Serena Williams published an open letter that speaks eloquently and passionately about equality, an issue Serena has been almost forced to be a spokesperson for given her position. Williams talks about her problem with being called one of the world’s best “female athletes” rather than just one of the “best athletes” — sans gender. “We should never let this go unchallenged,” she writes. “We should always be judged by our achievements, not by our gender.”
Williams’ letter contains added poignancy in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s loss to Donald Trump, a result which many attribute in part to a persistent strain of sexism. “We must continue to dream big, and in doing so, we empower the next generation of women to be just as bold in their pursuits,” Williams writes with authority gained from her great history of perseverance and success. Then Williams explains very matter-of-factly a notion that should be evident to anyone with an ounce of respect for meritocracy: “I would never want my daughter to be paid less than my son for the same work. Nor would you.”
