Joep Boogaard

Women are encumbered by current and past expectations and roles that have been forced upon them. There is a constant upward battle that must be fought to get rid of this encumberment, one that focuses on both equity and empowerment. Part of this battle, is the idea that certain roles must be reversed in order to show that women are capable of the same things men are. Feminism is about both equity and equality. Through the riddance of the aforementioned encumberment we can reach a place where women not only survive, but also thrive as they deserve to.

I felt a responsibility to provide something worthy to someone who would receive such a significant award.

I hope they will understand the idea behind the upward and outward movements that the trophy represents — the movement away from encumberment and towards emancipation.

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