“Pretty woman, walking down the street” Perhaps one of the most famous sentences Roy Orbinson said about the female species. Although there is truth is his words, girls and women all over the world still experience prejudice and stereotype behavior. There’s evidence showing things are turning out for the better but we’re not there yet. The glass ceiling is still invisibly there; women still get paid less than their male colleagues and being a mother implies you are the responsible one for your family, not your husband. Luckily there are signs showing progress and there are a lot of powerful and brave women we can look up to.

It’s said the 21^st century will be the time for women to take a leading role. Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton, Theresa May, Christine Lagarde and many more strong and influential women have the ball in their court and are willing to play. They show us it is possible to take care of a family and a career at the same time and that it is ok to show who the boss is. Being a female boss is still not taken for granted and several male rival candidates are having difficulties accepting a woman in a position of power. (Think Donald Trump) Have you heard about the term ‘mansplaining’? It’s growing in popularity these days and is expressed by women more often. Make sure to check the matching video for more information. ‘Mansplaining’ is a term which is used when a man talks to a woman in an arrogant tone because he assumes he know more about a certain subject because – well because he is a man and has more knowledge.

Back to Roy Orbinson and his Pretty Woman. The fashion industry makes is very difficult for the everyday woman to feel good about her body. Young girls look up to models having a size 4. On social media like Facebook and Instagram women like to profile themselves as real ‘fitness queens’ and proudly show off their toned bodies. No wonder the average girl like Hannah, Lore and Fatima cannot meet with these images. But it doesn’t stop there; even these fitness queens are not safe for stingy remarks. The word ‘bodyshaming’ truly is a millennium word and a lot of women have had to face the consequences of it. ‘Bodyshaming’ means women get mean comments about their bodies, which is not a new trend but has a new interpretation nowadays. Today you can – apart from fat –  be too big, too tiny, too small, etc. No one is safe for other people’s remarks. But no worries because something is shifting! This summer a lot of new hashtags have seen the light. One of them specifically encourages women to wear what they want and to be proud about it: #WeWearWhatWeWant

And it’s trend like these that should be encouraged even more. Just like those strong women before us, all of us should try and achieve our goals. Just wear that dress you like, even if you dread other people’s remarks. Dare to be the boss and do not feel guilty about it because you have every right to be! Go ahead and eat a piece of chocolate without feeling guilty. Take a fitness subscription if you want but do it for you and for no one else. Know you can be your own woman and make your own choices, even if that means being a housewife and spending a lot of time at home. Whatever you choose, be the boss of your life!

Grand Casino Brussel Viage wants to encourage all these brave women and show them a good time Thursday 22 September at our Business Ladies Afterwork. Join us after work for a refreshing drink and lots of interesting workshop and stands. Because what is more fun than spending an evening in good company?