Inspiration Tales of Women Empowerment

Women have been systematically disadvantaged in social and economic aspects for centuries. For a great part of history, women have been treated as lesser than men and not been afforded basic dignity. There have been movements across the world throughout history where women have had to fight for even the most basic human rights and human dignity. Discrimination on the basis of gender takes place at all levels of life, including domestic set-ups, and even the most empowered of women have to face numerous challenges. There is not enough representation for women in politics, millions of girls are forced into child marriages, and 1 in every 5 women have experienced physical or sexual violence in the past year. In this light, women's empowerment is an indispensable and immediate need.

Empowering women means promoting their sense of self-worth, their ability to make their own choices, and their right to influence social change. Empowering women is a great step towards a more peaceful and prosperous world. It will allow women to have ownership of themselves and contribute positively towards the health and social development of families and communities. Facilitating women's empowerment means investing in women, and promoting their education, health, and welfare from a young age. This can be brought about through changes and initiatives in policy-making and programmes at the social level. Most importantly, we need to inspire women, to ensure their awareness about their rights, to facilitate the fulfillment of their desires.

Empowering women is a worldwide movement that strives for gender equality and creates opportunities for women to succeed in various aspects of life. Throughout history, there have been numerous inspiring stories of women overcoming challenges, breaking barriers, and making significant contributions to society. In this article, we will delve into some notable examples of women's empowerment that serve as inspiration for all.

The Unbreakable Spirit of Malala Yousafzai

“There are two powers in the world: one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women.”

• The Journey of a Courageous Activist

Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai captured the world’s attention with her indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment to advocating for girls’ education. In 2012, she survived a brutal attack by the Taliban, which left her severely injured. Instead of giving in to fear, Malala became even more determined to fight for the rights of girls to receive an education.

• Malala’s Impact on Education

Malala’s extraordinary journey led to the creation of the Malala Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every girl has access to twelve years of free, quality education. Her efforts have inspired millions of girls worldwide to pursue their dreams and have highlighted the importance of education in empowering women.

The most well-known education activist, Malala Yousafzai has been advocating for the rights of women since the age of eleven. The Taliban took over her home region, Swat Valley in Pakistan, banning many of her favourite things. Girls were banned from receiving education, and over 400 schools were destroyed. Malala began to blog anonymously for BBC in 2009 using the pen name ‘Gul Makai’ about life under the rule of the Taliban. Her nightmares about war in her hometown came true and her family was forced to flee from their home. In the following years, Malala and her father began to speak up in favour of women’s education on various media platforms, campaigning for free quality education for Pakistani girls. On October 9, 2012, fifteen-year-old Malala was returning from school on the bus when she was identified by Taliban members and shot in the head. She had to be airlifted to a Pakistani military hospital and had to be put into a coma. After months of medical treatment, Malala was able to attend school in England but chose to continue fighting for girls’ right to education. In 2014, Malala and her father established the Malala Fund which advocates and supports women and girls and has aided many people worldwide. In December of the same year, Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of seventeen. The Malala Fund continues to advocate for quality education for women and also funds education projects internationally. They partner with global leaders and local advocates to facilitate the education and empowerment of young women across the globe. Malala continues to be an active spokesperson for education as a fundamental social and economic right. Her story and works have inspired people, particularly women, to stand up for their rights and become agents of change in their community.

Overcoming Adversity: Oprah Winfrey’s Triumph

“I never did consider or call myself a feminist but I don’t think you can really be a woman in this world and not be.”

• From Poverty to Success

Oprah Winfrey, a media mogul and philanthropist, overcame a childhood of poverty and adversity to become one of the most influential women in the world. Her unwavering pursuit of success and determination to break barriers has established her as an icon of empowerment.

• Empowering Women Through Media

Oprah’s renowned talk show, ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’, served as a platform for addressing significant social issues and promoting self-improvement. She harnessed her influential position to empower women by discussing topics such as self-esteem, mental health, and personal growth, creating a positive impact on countless lives.

Globally famous television personality, Oprah Winfrey is an American actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist whose daily talk show was the most popular of the genre. Growing up in Milwaukee, Oprah’s childhood was steeped in poverty, and she suffered physical and sexual abuse. She moved to Nashville to live with her father at the age of twelve. Her father became a positive influence in her life, helping her to rise above her hardships and become an educated and accomplished young woman. She won a full scholarship to college and bagged several accolades. She was hired to read newscasts at a local radio station and then landed a television job at a CBS station in Nashville. With her beliefs, Oprah found it hard to maintain objectivity while reporting news and instead chose a morning talk show called ‘People Are Talking’. Her casual and improvisational style helped her start and maintain a natural conversation with guests, easily encouraging them to tell their personal stories. In 1986, the program was renamed as ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ and she became the first African-American to be a nationally syndicated television host at the age of 32, eventually going on to control her own major studio. While maintaining ownership of her show, Oprah expanded her business endeavours, co-founding a programming company called ‘Oxygen Media’, a publication ‘O, The Oprah Magazine, and launched her influential book club that significantly impacted the literary industry. Oprah has impacted almost every aspect of the entertainment industry and has done so while engaging, inspiring, and enriching the lifestyles of millions of people worldwide. 

Breaking Stereotypes: Serena Williams’ Dominance

“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind and above all, be humble.”

• A Trailblazer in Tennis

Serena Williams, a tennis legend, has defied numerous stereotypes throughout her career. With her exceptional talent and fierce determination, she has become an inspiration for aspiring athletes, particularly women of colour.

• Empowering Women in Sports

Serena’s success has not only revolutionized tennis but also paved the way for women in sports. By advocating for equal pay and breaking records, she has demonstrated that gender should never be a barrier to achieving greatness.

One of the most recognized names in the world, Serena Williams has revolutionised women’s tennis. She is considered to be the greatest women’s tennis player of all time, and even the greatest athlete of all time. Serena and her sister, and fellow tennis superstar, Venus Williams, found great support from their father. The two practiced for hours every day on public tennis courts in Compton. Serena Williams made her professional debut in Quebec City in 1995 at a qualifying event. The world of tennis had been dominated by white players for years. As African-Americans, Serena and Venus made a strong impact on this dominance with their strength and athleticism. Williams has strongly condemned the racial treatment of coloured players and even boycotted the Indian Wells Tournament for many years. In 2001, Williams won the tournament for the second time and claimed that spectators had been hurling racial slurs and booing her as well as her sister and father who were watching from the stands. Williams had to overcome several injuries and a blood clot in the lungs during her career. In spite of the many difficulties she faced, Serena Williams has maintained a stronghold in the tennis world with her excellence. She has maintained her inspiring personage outside of the tennis world as well; she realised her fashion design dreams by releasing her own clothing line, ‘S by Serena’, and has her own venture capital firm, ‘Serena Ventures’, which invests in women or African-American led technology companies. She also serves as a UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador and has participated in several social initiatives. Her commendable performance in the field of tennis as well as other ventures continues to inspire women for the pursuit of excellence.

Raising Voices: Tarana Burke and the #MeToo Movement

“If we don’t center the voices of marginalized people, we’re doing the wrong work.”

• Giving Voice to Survivors

Tarana Burke, an activist and social justice advocate, launched the #MeToo movement to raise awareness about sexual assault and harassment. This powerful campaign garnered worldwide attention, enabling numerous survivors to share their experience and seek justice.

• Igniting a Global Movement

The #MeToo movement spotlighted the widespread issue of sexual misconduct, leading to a significant cultural shift. Women from various backgrounds united, forming a collective voice that called for accountability and systemic change.

Tarana Burke was passionate about activism and community organising from a young age. As a teenager, she joined an organisation for youth development called 21^st Century and led campaigns as well as launched initiatives dealing with issues like housing inequality, racial discrimination, and economic injustice. After graduating from Alabama State University, Burke moved to Alabama to work for 21^st Century. In her time at the organisation, Burke came across multiple women of colour who were survivors of sexual abuse and violence. Being a sexual abuse survivor herself, Burke identified with these women and decided to direct her efforts to support them. Her initial efforts were focused on finding ways to provide resources, support, and safe spaces for these young women to voice themselves. The #MeToo Campaign was born to encourage women to speak up about their experiences. Burke used the phrase ‘me too’ to promote “empowerment through empathy”. The campaign facilitated healing and also trained survivors to work in communities of colour. In 2017, the hashtag #MeToo went viral and people across the globe started to use the phrase to align with the movement. Through this support, Burke became a global leader and centralised the conversation around sexual violence. The philosophy of empowerment through empathy has inspired survivors in the millions who had earlier dealt with their pain in isolation to speak up and gain a sense of community.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Sara Blakely’s Spanx Success

“I pledge to invest in women because I believe it offers one of the greatest returns on investment. While many of the world’s natural resources are being depleted, one is waiting to be unleashed—women!”

• Transforming Shapewear

Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, revolutionized the shapewear industry by designing comfortable and innovative undergarments for women. Despite encountering multiple rejections and obstacles, Sara preserved and established a billion-dollar empire.

• Inspiring Women in Business

Sara’s entrepreneurial journey serves as a motivation for aspiring female entrepreneurs. She actively supports and mentors women through initiatives like the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation, which strives to empower women through entrepreneurship and education.

Sara Blakely began her journey as a salesperson and then as a national sales trainer at an office-supply company, after various jobs at Walt Disney World. Like many women, she desired an undergarment that was comfortable, not detectable under clothing, made one appear slimmer, and that one could wear with open-toed shoes. She cut off the feet of a pantyhose, creating a garment that could fulfil these requirements, naming the finalised item as ‘Spanx’. Spending her days at her job, Blakely worked at night to research fabric types, trademark designs, and patents. Her strategy of sales was not based on advertising, instead, she travelled across the United States to meet and model for boards of stores. Without any advertising or outside investment, Blakely built an empire. She also served as the model for Spanx, on television as well as at in-store public appearances across the States. She went on to establish a philanthropic foundation, the Sara Blakely Foundation, that provided scholarships and grants to female entrepreneurs. Spanx has a rotating philanthropy board made up of employees, with each board being allocated a portion of the company’s profits that they can distribute. The employees on the board volunteer their time to research, determine, and sometimes even deliver to the organisations that receive the money. Blakely, and the entire Spanx company, consider philanthropy to be a part of their culture, and celebrates the opportunities to give back to the people. Blakely, and the entire Spanx company, consider philanthropy to be a part of their culture, and celebrates the opportunities to give back to the people.