By: Neethini Prathipan
When I was in middle school, we had the privilege of picking out our graduating class’s most influential role model of the year. We had narrowed it down to: Nelson Mandela, Bill Nye, Lebron James, Barack Obama, Malala Yousafzai and Lizzie Velasquez. We had to cast our votes the next day and that night, I researched everything I could about the two women role models in the list. I couldn’t pick just one, they were both role models to me. Both of them make me feel seen, inspired and motivated to do better. Mala Yousafzai resisted conforming to society’s expectations and fought for girl’s education. Lizzie Velasquez spoke up about being proud of who you are and loving yourself. How could I only pick one? In the end my dilemma didn’t matter, Lebron James won by a long shot. However, this activity stuck with me for years.
There is no such thing as one role model. We are inspired by thousands of people in our lifetime.
As long as there are people who deny change, there will be people in opposition. Progress cannot be defined by the people that accept change, but rather, by the people that fought their lives and careers to change the world. These fighters of change and justice are who I consider to be role models.
As a woman of colour, I often found myself searching as much as I could about women similar to me; women I could look up to. They could just be women living their lives, but to me and thousands of other women of colour, they’re an inspiration. They show us that we are not bound by limitations imposed on us by the stereotypes in society. As much as I would like to ignore it, women of colour are often limited by these stereotypes and it is really hard to overcome them. We are too outspoken, too soft spoken, we’re too angry or not angry enough. We can’t just ignore them but overcoming them is an achievement in itself. Women in the workplace bring forth diversity in workspaces and push forth social change. Seeing women of colour excelling at their jobs gives others a sense of hope and the realization that they can do whatever they want to.
Take in Katherine Johnson. She, along with her colleagues Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan were some of the first Black women to work as NASA. They were crucial to America’s success in having the first astronaut orbit the Earth. In being women of colour who contributed to America’s success they diversified NASA and showed thousands of other women that they too could be astronauts. In the present, 30% of NASA’s 35% women employees are WOC.
Role models are instrumental in change and inspiration. When I think of a role model, I not only see myself in them, but I see my potential. When I think of South Asian environmentalist Vandana Shiva, I don’t only recognize her impact in environmental policy and her efforts in the anti-globalization movement. Her success in fighting for environmental rights and fighting for anti-GMOs shows me that that change doesn’t have one face. Anyone could lead the effort for change, including people who look like me.
QWOCC 