Let's celebrate women who are Firestarters
In the last decade, while leading Moms Demand Action, I began using the word “Firestarters” to describe the amazing women in the world who inspire me, and I think it’s a phrase we all should add to our vocabulary.
What’s a Firestarter? To me, it’s any woman creating a commotion by disrupting things and starting things. Women who are fearless in standing up for themselves or others. Women who are provocative and innovative. They harness their power to help others, and they seek out ways to encourage other women to stand up or speak out.
Firestarters are: Courageous and audacious; powerful and principled; trailblazers and truth tellers.
Not everyone who is a Firestarter is famous (or infamous). Here are some simple rules to become a Firestarter:
Firestarters are both born AND made: We all have the ability to summon our audacity. When the right combination of abilities and interests meets the right situation, our passion and motivation can be unleashed. That could happen at any age and throughout our lifetime.
Firestarters seize opportunities: Firestarters are always looking for ways to use fire inside them to create positive change and to light fires in other people. They figure out how to navigate internal and external obstacles.
Firestarters fan the flames: Firestarters consistently find ways to keep their passion alive. They take risks based on their instincts and beliefs. And their fires are inextinguishable; no matter how hard the world tries to defeat them, they keep going.
Do you agree? What would you add to my definition or rules? I’m going to start profiling women here who I think are Firestarters, and would love to learn more about the Firestarters who inspire you. Share their names in the comments and I may write about them in future Playing with Fire posts.
I have 2 friends who I would say are Firestarters. Nevada state Sen. Pat Spearman was the reason I became an Equal Rights Amendment activist. She started the campaign to ratify in Nevada, energizing the ERA movement nationally as part of our first female majority legislature and now responsible for our Nevada State ERA passing on the ballot last year. 2nd would be Zoe Nicholson. She was featured on Ann Curry’s PBS Special “We’ll Meet Again”, another ERA activist who took part in a 37 day fast in 1982 for the ERA and continues to fight for equal rights for all in Long Beach, CA. Both inspire me every day,
Nancy Brinker. Motivated me to embark on my first volunteer opportunity (i.e. male crew member for the 3-Day).