Too Loud? Good. I Was Never Meant to Be Quiet.
“Too Loud? Good. I Was Never Meant to Be Quiet.” By Tumalo Noel Zakaria They say the world is loud—but they never warn you how quiet they expect women to be. Growing up, I learned that being soft-spoken made you “ladylike,” and being outspoken made you “difficult.” For the longest time, I tried to play small, to blend in, to be the version of myself that didn’t ruffle feathers. But eventually, something in me woke up—and once I started speaking, I couldn’t un-hear the power in my own voice. 🔹 What It Means to Be a Vocal Woman Being a woman with a voice means entering rooms that weren’t built for you—and refusing to whisper. It’s about making your thoughts known even when the room goes quiet. It’s about understanding that you don’t have to soften your tone for the sake of someone else’s comfort. And yes, it’s also about carrying the weight of labels: too much, too loud, too emotional. But I’ve learned those words aren’t really about me. They’re warnings. Warnings...