HerStory Makers

8

FEMALE ACTIVISTS TO ROOT FOR IN 2020

BY AVANTI TOLBERT

When people think of the month of March, they think of St. Patrick’s Day, spring break, or March Madness. Women, on the other hand, see March as something more meaningful than sports or va-cation.

In March, women of all backgrounds unite to celebrate women’s contributions during Women’s History Month. Originally recognized as Women’s History Week, the holiday has now turned into a month-long affair. With International Women’s Day on March 8, the annual celebration com-memorates notable and everyday women who have made it their life’s ambition to create positive change for women around the world.

In this issue, we are highlighting eight women who have found their purpose and passion in taking on the mantle of activism for the sake of those who cannot. While they range in age and cultural background, they all retain the same passion and drive. Some of these change agents are sprinkled on our cover, and they remain impactful to others all over the world as representatives of the socie-tal imbalances that still need to be confronted.

By championing political and social change, the women featured on our cover such as Greta Thunberg and Tarana Burke continue to address important issues that improve the lives of women everywhere. Here is more information about them and the six other cover ladies with powerful mes-sages:

GRETA THUNBERG At just 17 years old, this Swedish environmental activist gained international attention. Her advocacy for climate change has earned her awards such as ‘Time’s Person of the Year’ and an environmental award, which she refused to accept on behalf of her belief that “people in power need to ‘listen’ to ‘science’ and not awards.” Her movement triggered other student protests around the world.

MILOU ALBRECHT In Castlemaine, Australia, Milou Albrecht, 15, co-founded School Strike for Climate Fifteen-year-old Milou Albrecht is one of the “Castlemaine Three,” a group that initiated an Aus-tralian strike for climate change movement by leading a small protest consisting of student walk-outs. She then organized the global School Strike For Climate (SS4C), creating a huge platform for students everywhere to join her cause in getting representatives to take action against climate change in response to Australian brush fires.

MELENE ROSSOUW Founder of the Women Lead Movement, Melene Rossouw is educating, empowering and inspiring women across the globe to get out and be the change that they wish to see. She encourages women to know their constitutional rights and hold the government accountable when these rights are denied. To assist women that want to be a part of their community’s social change, Rossouw offers Human Rights and Leadership training, and with a Master of Laws degree, she is definitely someone worthy of teaching.

EMMA GONZALEZ When she gave her first speech that called out lawmakers When she gave her first speech calling out lawmakers on their beliefs lack of action pertaining to gun control, Emma Gonzalez had no idea that she would become the face of a movement. Gonzalez is a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Florida school shooting. The 20-year-old former Stoneman Douglas High School student co-founded the Never Again MSD gun-control advocacy group—an organization that is pushing for stricter regulations that will prevent future gun violence incidents.

XIYE BASTIDA Youth climate activist Xiye Bastida has been the voice of the #FridaysForFuture in New York City. After her hometown in Mexico suffered a devastating prolonged drought followed by widespread flooding, Basitda found herself moved to change critical environmental issues. Her fighting spirit and passionate effort are bringing people of all diversities together to fight for climate control.

SHAMMA BINT SUHAIL FARIS MAZRUI This phenomenal woman is an Emirati politician who serves as the Minister of State for Youth Affairs in the United Arab Emirates. At 26, this initiation made her the youngest member of the UAE cabinet and the youngest government minister in the world. Presiding over the National Youth Cabinet, Mazrui is spreading the urge for people to become more involved in climate change, education and other significant issues.

GAYLE SMITH President and CEO of the ONE campaign, Gayle Smith is one of the world’s leading experts on global development. She has held titles such as administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and special assistant to the President of the United States. Her ONE campaign is a global movement to help end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030.

TARANA BURKE Born September 12, 1963 in Bronx, NY, Tarana Burke is an African American civil rights activist who rose to fame after founding the “Me Too” movement. The worldwide campaign raises awareness about sexual harassment, abuse and assault. The movement has caused women of varying backgrounds to support one another, hoping that their “coming out” will prevent other women from having to experience the same situations and encourage them to speak out.

LA MÉTAMORPHOSE

Haute couture design sisters Ewa Gawkowską and Margaret Szczęsną Marek shared their pastel vision in their La Métamorphose SS2020 Collection during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week 2020. This dynamic duo take inspiration from the collective poems of Sully Prudhomme, transforming beautiful words into beautiful clothes. Their emboldening Les Couleurs de l’Âme Collection (roughly translated to “The Colors of the Soul”) is filled with lightness, transparency and grace, highlighting the inspiration that famous French poet Sully Prudhomme found in the transient nature of women.

Born Rene Francois Armond Prudhomme, Sully Prudhomme was a well-respected French poet and novelist. As the first person to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1910, it is fairly simple to understand why his poetry may have been such an inspiration for couture designers.

This excerpt from one of the poet’s poems perfectly describes the collection:

Deep in my heart, behind my brow, There is a soul, invisible but manifest: The suspicious will look for it; I spread it, then feel it!

Designers Margaret Szczęsną Marek (right) and Ewa Gawkowską (left)

MÉTAMORPHOSE