It’s no secret that women have always been oppressed. Despite this, they have demonstrated that by using their strength, they can achieve anything that a person of the opposite sex can achieve. It still remains important to remind people that the fight for true equality between the genders has quite a way to go, and that being an ally to women is not conditional, for support applies to all women, no matter their circumstances.

March is a time to celebrate the women who have opened doors for future generations. People must honor the women in their own lives who have helped foster loving environments for others to grow. Along those lines, they must also show their gratitude for the women who have risked themselves for equality.

DDCUS is a place where the kindest, coolest, and wisest women have gathered and are now helping nourish young minds. Among these women is Ms. Manavello. She teaches 11th Grade Honors American Literature and Creative Writing. She also sponsors the GSA and Literary Arts Magazine clubs.

Ms. Manavello takes pride in the comforting and inspiring teaching environment she fosters in her classroom.

How has your relationship with womanhood changed over the years?

“When I was younger I thought that women were inherently weaker and as I grew older, I realized that women were definitely stronger.”

Who have been the most influential women in your life?

“My mom, obviously, my sister in law, and Ms. Rivera. They’ve been role models in different aspects of my life because they’ve all influenced me in different ways.”

When was the first time you became aware of the inequality that women deal with?

It was in high school, when they cared more about our dress code than they did about boys’. Our shoulders were considered inappropriate, and boys could walk around shirtless. Our bodies were inappropriate at a young age and guys weren’t. Things weren’t on a level playing field within the sexes.

Ms. Manavello shows her students that being a woman does not define any part of their lives.

They can take charge of themselves and change the world for the better.