Hello everyone, it’s your girl Empowerment Eunice and today we’re going to highlight several women and girls who have defied odds and shattered the status quo to showcase that empowering women and girls is a formidable force. There is no better time to uplift and showcase stories of women and girls who have left an indelible mark in their respective fields. Let’s dive in!

Celebrating Women and Girls in STEM 💻

The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sector is one of the most male-dominated fields and women and girls have often been underrepresented. However, this trend has been changing, thanks to trailblazing women and girls who have paved the way for more female representation in STEM.

🌟 One such woman is Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the U.S.’s first trip to space. She broke racial and gender barriers and inspired future generations of women and girls to pursue STEM careers.

🌟 Also, meet Divya Nag, a young girl who co-founded the company StemCell United at the age of 16, aimed at revolutionizing personalized medicine. She has raised more than a million dollars for treatments and continues to inspire other girls to join STEM fields.

A young girl scientific genius researching and experimenting

Overcoming Stigma Around Menstruation 🩸

One in five girls in India drop out of school due to menstruation-related issues. Unfortunately, period stigma is not only in India but all over the world. By normalizing period conversations, we can allow girls to go to school and every woman to have a comfortable period.

🌟 In Kenya, a group of girls invented “PadMan,” a reusable pad-making machine which not only tackles period poverty but also reduces environmental waste. This invention has also set an example for young girls and boys that periods are normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

🌟 In India, Priya Munda, a young girl, started a movement to not only educate young girls about menstruation but also to provide them with free sanitary pads. She and her team distribute over 1,000 pads to girls in her district every month.

A girl holding a sanitary pad symbolizing menstruation normalcy

Empowering Women and Girls through Education 🎓

Education is one of the most significant weapons in the fight for gender equality because it empowers women and girls to make informed decisions and create change.

🌟 Malala Yousafzai, a young girl from Pakistan, is an advocate for girls’ education and was shot by the Taliban for daring to go to school. Despite this, she has continued to be a vocal advocate for girls’ education, started the Malala Fund, and became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in the world.

🌟 In Bangladesh, Dr. Sabrina, a virologist, helped create a digital education platform that provides free education to over 20 million students in Bangladesh during the pandemic. Through her initiative, every child, regardless of gender or financial background, has the opportunity to continue learning.

A group of girls and women reading books and getting an education together

Standing Up Against Gender-Based Violence 🛡️

Gender-based violence (GBV) continues to be a global issue, and women and girls are its primary victims. It is important to empower women and girls to fight back against GBV and create a safe space for themselves and the next generation.

🌟 Waris Dirie is a Somali activist, former model and author who has become the voice against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She recounted her story of undergoing FGM when she was five years old. This experience propelled her to start her foundation, raising awareness worldwide and accelerating the fight against FGM.

🌟 The group V-Day, founded by Eve Ensler, has been fighting tirelessly to end violence against women and girls through various initiatives and awareness campaigns. Their One Billion Rising campaign is a perfect example of mobilizing women and girls to demand action against GBV.

A woman standing up and protecting another woman, representing empowerment and solidarity

Conclusion

The women and girls we have celebrated have broken stereotypes, shattered glass ceilings, and inspired generations of women to realize their potential and stand up for themselves. Empowering women and girls is not only necessary for creating gender equality but also for driving economic growth and prosperity. Let us all play our part in supporting and empowering women and girls to create a better world.

A group of diverse women and girls standing together, symbolizing empowering and support