For countless generations, tales as old as time have been passed down, subtly but surely telling women a narrative that seeks to restrain and limit them. They've been told they are asleep, waiting for a gallant man to awaken their dormant power with a magical kiss. But this narrative is not only flawed, it's a deliberate deceit, and it's high time we correct it.

The story of the Sleeping Princess or the Sleeping Beauty, one of many, offers a particularly compelling case. This narrative paints women as helpless damsels, fallen victims to external malevolent forces, awaiting salvation. This salvation, however, is often portrayed in an intimate, almost

sexual manner — the all-important kiss. The underlying message seems to be that a woman's worth and power are intrinsically linked to her sexuality, and more so, it can only be activated by a man. But what about the strength, intelligence, and resilience that a woman inherently possesses?

Many fairytales conveniently gloss over the fact that the heroines in these stories were already powerful and radiant before any mishap befalls them. It is precisely their radiance and strength that poses a threat to the antagonists. These women are, therefore, 'put to sleep,' a metaphorical way of saying their power is being suppressed. Take Sleeping Beauty, for instance. Even in her name, we recognise a superficial attribute, her "beauty." But she was so much more than that. She was magnetic, drawing in those around her with her energy and strength. She was powerful, not because of her physical appearance but because of her essence. But in the tale, her power and brilliance were seen as intimidating, leading to her forced slumber.

The narrative doesn't stop there. It further perpetuates the idea that powerful women, when not asleep or dormant, are inherently evil or

manipulative – aka the Wicked Queen. This a conversation for another day, and underscores the falsehood that a woman's innate strength is something to be feared.

When Sleeping Beauty finally awakens, it is at the behest of a prince — implying that her return to power, her very agency, can only be reclaimed in partnership with a man. The tale, in its essence, communicates that a woman's power is permissible only within certain societal constructs. But here's the real truth: women have never been asleep. Women are alert, conscious, and alive to the world around them. The tales of slumber and rescues are mere fabrications, designed to mask the raw, unyielding strength women have always possessed.

Women...we don’t need a prince, a kiss, or a fairytale ending to live out of our power and potential., nor do we require external validation to harness our inherent strength.

All we need is to remember, recognise, and reclaim the power that has always been ours. And as we do, we will change the world!