Member-only story
ZORA Check-In
Own Your Worth, and Fight for It
“I work very hard and I’m worth every cent.” — Naomi Campbell, supermodel
When I first started writing professionally six years ago, I took whatever rate that I was first offered because I was so hungry to build my portfolio and boost my visibility online. It wasn’t until I started speaking to other women, both white and of color, that I realized that they were negotiating and charging often 4x more than what I was being paid! I began to think about how much more money I could’ve made if I would’ve spoken up more, how much I lowballed myself due to insecurity or fear of being labeled “difficult” before I got my foot in the door.
For women and non-binary people of color, it is crucial that we know our worth in both professional and personal settings. Because we live in a capitalistic society, we are more prone to exploitation if we don’t make ourselves top priority. That’s not to say that we don’t have to pay our dues or work our way up but we should always consider our labor and commune with others to see if the endeavor is worth it.
Readers, have there been moments when you underestimated your worth and have you worked to never sell yourself short again? #ZORACheckIn
