Role Models: Changing The World By Telling Their Stories

It’s important now more than ever for women to support each other. Utilising the power of community is truly the catalyst that will evoke change and equality, helping women flourish in our careers and personal development. It is through these bonds that we learn to appreciate and become inspired by the stories shared of the women we call #DaughtersOfIndia.

What constitutes a female role model, and why are they important?

There are many qualities used to determine a role model and everyone’s definition looks different. At Daughters of India, there are many qualities that we value and strive to emulate.

The women we admire are a diverse group who share some of our core values and work to create unity and equality. Our role models take “women supporting women” very seriously.

Lifting women up and encouraging each other to reach their fullest potential is the only way we can make change. Reaching out to women can make a huge difference, and the women we admire are constantly lifting others up.

Real Girls Support Each Other!

A role model does not have to be a celebrity. She is ANY woman you look up to. She is a woman who makes a difference, whether it is in the little things she does in her everyday life or the grand gestures made in the public eye. Being a role model requires a confidence not rooted solely in career or status, but in seeing the value in herself. This quality is exactly why role models are so important, and at Daughters of India we’re committed to celebrating it.

Since we are still working to close the gender gap, it’s important for younger generations and those who aspire to great things to see the women they look up to in prominent roles.

Having positive images of powerful, intelligent women making change in the world sends the message that your opportunities are limitless, regardless of your gender. This attention to female role models will bring about some great leaders (and positive change) for years to come. It’s about time we give women the credit they deserve.

Last year, we looked at some of our female role models and how they make a huge difference for women everywhere. This year we’re taking another look at some more fierce women who inspire us every day, are rewriting history, and are paving the way for the next generation.

Women & the Community

Creating a space for women’s voices to be heard is key since historically they have been overlooked and silenced. Women oftentimes have to work much harder than their male counterparts just to be heard. Because of this, being a community leader takes incredible determination and resilience.

Strong women are important advocates for affordable and accessible education as well as gender equality. They play a big role in bringing young people into the political conversation and fighting for legislation that often gets overlooked. Women also should be leaders against sexual harassment in the workplace.

#DaughtersOfIndia are brave when others try to silence her, that help others feel their voices deserve to be heard.

Authenticity

Part of being a female role model is being true to yourself. Being able to stay true to your values and what you believe in can inspire others around you. The role models we applaud also use their platform to highlight others whose voices are often overlooked.

When we look at female role models, we’ve been looking at women who are well established in their careers, but younger women with burgeoning careers have started speaking up on women’s rights. With social media presence #DaughtersOfIndia use their platform to represent those young women who feel underrepresented. They speak up about representation of women of colour on TV and how important it is for girls to see themselves in a positive light.

#RepresentationMatters

Young girls want to see somebody who looks like them as being successful. They want to see the full spectrum of opportunities.

Diversity

Including diversity in the conversation is important in helping all women feel represented.

Many times discussions of feminism can exclude some groups, but many women are working to bridge that gap.

Public officials in India should reflect the diversity in our country and when women are half of our population, to have them not even close to half of our public officials is a problem. We should follow the lead of other countries like Germany that have a Gender Neutral cabinet.

Let the voices of the #DaughtersOfIndia be heard!

Seeing such a diverse group of powerful and revolutionary women is truly inspiring for any young girl. It is easy for girls to look at the media and become discouraged when they do not see themselves represented. However, our role models continue to show us that women are making tremendous strides in our society and are the catalysts for change.

Celebrating these women is one of the ways we can appreciate role models, but supporting women in our everyday lives is how we can take action.

We cannot succeed alone, but with a support system and mentors to help, success is inevitable. At #DaughtersOfIndia, we believe developing this support is key in accomplishing our goals, gaining success and connecting with incredible role models.

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Who is your #DaughterOfIndia ? How has her work impacted you and those around you? Let us know your thoughts on the importance of role models in your network.

Daughters of India aims to arm young women with the courage, vision, and skills needed to take on leadership roles. Daughters of India is a platform that will bring together insights from key leaders and a global mentoring network to empower young women to play a greater role in forging our nation.

We value the voices of young girls and women, their hopes and aspirations, and believe in their power to change the world.

DM us or email at say.daughtersofindia@gmail.com to participate as a mentor or mentee today!