I often see #goals and #rolemodel tacked on to an instagram post by some Australian swim wear model staring off into some exotic breathtaking sunset. And I’m not condemning anybody here, I’m just pointing out how unfortunate the situation is, that in 2015 women and girls are still pressured to value their body as the pinnacle of their existence. I mean god forbid a women be more than her body, am I right?
I’m no stranger to this concept, I used to do it too, seek out my role model on the sole way that she looked. But all of that changed when I discovered Marie Curie in grade 9 Science class. She was one of those “Did You Know” bubbles at the bottom left page of a textbook with a pencil scribbled on by students from years past thinking that a pencil moustache was real comedy. I googled her and I was shocked by how much crap she had to deal with simply because she was a woman (at this point I was aware of inequality, but I was completely unaware of the fundamental sexism rooted in history). If Marie Curie had instagram, I would comment #GOALS on every single on of her photos. I love her. Despite the gaggle of criticism and hatred around her she preserved and opened the doors of science and academia to other women. And because of Marie Curie, I’ve moved on to look into other women of science and fields of high intellect as my source of inspiration. I value their perseverance, their strength, bravery, and their ability to believe in themselves.
So nowadays I tell all the little girls I meet about May-Britt-Moser (a recent nobel prize winner in physiology) or Ada Lovelace. I try to tell them that these are role models. These are people we should aspire to be. Then again I’m probably that weird lecture-y 18 year old cousin that won’t stop talking, but maybe in 10 years in 9th grade science class they’ll stumble onto a page with a women who makes them realize there is more to life than the way we look.