for that to happen, we need people who don’t identify as women, but still want to write and read stories with them in the lead roles. We also cannot forget that there are many different types of heroism-we can be heroes without superpowers or being musclebound superheroes. For example: a hero is someone who saves another person from a burning building; it’s somebody who patiently listens when you’re going through something difficult even if they don’t know how they can help; it’s an everyday person working at their desk for long hours because they’ve got kids waiting back home while dreaming about finally getting time off work soon enough. A hero is anyone willing to put themselves on the line for others no matter what comes next.” to be the best version of ourselves, we need to see our own stories reflected back at us as well.
The world would be a better place if we told these stories and provided representation as well as encouragement by example from an early age. In order to be the best version of ourselves, we need to see our own stories reflected back at us as well. These girls deserve more than what they’ve been given so far—it’s up to all of us who care about them to give them that for when they grow up and take their places in society with confidence or begin their lives anew on this planet without having lost themselves along the way due to lack of exposure or role models. It is possible! We’re halfway there alreadyThe world is full of amazing women doing amazing things, but our media and the narrative we tell about girls and women does not reflect that. The United States ranks 75th in terms of gender equality out of 144 countries ranked by the World Economic Forum. In order to change this disparity, it’s important to start telling more diverse stories about girls and women-and what better place to start than with children’s books?
In the United States, girls read books written about boys much more often than they do those that are exclusively about girls.
I’m not suggesting we stop writing and reading stories with male protagonists-stories have never been just for one gender–but it’s important to show children (and adults) examples of women who aren’t always damsels in distress or sidekicks but instead protagonists with agency. We need to broaden our definitions of what a hero is because there’s no reason for us all to be stuck on outdated notions when so many amazing female characters exist right under our noses.
The world would be a better place if we told these stories and provided representation as well as encouragement by example from an early age. In order