Sisters need to do more for each other, says Siobhan Eke

Remember back in the 80s when Aretha Franklin and Annie Lennox were powering out, 'Sisters are doing it for themselves?', a catchy celebration of the 'conscious liberation of the female state'.

So 30 years or so on, we must have come a long way, right?

Hmmm. Not really.

Yes, sisters ARE doing it for themselves, but that's the problem, too many are doing it for themselves as individuals, not as a sisterhood. If we are a united female collective we can be more effective in driving opportunity and success for the female force.

A positive unified female force will fasten the pace towards true equality.

We're changing, yes, #metoo campaign shows just how empowering 'woman to woman' 'standing shoulder to shoulder can be.

The change we can drive by being honest and supportive of each other is fuelling exciting times of potential change for women, of all ages.

It's moving how something good can come from something bad, and the momentum of women stepping forward to support each other, builds a movement which forces change. So let's seize the moment, and let's all step forward, and look for ways we can support other women.

I know many of you already do, and celebrate you all.

I know from personal experience how empowering it is to have a female colleague, a female boss, champion you.

I also know how destructive it can be when another woman is 'threatened' by you, 'catty', competitive, keen on keeping you down, under control, or worse still, crushing you.

Some of you reading this know what I'm talking about, women and men.

But the difference is, we women, we're playing catch-up, so if we are truly serious about driving equality its imperative we start thinking about getting our teams together, get out there more and play with passion and purpose, make and take opportunities, sharing, 'passing it on', and winning.

Now is our time.

If we don't 'do' now we'll miss the moment, waste more time.

I don't want my daughter to have to wait decades more, striving for true equality.

Ladies, we need each other.

We need each other to be a positive force as individuals and as a team. We need to be there for each other, for the here and now, and for the future.

If we don't, it's not just ourselves we're holding back, it's our all women, of all ages, from all walks of life.

I spoke to about 20 girls aged 12 through to 18 years, including my daughter, and asked, 'Do you think girls support each other, have each other's back? '

The unanimous response was depressing if unsurprising 'No way, so many girls want to be the queen', 'be the top','are so competitive' 'are nice to your face and then bitch behind your back to get power with others who don't like you'…

Still sounds familiar, ladies?

So, is this where it all starts? Is this where some parts of the female force move to the dark side become destructive rather than positive? Is this where we need to proactively point out the benefits to the girls to work together as a team, rather than as rivals?

As co-founder of IF : Inspiring Females, I have experienced first-hand how truly powerful the spirit and energy of women supporting women can be. IF is a project which brings together and connects passionate females who want to inspire, 'educate' and empower our future female force, and girls in school. We talk with, 'work with', advise, share, our unique and honest stories, 'passing on' all those golden nuggets of wisdom and advice we wish we'd known when we were at school. The results are inspiring. It's working.

And this 'idea of women empowering women works everywhere and anywhere, and most of us do it already in some shape or form: having a giggle sharing secrets over a GnT ,confiding over a cuppa, supporting our friends, families, colleagues, there are myriads of ways we women DO already support each other. It's just that some women just need to do it more, better, more often, in more places. 'Please ladies, 'can we have some more?'

So, I'd just like to say to you all, you can all be on the team.

We want and we need you all to play positively. Just think about all the wonderful things that can start with you.

But at the same time, lets make sure we've got our teams together and be the positive role models who collectively can be a powerful female force driving real change for the good

Just remember, ladies, 'I'm One With The Force. The Force Is With Me.'