Written by the excellent Lyla Schmidt from our blogger team.
Many people when they are young are asked who inspires them, and I can guarantee you that nearly everyone said their favourite celebrity at some point. But what makes a good role model and inspiration? As a feminist I believe and stand for women empowering women. I have thought long and hard about the women who inspire me and there are way more than this but I have narrowed it down to 3… well, 4 –
1. My mum and grandma
Now I know this is clichéd but my mother for a long time was a single mum holding down the fort on her own. She doesn’t take anyone’s excuses and she is who I want to be when I’m older. She taught me to change a tyre and how to cook. My grandmother is very similar. She was the woman who accepts everyone the best she can, no matter what. She is the woman who taught me to use a sewing machine and she used to feed the neighbours’ goats with me. When her partner of many years passed in 2013 she was resilient and she made me realise that it is ok to be vulnerable but not to let anyone exploit that vulnerability. Both these women have given me tools to manage my issues head on through hardships. These women shaped me into the young woman I am today. They told me to follow my dreams and not be ashamed of who I am.
2. Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby
For those who don’t know about Hannah Gadsby, she is an Australian comedian and open lesbian from Tasmania. She inspires me as she grew up in a time when many people were extremely homophobic and she still celebrates her sexuality and is extremely funny on top of that. She has two Netflix exclusives called Nanette and Douglas and in my humble opinion they are amazing.
3. Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson was a black trans woman who fought for LGBT rights during the Stonewall crisis; this led to the creation of Pride Month. Her actions are so inspiring to me as she risked her life by being trans, gay and a woman of colour. Her death was a tragedy and her legacy is amazing. If you want to learn more about her and her life, watch the documentary on Netflix, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. It is one of the best documentaries that I have ever watched, and given recent events such as Pride Fall and Black Lives Matter movements, I think that now is as good a time as any to spread her message.
Featured images from Netflix.