Self-made billionaire and mum-of-four, Sara Blakely has called on other women to worry less about being ‘a lady’ and give priority to being a legend. If anybody can give such advice, then Sara is qualified to do so. The mum-of-four is the founder of Spanx, an American intimate apparel company with pants and leggings, founded in Atlanta, Georgia.
She reminisced on what growing up entailed as a woman, being socially conditioned by coaches, teachers and other well-meaning women to strive to be more “lady-like” with the ultimate expectation that she would land herself a husband.
The 48-year-old mum acknowledged that her experiences as a young girl was not very different from that of other women in their younger years but went on to advise women and dads of girls not to limit themselves and their daughters by insisting they act more “ladylike”.
Sharing a photo of herself wearing a hat with the inscription, “Don’t be a lady, be a legend”, she wrote:
“Throw a ? if you agree!
Growing up I heard, “be a lady” or act more “lady like” a lot from coaches, teachers, and well meaning women who I could tell legitimately believed my odds of landing a husband would go up the more I mastered being a “lady”.
The word has a lot of mixed emotions for me. There is nothing wrong with being gracious, kind, and polite…
we should all strive to be those things, but somehow when people said be more lady like it felt more like don’t speak up, and quiet who you really are.
The request started to feel like the world wanted me to throw a wet blanket over the spark I felt inside of me.
So, to all the women and girls out there I say, go for the legend. And all the men and dads out there encouraging the women/girls in your life to go for the legend… my hat is off to you!”
