In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Mamahood would like to share with you the stories of three women who have inspired the world in their own ways. They have become role models to many of our young ones today, too.
Here are the past and present women who have trail blazed the way for many causes and issues that are relevant to us. They have shown great courage in the face of adversity. Here are their stories.
Sylvia Plath — Author
In today’s world where more people are known to have mental health issues, it feels right to honour a woman who dared to put pen her innermost thoughts and feelings. Her book, The Bell Jar, is part novel and part autobiography that centres on depression and mental illness.
Her book was first published in 1963. On several occasions, her book was banned for several reasons that were taboo in its time. The book depicted a suicide attempt and had some perceived profanity as well as sexuality issues. In the 1970s, it was also suppressed for its rejection of a woman’s role as wife and mother.
Now, decades later, and with more open minds, the book bans of the past have been lifted. In fact, the book has been a mainstay in American high schools. Before, the bans were being called for because there was fear that people would follow suit in the acts of suicide.
But today, the same issues of mental illness and gender stereotyping still exist, making her text a relevant read, still. Today, we believe in talking about it rather than hushing up taboo subjects in order to help those who suffer them in silence.
It has been over 50 years since her passing (sadly, she took her own life), but she has lived on as a legend in The Bell Jar, which has touched many people’s lives.
Greta Thunberg — Environmental Activist
This feisty Swedish teen at 18 years old today, has created a global following and movement, School Strike for Climate Change. At the age of 15, Greta skipped school on Fridays to be outside the Swedish Parliament to call for stronger action on climate change.
Sometimes she would be joined by a few friends, but most times she did this alone. She even convinced her family to make changes to their lifestyle in order to reduce their carbon footprint.
Soon, her action inspired other students in their own communities and Fridays For Future came about as a global movement. Greta garnered worldwide attention as she travelled round the world to give speeches. In 2018, she addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference. In 2019, she made her world famous speech “How Dare You” at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit.
She’s since received numerous awards and honours, being named Time Person of the Year and included in Time’s 100 most influential people. She was also on Forbe’s list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2019.
And did I mention that Greta was diagnosed as a child with Asperger’s syndrome? Through it all, she has done something no other environmentalists has been able to do. She has shown the world that age, gender and having a disorder are no barriers to do something one aspires to do.
Malala Yousafzai — Education Activist
At the age of 15, Malala was shot in the head three times while she was on board her school bus. Thankfully, she survived the ordeal and has since been an even more effective activist on the world stage.
Quoting Malala, “I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up.” And what she stood for that got her shot was education rights for girls in Pakistan, her home country.
Since the incident, she has been even more vocal about the rights to education world wide. She has set up Malala Fund to drive this cause, too.
At the age of 17, Malala co-received the Nobel Peace Prize. She has also gone on to graduate in 2020, at the age of 24, from Oxford University.
In the face of death threats and recovery from gun shot injuries to the head, this brave teen did not give up on her fight for education for everyone. Instead, all these challenges had made her an even stronger person and she turned her adversity into opportunities to do more for her cause.
More Inspiring Women Stories
We hope the stories of these young women have inspired you somewhat. We have more of them coming your way. Do share these amazing stories with your little ones as well, to show them what they too could be capable of. Age and size does not matter, as have been proven by so many of the world’s youngsters past and present. Stay tuned for more inspiring and empowering stories!