VOLUME 31, ISSUE 2 SPRING 2022 PAGE 7
Global
Photo: Fairfax Media
Breaking barriers - a celebration of women By: Nitya Kharidehal sion, freedom, and how it
W
ith International Women’s History Month right around the corner, this is the perfect time to celebrate the significant contributions of women. Women have had to fight for their fundamental rights and to be seen as equals throughout history. Fortunately over time, significant progress was made on this front. Time and again, women used their voices to advocate for important causes worldwide. Today, let us recount a few of these heroes with these five women that have broken barriers and started important conversations: Maya Angelou: Maya Angelou was a renowned writer, poet, activist and director. She was an African-American woman, vastly recognized for her groundbreaking book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This book details Angelou’s early years, her experience with being sexually assaulted, and why she stopped talking after. It is a profound piece of literature that emphasizes oppres-
can change a person. When Angelou started speaking again, she used her voice to advocate for causes like education, anti-racism, and joined the civil rights movement. She worked closely with activists like Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, and served on the presidential committee twice. She was honored with several awards including three Grammys, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Langston Hughes Medal for her literary and activist contributions. She wrote several books until her death in 2014. To this day, her work remains influential, and is discussed in academic settings. Her mark on this world cannot be erased! Malala Yousefzai: Malala’s story is as inspiring as it is haunting to girls all around the world. Born in a Pakistani family that believed in educating women, Malala treasured her schooling. When the Taliban took over their town, they imposed several rules like banning girls’ education, and those who dared to break them endangered their lives. Enraged,
Yousafzai fearlessly advocated for women’s right to education publicly. For this, she was shot in the head and took several months to recover. While this would have silenced someone else, Malala chose to fight back. She moved to the UK, started the Malala Fund with an aim to promote girl’s education. Her relentless efforts and great work, made her the youngest recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. Now an Oxford graduate, she spoke in the COP26 conference about climate change in relation to gender equality, and has been bestowed with many awards for her work. Greta Thunberg: Climate change is a controversial and most debated topic. A high school student is the last person you would expect to speak up about this issue. Yet we live in a world where Greta Thunberg shouldered the responsibility of reminding us about the receding climate. Greta was only seventeen when she walked out of school and called for the Swedish government’s attention regarding the climate crisis. Her movement garnered
attention from the UN and various countries. She stated she wants us to, “feel the panic that she feels everyday,” thinking about the future of this planet. She continues to advocate and also participated in the COP26 Climate Conference. Named the Time’s Person of the Year in 2019, Thunberg stands out, not just because of her passion, but because of how young she was when she spoke up. To the world, she is a beacon that displays and celebrates the power of youth. She is proof of what one can achieve with passion and fearlessness. Alexa McDonough: Canada recently lost Alexa McDonough, an influential politician and social worker from Nova Scotia. She started her political career in the Liberal party before she switched over to the NDP and represented the party as the first woman in the legislature. She led the NDP federally for several years. Throughout her political career, McDonough was notorious for proving naysayers wrong. She was ridiculed and discouraged constantly but each time she won, it spoke volumes
about her talent and prowess. McDonough dedicated her career to advocating for gender equality and social services. Though being the only woman in an unreceptive institution was not easy, she stood strong. Her influence on Canadian politics resulted in many honors and accolades, like naming the Mount Saint Vincent University women’s studies institute after McDonough. Laxmi Agarwal: Laxmi Agarwal is an Indian woman from New Delhi. She was merely fifteen when she was attacked with acid in public by a man. The attack not only physically deformed her but also gave a lot of mental trauma, along with taunts about her looks. When she realized how unfair society is to women like her, she took it upon herself to change the system. To start off, she filed charges and the perpetrator was sentenced to prison. She then proceeded to fight the laws on acid attacks and acid sales. After her massively successful petition, the Supreme Court of India established rules to protect acid attack victims. Laxmi Agarwal continues to lead movements to bring
more awareness about acid attack survivors. She founded the Chhanv Foundation, which helps victims with rehab, legal help, and even finding jobs. She aims to change beauty standards and to make society more inclusive towards acid attack victims. Her work is recognized globally, with people like Michelle Obama lauding her. Her resilience and initiative are things to learn from! These are just five out of the millions of women that defy social norms and expectations every day in their own way. While it is undeniably important to celebrate Women’s History Month in honor of all such women who have opened the doors for future generations, let us remember that one month is just not enough. The unrelenting courage of women must be acknowledged and celebrated each day in as many ways as possible. Let us recognize all women for their strength, courage, sensitivity and perspectives every day. Here’s to women!
