FEMALE EMPOWERMENT

Last week, I spent Monday morning watching the Oscars. One of my favourite moments from the show was when Frances McDermond won the "Best Actress" award for her role in 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri.' 

With a standing applause from the audience, Frances decided to turn her acceptance speech into a stance on equality between genders. She then invited all of the females who were nominated for an award that night to stand and be congratulated by their peers for their achievement. This was followed by a mention of "inclusion riders" - a clause which is added to an actors' contract to ensure that casting and production staff meet certain levels of diversity e.g. inclusion of women. 

Cue Ashton bawling her eyes out.  

Whilst in the middle of accepting one of the most prestigious roles in Hollywood, Frances made the selfless decision to champion the subject of equality between women and men. She and many other women have echoed this support and empowerment during the recent film awards season. 

I truly believe we are in a stage right now where change is happening and equality between sexes is finally finding it's equilibrium. Campaigns such as #MeToo and #TimesUp are movements championed by not just those in the film industry, but leaders worldwide who are passionate and are determined to fight for change. People such as Oprah Winfrey who made mention of the #MeToo movement while receiving the Cecil B. de Mille Award at the Golden Globes. Or Malala Yousafzai, who fought for female education in Pakistan and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. 

Ever since my sister and I were young, mum and dad have instilled in us that 'if we want to achieve or do something significant, we had to work hard for it.' As young females, we were determined to do  this. 

At 15, I marched into the deputy principals' offices with a proposal for a 'Pink Day' to raise money for Breast Cancer awareness. My lip trembled and I was filled with nerves as I presented my proposal to them. I remember thinking, "they won't listen to me. They'll just push it aside. Why am I even bothering?"  But it turned out that they put my idea to the school board who allowed me to go ahead with pretty much decking out the school in pink. We raised over $700 that day which filled me with so much pride and joy. 

My sister Ciara on the other hand has always wanted to be a performer. After numerous auditions, she is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Musical Theatre at the prestigious Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA.) Getting into a course like this is not simple. She put in hours and hours of work to get to this point, even though it was an extremely difficult time for her. Looking back, she is so happy to have toughed it out because now she is one step closer to living her dream. And we all get a thrill not from just seeing her perform on stage, but knowing that she is so close to living out her dream. 

There are many female role models that inspire me on a daily basis. They're hard working, they're strong and aren't intimidated by the judgements other people make of them.  If they see that something needs to be changed for the better, than they'll fight for that to happen. If someone tells them they can't do something, they'll do everything in their power to prove them wrong. 

To have people like this to look up to and have around you is an amazing feeling. This is how empowerment and change happens and we need more women to see that they are capable of finding their voice to make a change themselves. Therefore I say this: 

To all the women out there, who are reading this blog. 

May you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in. 

May you stand up for injustices in this world. 

May you never feel ashamed for the life decisions you make. 

May you support each other and lift each other up. 

May you tell your fellow girlfriends how amazing and beautiful they are. 

May you conquer your dreams and not let anyone tell you that you can't. 

Until next time... 

AT xx