Women's Day Spotlight on Ashleigh Robinson

International Women's Day represents various things for different people. This is an important day to celebrate all women, but it’s also a day to support #BreakingTheBias for all genders (whether you identify as a woman, man, both, neither or somewhere in between). 

To celebrate this day, Glucology is collaborating with some women in the diabetes community to spotlight their value and achievements. The message here is that there is a lot of strength behind anyone, regardless of where you come from or who you are. 

Our first story spotlight is with Ashleigh Robinson (instagram: @ashy_robinson_) 😊

1. What does it mean to you to be a woman?

“Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.” 

To me being a woman is finding success in ways I wouldn't have expected. It’s achieving productivity for the day while being in pain on my period. It’s getting my qualifications for business administration medical while being at home, using time management to complete my studies while being a stay at home mum (in a pandemic in VICTORIA) and still maintaining the household. It’s finding strength in the face of adversity. I have a deep respect for women, for myself and for those women around me. It impacts how I am raising my daughter. 

Pictured: 4 generations of women in Ashleigh's family.

2. What contributions have you made or what roles do you play in your life that is meaningful to you?

I was on a march for midwives protest walk for equal pay when i was 39 weeks pregnant to support the work midwives do for birthing women and the families they support.

I was a guest speaker on the she’s on the money podcast that aims at empowering women to take control of their money and create financial freedom for their futures.

I am a mother and the emotional and physical strength it takes to give birth and live with your heart outside of your body everyday is a feeling like no other.

Pictured: Ashleigh taking care of her sick baby

I am a wife; a hardworking, nurturing and compassionate significant other. I find happiness in making others happy.

I wrote a published report of how my antenatal class for Maori women impacted my birth to help empower other women to take control of their pregnancy, their body and their birth. 

3. What empowered you to stand taller in the face of diabetes?

When I became pregnant my health and wellbeing was the most important thing in my life to ensure I had a healthy baby, once she was born my priorities changed to making sure I raised a healthy child.

Pictured: Moments right after Ashleigh gave birth to her daughter.

Once I found out I had diabetes the need to maintain a balanced diet, exercise (not just running around after my daughter) and taking proper medication became a priority. Personally I find importance in self-care with diabetes because of the quote:

“You have to put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping others”