The Women Who Changed 2020 For The Better
Progress is measured one success at a time
After the year we’ve had, we can use a reminder that not everything is lost when there continue to be women who speak up on behalf of those who cannot. There are still women who believe in equality despite our differences, in the freedom of choice, speech and movement, in the possibility to progress further as united human beings above all.
Here are some of the women who changed 2020 for the better. I’m sure there must be thousands, millions more out there that are fighting every day to create a safer, more unified and equal space for thriving, regardless of one’s gender, status, age, nationality, race, and so on.
Kamala Harris
The next in line to be Vice President of America became a new face of hope for women around the world. Her positive, approachable side is just one of many reasons. Making history as the first Black person and first South Asian American person to be elected to the role, she represents a role model for those of different nationalities and difficult upbringing that may have experienced racism and discrimination to never stop believing that inclusion is a basic human right, that peace is the way forward.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
When AOC isn’t advocating for democracy, she’s playing Twitch educating the younger generations why their vote is so precious and needed. A symbol of hope and new beginnings, AOC is unapologetically redefining what it means to be a female leader. Using social media as a platform to speak to everyone willing to listen, she is also out on the streets, hearing the people’s stories that our leaders have ignored for too long.
Michaela Coel
Life is what happens to you when you make plans. Not all that happens to us is good. Michaela Coel, otherwise known for her comedy, goes on another honest, personal quest to get to the bottom of sexual injustice any person could experience in their lifetime. I May Destroy You shows that we are all complicit when bad things happen, because we’ve been silent — and conditioned to believe in a world that doesn’t exist — for too long.
Jameela Jamil
Call it privilege, body positivity, racial prejudice, mental health: Jameela Jamil has spoken for each of those and more in every interview she does, I Weigh is more than a podcast — it’s a community. Her work is personal, inspiring and brings another layer of unity to today’s divisive world
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Great storytelling is at the heart of any metamorphosis. Shows like Fleabag remind us that there are great female voices in comedy and in TV that deserve our absolute attention for they’re telling truth to power (aka the patriarchy) and society’s expectations of women.
Women can now speak openly about their desires without being burnt at the stake, which is nice. Back in the day horny women were to be feared and now they’re given Emmys.
She also happens to be the creator of Killing Eve. Watch her SNL monologue.
Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern has served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand since 2017 and she just won her re-election following an ultra successful first term. Today we are all looking up to New Zealand’s PM for courage, strength and inspiration. Jacinda Ardern is praised for her words and actions, because she doesn’t spend time making promises — she simply changes the world.
Reni Eddo-Lodge
One of the most important books in 21st century, as both critics and readers have defined it, Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, gained monumental popularity around the world in the year that will soon be behind us. First published in 2017, the book alerts to the racism, prejudice and white privilege that shape life beyond our conscious understanding, simply because we’ve been conditioned to view the world in a certain way, since the they we were born, which is not always the right way. Reni created an essential read for everyone who is willing to learn more about history, such as the often-overlooked history of slavery in Britain, in order to understand and avoid the mistakes of the past.
Katherine Ryan
Katherine Ryan is many things, including the creator of The Dutches, one of the funniest shows you can binge-watch in a day on Netflix. The work she’s doing to raise awareness of so many pressing female topics, such as sharing her own experience of miscarriage, undergoing mental health issues and/or enhancement surgeries, and raising a child as a single mother, make her an essential voice in the fight for equality.
Rihanna
The body positivity movement continues with Rihanna’s latest Savage x Fenty collection. Her message is clear: love your curves, bones and ribs, in whatever shape and size they may be. Rihanna’s fight for inclusivity and appreciation of our differences, internal or external, is definitely worth mentioning and exploring.
Your attitude is what makes you savage, as RiRi preaches to the audience.
Sarah Cooper
If you’ve not heard of Sarah Cooper, then I suppose you’ve not been paying much attention to Twitter. Rising from a TikTok sensation to getting her own Netflix special in a matter of months, Sarah Cooper took the world of comedy by surprise. Everything’s Fine is the name of her show. As a fan of the dark arts (AKA the dark humour), you’re bound to enjoy it. I’m secretly hoping this is the last we’ll hear of Trump, even if her impersonations are 100% spot on.
Alicia Keys
The singer continues to lead the no-make up revolution, one you’d think isn’t that big of a deal, yet in the age of digital alterations and cosmetic surgeries boom, it’s a fight as important as ever. Alicia’s #nomakeup journey is not one many will commit to, especially the faces we see on TV. Come to think of it, most of the people we look up to from the big and small screen all try to cover up their imperfections, the signs of aging — hell, even global male leaders wear make up.
“I don’t want to cover up anymore. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. Nothing.”
Alicia Keys remains an inspiration that one day we might be ready to embrace our real human imperfect side and use our time to love, not hate ourselves, just the way we are.
Melissa Blake
To be brave nowadays is to post a selfie without makeup and filters. To look in the mirror and really smile at the eyes staring back at you. To love yourself beyond imperfections and the body that your momma gave ya. A year ago, Melissa Blake posted three selfies of her true, authentic self that changed her life forever. Today Melissa Blake is not fighting just on behalf of people with disabilities, but on behalf of humanity.
Zendaya
The stories worth talking about are not only written by brilliant women, but also played by them in an unforgettable fashion. The young star, Zendaya, takes us on a troublesome but absolutely captivating journey in the ambitious project by HBO. Euphoria looks at and raises awareness of many pressing issues that teenagers are facing today, from mental health issues, drug abuse and changing one’s gender. A much needed reminder for young people that life’s bound to get tough at times, and that’s okay, for we’re never truly alone.
Meghan Markle
The Duchess of Susses deserves an award just for withstanding the constant hate and abuse from the press for being a woman — an educated woman of colour and talent, who also happens to be married to Prince Harry. Meghan has long been a role model for girls, perhaps since her acting career kicked off and earlier, but today her strength fuels a spark of optimism for all of us who believe in equal rights, regardless of marital, financial and social status.
Lizzo
Her name has become synonymous with talent, female power and strength. The singer quickly stole the spotlight with her absolute body positivity portrayal that stood out as untypical of today’s society that continues to condition women to believe that only a particular set of body measurements are sexy — acceptable. Did I also mention her unquestionable honesty that blends perfectly with her many talents to deliver some of the real-est music we’ve heard in recent years!
Chrissy Teigen
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. When Chrissy Teigen showed the world a picture of her stillborn son, the world stood still. But not for long. It was as if the portrayal of loss and mourning was too much for people to handle. They wanted to see the shiny side of being a celebrity, not the human element that we all share. As we often observe with fans, they only adore the idea of people, for they can’t see through their idols. But idols are people with flaws, losses, imperfections, just like the rest of us.
The miracle of life must come at the price of imperfections. If we cannot accept and embrace the idea of miscarriage as part of life, then we are missing the point of what it means to be human, to be alive.
Naomi Osaka
The 22-year-old won her second U.S. Open this year, but her powerful presence extended outside the world of tennis. Naomi made consistent political statements with her face masks in defence of the Black Lives Matter protests going around the world. While her actions faced inevitable backlash, she remained clear on her message that politics is in everything we do & not bringing it into sports would be against our global fight for democracy, which by definition excludes racism.
Cate Blanchett
We might be doomed to repeat history after all. In HBO’s Mrs America, Cate Blanchett introduced us to the story of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, who fought against the Equal Rights Amendment movement during the 1970s. One can’t help but notice the similarities between Mrs Schlafly and the newly appointed to the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett. Then again Phyllis was a self-made woman, whereas Amy’s merely a pawn in the hands of a man slowly but surely losing his power. But kudos to Cate Blanchett for doing this project and committing to exposing the truth in such a critical time in history.
Cardi B & Meghan Thee Stallion, ‘WAP’
A song can’t make a difference, but it did raise the alarm. Cardi B and Meghan Thee Stallion might not be your average role models, but neither should be men who preach ‘grab them by the pussy’.
While ‘WAP’ might not be an appropriate educational song, it offers another point of view. Women are not silent. Women have a mind of their own, full of fears, hopes and desires. Women are powerful.
Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris
A talk show that knows no limits. With three female hosts, the Red Table Talk has initiated some important and interesting conversation around identity, belonging and relationships. Uncomfortable, honest, necessary. We need more conversations around how to live together with our differences — let’s face it, we all see the world differently, even if it’s just minor details that we simply can’t acknowledge — and it starts with the people we know best to open our mindset further.
Janelle Monáe
The space of culture can hold all the premise of revolutionary change. As one of the most creative activists today, Janelle Monáe keeps on exploring her own music style with a clear messaging for humanity with Turntables: it’s time for a change.
Electing Biden as America’s next President just might be the starting point!
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
To be a woman in a man’s world means to pave the way for other women to join the fight for equality. Ruth Bader Ginsburg did for future females more than generations of women could — perhaps they paved the way for her, defending the rights of women everywhere in the world until her last breath.
The #WomenTalking Takeaway
We must remember 2020 as the year when Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed the ball to women in power like Kamala Harris and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to continue the pursuit of equality and encourage a more open-minded thinking globally.
We must remember that not every woman in a position of power is fighting on behalf of all women. Some women have their own agenda, their own personal interests — a privilege that they would like to keep for themselves.
We must remember to keep questioning the people in power when their words do not match their actions and vice versa.
But for as long as there are women who fight against the patriarchy (and don’t just blend in it), there will be hope for better, more equal days for all of humanity. For the women who really fight on behalf of other women, in fact, fight on behalf of all minorities.
If you enjoyed this article, keep an eye on my column Women Talking for more stories on how women are changing the world. 💃
