One of the biggest roles women play is home-maker. Everyone has a mother and they usually manage the whole family. Without a mother there is no family. Now imagine being the home-maker of a royal family. Not only are you raising children, you are raising the future of a monarchy. Many women have not only successfully raised monarchies but have also changed countries all over the world. Let's review some Women In Royalty.

Let's quickly talk about Iconic and Influential Women in Television and Film and Fashion.

Think of a person who has made an impact and music ... Let me guess you thought of a man, right. It's fine I won't judge you. Society doesn't highlight women in Music, unless of course they are highly scandalous and wear nothing. But I am here to highlight women who have made an impact in Music.

Women In Music
We all like to think that the pioneers in the music industry at the moment are the first of their kind. When in actual fact they aren't. Other women paved the way for them decades ago but we don't remember them because not all of them where played on MTV day in and day out. So let's take a look at the women who influnced the women in music

Before Lady Gaga
There was Cher, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Brenda Fassie. These women were some of the first to

• wear barely there clothing - Cher.
• have crazy onstage and offstage antics - Brenda Fassie
• have provocative, controversial music videos and outfits - Madonna
• have alternative hair and dress sense - Cyndi Lauper

When we look at these women and what they provided for us in the past we all of a sudden don't see Lady Gaga as crazy anymore. However do we still see her as original? I think she is definitely original for her time but not the first. All the women above were the first to be controversial in music and have paved the way for not only Lady Gaga but for singers like Jessie J as well. And there are many more to come. Watch this space.


Before Beyonce
There was Tina Turner, Janet Jackson and Aaliyah. These women were some of the first to

• become a triple threat: dancer, singer and actress - Janet Jackson
• have an identifiable iconic performance routine (Proud Mary) - Tina Turner
• create a mass following - Aaliyah.

If it's one thing we know it's that Aaliyah was before her time. It's only know that I'm older I see that she was the first to start the music video girl look. I'm not talking about the Hip-Hop video girl. She started the look as well and the idea of creating styles from music videos. I never saw a weave before I saw Aaliyah. Yes, Jackson and Turner had their own dance routines but none of them were emulated as much as Aaliyah's. She was the female icon for 90s music.
Women like Beyonce existed long before Beyonce became a megastar. But she isn't the only R&B Pop Star to become a megastar. We can't forget Rihanna who is taking over the pop music scene. Her fashion that is being immitated by women all over the world. Is she our next Aaliyah? She might not be as iconic at the moment but she is on her way there.

Before The Spice Girls
There was TLC, Sister Sledge and The Bangles. These women were some of the first to

• produce an anthem as an all girl group - Sister Sledge
• compete with all male bands - The Bangles
• create the female band phenomena - TLC

Sister Sledge gave us the anthem, 'We Are Family'. You might not know who Sister Sledge is but you definitely know that song. In an industry where all male bands were the requirement, The Bangles came in, an all female rock band created hits like, Walk Like An Egyptian. But the all female band that started the female band trend was TLC. They sang about their no-good boyfriends and being beautiful in your own skin. Just like Aaliyah, they stand out as icons in the 90s. But the Spice Girls were, and still are the all female band to beat. No one else had a following and still has a following like them. But they aren't alone, Destiny's Child, the group that launched Beyonce's career had a mass following.
Childhood games went from hide-and-seek to who will be Posh Spice and who will be Beyonce. There might not be room for all female bands anymore but when it was their time they took over the world.

Before Taylor Swift
There was Shania Twain and Dolly Parton. These women were some of the first to

• sing combine pop culture into country music - Shania Twain
• become a female music country icon - Dolly Parton

You can't say country music without thinking of Dolly Parton. She basically re-created country music and in the process made herself one of the greatest country music icons. You might not know all her songs but you do know Dolly Parton.

09 August 1956

I have declared August as Women's Month on my blog. South Africa also celebrates August as Women's Month as the 9th of August is National Women's Day. So why did I decide to dedicate a whole month to women? Well, if you haven't noticed yet I am quite feminist. I've always been somewhat scared of my feminist-ic ways, but I'm scared no more!

I only realised I was feminist once I left High School. I went to Rustenburg Junior and High School. If you aren't from Cape Town you won't know that both those schools are same sex schools. I was with girls for 12 years ... and I loved it! Most people think I missed out on something amazing. I don't see how being thrown with sand and sitting next to a boy in class can be seen as amazing.

Many people also think that people who went to same sex schools end up being lesbian or gay which is incorrect. I'm not lesbian. I just think there is a lot more focus when you attend a same sex school. Boys just bring unnecessary drama and if they don't concentrate in University, I don't understand how they concentrated in school.

If it is one thing that an all girl school teaches you to do it's fight. Okay, not physical fighting. It teaches you to stand up for yourself. We have all watched mean girls and even though the school I went to wasn't that dramatic the problems are all the same and you have to stand up for yourself.

When I was in High School I was never really exposed to the big bad world. Our teachers did a very good job at telling us about it but they didn't tell us what really happened out there.

So I move away from Cape Town, the fantasy land where sitting on the beach and listening to music is the only thing you do, and move to the concrete jungle ... Gauteng! Now at least I am in Pretoria which is a lot calmer than Johannesburg but you can still smell the Johannesburg mentality. Make Money, Get Rich! When I got here everyone was talking about money, money and even more money! Every single day people were telling me about their business deals and how they need to draft up proposals, maybe get a tender and become super rich by 30. Pause! I just wanted to sit on the beach and think about beautiful things! It definitely was a shock. But that wasn't the only shock.

I study Multimedia which falls under the School of IT and Engineering, Built Environment, IT Department. The males who I take the course with were always so surprised when I actually knew something. You see the thing is some of the people I study with think that women should stay in the kitchen and cook for them all day long. (And people say that going to a same sex school was the worst thing that could ever happen to someone). So everyday was a struggle, everyday is a struggle. I remember always having to prove that I can compete with them. Then one day I realised that I don't have to prove anything to anyone. They all already know what I'm capable of and it intimidates them ... and I love it!

If it's one thing males can't stand, it's a woman who stands up to them and proves to be better than them without even trying.

They no longer surprised when they realise that I'm better than them because they have come to learn the hard way that women actually have something to say. This all might sound arrogant but what does a weak woman bring to the table?

Some of the guys I have come to surround myself with aren't used to having a girl speaking to them they way I do. I don't care! Gone are the days when women bow down to men. I can do whatever I want and it's acceptable because I do it with class.




I dedicate this blog post to all females who think they can't stand up against the males. If it is one thing I have come to realise it's that males are scared of women who put them in their place, that's why they always trying to put women in their place. I know where my place is not and that's the kitchen.


All blogs this month will be about women for women!

The future of women is not in the kitchen. It's wherever you want it to be!