had asked for his aid, so nonetheless, he must try.

“Perhaps thou shouldest turn to thy brother for behavioral inspiration.”

Sulirhos’ face split with a triumphant grin, “Well, that means we must be done for the day, for my brother is a field with our father. so I cannot draw inspiration from him!”

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