Serena Williams' Open Letter on Gender Inequality

Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes ever—and now that she's conquered the tennis court, Serena Williams' open letter on the fight for gender equality is the latest demonstration of her powerhouse capabilities. In an open letter for the December Incredible Women of 2016 issue of Porter Magazine, Williams got real about the obstacles women face in achieving their goals. The issue, which features Michelle Williams on the cover, is dedicated entirely to strong women.

The tennis star wrote that as a child, "My dream was to be the best tennis player in the world. Not the best 'female' tennis player in the world." Today, she still struggles to be recognized as a valid athlete alongside the men in her sport.

"As we know, women have to break down many barriers on the road to success. One of those barriers is the way we are constantly reminded we are not men, as if it is a flaw," she wrote. "People call me one of the 'world’s greatest female athletes'. Do they say LeBron is one of the world’s best male athletes? Is Tiger? Federer? Why not? They are certainly not female. We should never let this go unchallenged. We should always be judged by our achievements, not by our gender."

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Let's not forget, Williams has won 308 Grand Slam titles—more than any player, man or woman, in tennis history—so her achievements really speak for themselves. Williams went on to express her frustration with the gender wage gap and equal pay. "I...have done the same work and made the same sacrifices as our male counterparts," she writes. "I would never want my daughter to be paid less than my son for the same work."

Williams is also quick to admit that not all adversity is a bad thing: "What others marked as flaws or disadvantages about myself—my race, my gender—I embraced as fuel for my success. I never let anything or anyone define me or my potential. I controlled my future." It's her greatest hope that other women will continue to do the same thing. "We must continue to dream big, and in doing so, we empower the next generation of women to be just as bold in their pursuits." Serena Williams' open letter is an inspiring reminder of how far we've come, how far we have to go, and how lucky we are to have such powerful visionaries leading the charge.

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