Female Empowerment

by Tiger Topics: Fishers Tiger Times

“Euphoria”

Empowomen

Featuring influential women in honor of Women’s history month

Veda Thangudu thangved000@hsestudents.org

Jane Austen. Photo used with permission of Wikipedia Commons. Several women have been setting up the stage for women to thrive. According to studies conducted by the United Nations, there are 3.905 billion females in the world as of August 2021. But in the 21st century, there are still many stereotypes around women. According to Senior Academic Dean Nawla Williams, women should be able to participate equally, especially since they are more than half of the population. “I have been in situations where just because I’m female, it is assumed that I can not do as much or as well,” Williams said. “I’ve been looked over, disrespected, called emotional when in fact our counterparts could be just as emotional.”

Malala Yousafzai. Photo used with permission of Wikipedia Commons.

Jane Austen was an English novelist dominant at the end of the 18th century. Austen’s novels are centered around women and their roles in society. She was inspired by Mary Wollstonecraft, who was one of the most known advocates for feminism. According to Toledo Public Library, Austen was a radical, a rebel and a feminist. “I love Jane Austen for her personal character,” senior Abinaya Ramjee said. “Pride and Prejudice,” “Emma,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Mansfield Park” are Austen’s most known novels. Her novels are usually sarcastic and are characterized as "comedies of manners.” “It was a lot more restricted back when she lived,” Ramjee said. “It’s not that women had all the freedom we do now, and yet her novels show basically what we're doing today.” Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist who fought for girls’ rights of education. She brought changes in society and was a role model for many women as she encouraged them to stand up for their rights. “I’m inspired by what she's done for girls and their education,” senior Abinaya Ramjee said. In the process of opposing the Taliban, a group who were not allowing girls to study, Yousafzai was shot three times and seriously wounded. Since the attack, she has been an international symbol of womens’ education. To demand change and empower girls further, Malala Yousafzai and her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founded the Malala Fund in 2013. In December of the following year, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her contribution. “Her change in society is big, helping women from all parts of the world receive better education,” Ramjee said.

Michelle Obama was the first African-American woman to serve as the First Lady of the United States. According to the Washington Times and Chicago Tribune, Obama served as a role model for many women to advocate for poverty awareness, education, nutrition and physical activity. “I think she stood up for what she believed in,” Williams said. “She was the one that changed the school meal plan and made it healthier, and we're still living in that decision now,” . She was considered a fashion icon and supported fashion designers. She was an author, orator, lawyer, states person and a law professor. “I think she redefined the First Lady position,” said Williams. For some, their mother is a source of inspiration. As Williams’ elementary school principal, her mom influenced her the most, according to Williams. “My mom was the number one person in my life,” Williams said. Williams speaks about how her mom was well put together. According to Williams, it is important for a mother to be a confident role model to her daughter and to empower females through generations. “Her clothing was classy, she was really nice,” Williams said. “I looked up to her a lot,”

Social media can also play an important role in female empowerment, as it has created a platform for expression and empowerment. “Young women today have a lot more examples of female leadership than I did growing up, which I think is really great,” social studies teacher Elizabeth Paternoster said. According to United Nations Women, it is estimated that about 435 million women and girls are living in poverty. In spite of this, women are stepping up and setting examples on how they can achieve equally as much, if not more, than men. “We are fierce beings,” Williams said. “We could do anything we want to do when we put our minds to it."