We have all had that moment, day, or chapter in life where it feels like the world is against us. This feeling seems to double for young women in our world full of gender inequality and casual sexism. That’s if you’re lucky… Other girls face child marriage and gender-based violence. Sometimes it feels easier to just give up and accept the current situation we face.
I recently thought this when I saw my alma mater announce that the current pay gap reduced from 19% to 15.5%. The University of Liverpool celebrated this gender pay gap report for 2019, because it is 2% below the national UK Gender Pay Gap for 2019. However, this means female staff are still not equally represented in the Univerity’s senior positions. Why is that and is there much hope for the future?
Yet, what kind of life would it be without the hope for something better? There have been so many inspirational women who have already fought and created paths for us. Helen Keller was one of these women. She was the first deaf-blind person to ever earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Helen Keller faced unimaginable challenges, but she still became a political activist, lecturer, and prolific author. She was not afraid to campaign for causes that she believed in. Helen protested for women’s suffrage, labour rights, socialism, antimilitarism, and more. In 1971, her achievements were commemorated by her induction into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame.
In today’s world, it is important to remember Helen Keller’s inspirational statement, “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.” We must remain optimistic and hopeful, as change is only possible through positivity and determination. We must believe in a better, more equal world in order to make it happen.
-Charlotte Jordan
Junior Girl
Girl Museum Inc.