What can I say about how these biological differences seem to give many the right to label, underestimate, and misjudge her?

You missed that it’s because of ignorance like yours that these attitudes and “jokes” continue to be given no attention—that they get treated as if they have no consequences, that they don’t cause irreparable harm.

Why are you a feminist, Mom? She might ask. And I'll tell her this.

I often wonder if the feeling of anxiety is magnified for us folks whose teens are on the spectrum.

My daughter will always be different, and with difference comes discrimination. And with adversity, there is truth and with love, there is judgment.

Around the world today, through no choice or fault of their own, 130 million girls are denied an education for a variety of reasons, from cultural norms and costs, to violence and extremism.

Were we even there—did something even really happen—if we didn’t take a picture of it? Post it, headline it and then watch as people reacted to it?

The four of us made plans before separating to hold each other accountable, to keep the momentum that we felt going back home.

“No, Honey. Mommy wants to be strong!”

I say, yes. Let’s dress like women from here on out. Let us clothe ourselves in dignity, in freedom from fear, and love. Let us pick up our shields of acceptance and compassion. Let us don cloaks of never ending determination.