I’ve been pondering on the theme of identifying with women across the globe, which is particularly relevant this week as the world waits to see how Malala Yousafzai responds to her treatment after being shot by the Taliban as she campaigned for girls to have access to education in Pakistan. Malala is fourteen. What made her strong enough to speak out? What is it that made her different, that made her refuse the status quo?
Perhaps in all of us, there is a seed of knowledge that things could be different, that if we all stood up for the universal values of peace, education and kindness we could change things. I wonder what it is that separates those who let this seed flower from the rest of us, some who do not even know the seed is there and others who water it now and then but never allow it to really take root. Maybe we all have the potential to make an impact, to strive for greater things, but those who actually do it, who speak up against all the odds, surely it is for those that we should reserve words such as heroine.
I have an almost-teenage daughter and I can’t help but notice that in our culture, there is a huge focus on icons, role models and heroines in teenage magazines and on TV. The idea that pop stars and actresses may hold more sway with our children than we do ourselves is a scary thought. This week we read that Angelina Jolie has helped to set up an educational foundation for girls this week, inspired by Malala’s actions. This is a great example of a heroine of popular culture using her power to speak up and make changes for the future. However, it seems obvious that the real heroine of this story is Malala herself and I hope that this won’t be lost on our girl children who are faced every day with airbrushed ideals of beauty which leave little room for crusading, empowering others and demanding change.
Challenging the stereotyped princess waiting to be rescued, the website A Mighty Girl, at http://www.amightygirl.com/ suggests hundreds of films and books which offer more positive role models for girls of all ages
Perhaps just the experience of witnessing true courage gives each of us a little more hope, a little more faith in the future of humankind. Either way, witnessing a real heroine is a privilege we should all be grateful for. A little reminder that for some, life is not as easy as it is here in the West and perhaps a little inspiration to behave a little more heroically in our own lives.