womens rights Archives - Amy Jo Honey

My Bestie Was Unalived in 1990.

amyhoney March 28, 2025 March 28, 2025Amy Honey, Amy Jo Honey, Womens Empowerment

In 1990, my best friend was unalived by a 25-year-old man. She was barely 20. He beat her so savagely with a baseball bat that blood and brain matter touched the ceiling of her 18 foot loft. That’s the image I still carry. At first, we all blamed her fiancé. He was abusive, angry, and controlling. So of course we thought it was him. We alienated him. Shut him out. He lost his fiancée and all his friends in one horrifying moment. But it wasn’t him. It was her neighbor. Just a weak man that was obsessed with her. And yeah… if you don’t want to be accused of unaliving someone, maybe don’t beat your partner Here’s what still makes my blood boil. The man child who did it begged the judge for leniency. Because he “had his whole life ahead of him.” Fricking narcissists! You know what the judge said? He said it was one of the most brutal cases he had ever seen. Then he gave him the maximum sentence allowed by law at the time: 15 years. That was it. That’s what her life was worth. Meanwhile, that guy is currently out. He got out when he was 40, and he brutalized the family by appealing every chance he got, and forcing them to relive the horror. And now here’s the part that connects the dots: 90% of people who commit gRape or redrum like this are men. And in 1990, only about 6% of Congress were women. So…

The Day I Sang with “Elvis” at Portland’s Saturday Market — and Found Real Human Connection

amyhoney March 26, 2025 March 26, 2025Amy Honey, Amy Jo Honey

Portland, 1993-ish. It was a time when weird wasn’t a marketing gimmick — it was just the natural state of things. If you were there, you know. And if you weren’t… well, buckle up. I was in my early 20s, wandering through the always-vibrant, slightly chaotic, wildly beautiful Saturday Market in downtown Portland. This wasn’t your standard craft fair. It was a heartbeat — full of incense clouds, handcrafted oddities, experimental street performances, and people who lived loudly on their own terms. That’s when I heard him. The sound system? A cardboard speaker. The mic? Something duct-taped and questionably functional. The man? Known to many simply as “Elvis.” Except… he wasn’t in costume that day. No white jumpsuit. No rhinestones. No oversized sunglasses. Just regular clothes and that same undeniable spark that made him a local legend. And somehow, I ended up singing with him. The photo from that moment still makes me smile. You can see the joy radiating from both of us — two strangers who didn’t know each other’s names, didn’t plan a performance, and didn’t need a script. Just shared laughter, a beat to move to, and that magic human spark that turns moments into memories. But here’s the part that most people wouldn’t notice at first glance: That area of the Market was also where many of Portland’s unhoused community gathered. People society often walks past. People with stories, pain, humor, creativity, and wisdom the world too often misses. And that day? I didn’t walk past. I didn’t…

Hope in the Face of Control – Rising Above Fear and Oppression

amyhoney March 1, 2025 April 4, 2025MEME's

In times of uncertainty, when those in power seem determined to tighten their grip, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to believe that the system is too big, too corrupt, too impossible to change. That’s exactly what they want you to think. Instead, we are going to choose rising above fear and oppression. They want you to feel trauma.Because a traumatized mind is easier to manipulate. When you are constantly anxious, constantly reacting, constantly in a state of survival mode, you don’t have the energy to resist. You don’t have the clarity to think for yourself. You don’t have the strength to rise. They want you to feel hopeless.Because when you believe nothing will ever change, you stop trying. You stop questioning. You stop standing up for yourself and for those around you. They want you to accept the world as they’ve designed it—where you have no power, no voice, no future beyond what they allow. They want you to feel powerless.Because people who believe they have no control will not fight back. They will not unite. They will not challenge authority. Powerless people become obedient people. And obedience, without question, is how oppression thrives. But here’s what they don’t want you to realize. Your spirit is stronger than their control. Your mind is capable of breaking free from their narrative. And, your heart is resilient beyond their imagination. You are not powerless.You are not alone.And no system, no government, no force in history has ever been able to suppress people who refuse to…

Fairy Tales Are Cute, But Real Queens Fight for Rights

amyhoney October 23, 2024 October 20, 2024MEME's

Fairy tales have painted us a picture of queens in elegant gowns, sitting gracefully on their thrones, or waiting for their prince to come and save the day. But the reality of what it means to be a “queen” in today’s world is far from the dainty stories we grew up with. In fact, real queens are not waiting to be saved—they are leading movements, breaking barriers, and fighting for their rights and the rights of others. Shifting the Narrative: From Fairy Tales to Reality Fairy tales often present an idealized version of womanhood—passive, quiet, and waiting for things to happen. This portrayal, while cute in a storybook, doesn’t reflect the power and resilience of women in real life. True queens are not defined by crowns and castles; they are defined by their courage to stand up, speak out, and challenge the status quo. Throughout history, and even now, we’ve seen women breaking chains, shattering glass ceilings, and standing in solidarity for change. Real queens are the advocates, the leaders, and the ones who push against limitations placed on them. They’re rewriting what it means to be a queen—not in the sense of royalty but in the sense of resilience, leadership, and empowerment. Fighting for Rights: The True Mark of a Queen What does it mean to fight for your rights? It means not settling for less than you deserve. It means raising your voice even when society tells you to stay quiet. It means facing opposition and still standing…

The Power of Letting Go: Why Silence and Inaction Are Your Greatest Tools

amyhoney October 19, 2024 October 19, 2024MEME's

We live in a world that often glorifies confrontation and reaction. We’re taught that power comes from speaking up, fighting back, and taking immediate action. But sometimes, the strongest response is no response at all. It’s choosing to starve the things that no longer serve you. This idea is not about passivity or avoidance—it’s about the deliberate and intentional choice to protect your peace. The Energy Cost of Reaction Everything we engage with consumes our energy—whether it’s an argument with a friend, defending yourself from a critic, or holding onto something painful from the past. Often, we think by responding or reacting, we are protecting ourselves or addressing the situation. But in reality, our energy is a finite resource, and not every battle is worth the drain it causes. When we feed negativity, drama, or situations beyond our control, we give away our power to external forces. We essentially allow those things to dictate our emotions, our actions, and our mental state. But here’s the shift: what if you chose not to respond? Not to give these things your attention or energy? Starving What Doesn’t Serve You The idea of “starving” something means withdrawing the energy and attention that keeps it alive. Imagine the negativity or conflict as a fire—by constantly fueling it with responses, arguments, or attention, we allow it to grow and consume more of our peace. But when we withdraw that fuel, the fire dies down on its own. It loses its power over us. Choosing not…

True Alphas Don’t Showboat: The Quiet Confidence of Real Leadership

amyhoney September 27, 2024 September 24, 2024Womens Empowerment

In today’s culture, the term “alpha male” is often misunderstood and misused. The common portrayal of an alpha is that of a loud, domineering man who constantly boasts about his achievements, flaunts his wealth, and thrives on attention. However, this image couldn’t be further from the truth. A real alpha male doesn’t need to showboat or brag. True alpha status comes from within—an unshakable inner confidence that doesn’t require validation from others. In this article, we’ll explore why those who feel the need to flaunt their power are often far from true alphas and how quiet confidence defines real leadership. 1. Quiet Confidence is the Real Power A genuine alpha male doesn’t need to walk into a room and demand attention. He commands respect with his presence alone. His confidence is quiet, understated, and authentic. It doesn’t need to be shouted from the rooftops because it’s inherent in how he carries himself, treats others, and handles adversity. When someone feels the need to showboat or dominate every conversation, it’s often a reflection of insecurity rather than strength. They rely on external validation to feel good about themselves. On the contrary, a true alpha is secure in who he is and doesn’t need others to prop him up. 2. Respect is Earned, Not Taken The loudest person in the room is often the weakest. While some may try to impose their dominance through intimidation or ego, this approach only works temporarily. Respect that’s built on fear or superficial displays of power doesn’t last.…