By Anisa Pračić-Šehić
To be a free woman with dignity and a high level of self-care is hard. To be a pansexual woman in a patriarchal society such as Bosnia is very challenging.
What does it mean to be a woman? What is the beauty of being a woman? I would say it’s like being a superhero. You have enormous power to see things differently, with the ability to understand from different points of view.
Being a pansexual woman gives me pleasure and energy, and I feel that I’m outside of a patriarchal cage. Since I came out, I’ve trusted myself more and recognized many possibilities to express myself. It doesn’t matter if it’s about how I dress, walk, or talk; it gives me wings to fly. It gives me the strength to fight all the fights that life and society have presented me with. Being a pansexual woman shows me that there’s no place that I can’t be and position I can’t take and be the best I can be. Recognizing myself and meeting myself as a human being with infinite capacity opens the door to healthier and more independent relationships without being limited by gender rules. Being pansexual helps me to love myself more and appreciate myself more so I can freely, without fear or pressure, share myself and my values with others. I can be more of a daughter, colleague, friend, and partner in my relationships. I can be a better citizen in my country and help other straight, lesbian, bi+, transgender, and queer women on their way to self-realization.
So, if I were to write a letter to myself, I would say a big thank you and remind myself to never give up. Never give up because of yourself, because of the little girl inside you and because of all the women around you. You’re doing great. Continue to grow, swim through the waters of freedom, and never relinquish your determination. Stay proud, for your resilience is a force that paves the way for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
Anisa Pračić-Šehić is an activist for LGBTIQ+ rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina.