Though we may be in the twenty-first century, the value of women is still not viewed as equal to that of their male counterparts. If a woman is independent and strong-minded, she is seen as bossy and domineering; but if a man employs those qualities, he is labeled as a natural-born leader. Ladies, when you're feeling down or discouraged about the gender gap, look over these words of wisdom from the women who came before us.
"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!'" -Audrey Hepburn
Just because something seems challenging doesn't mean it will be impossible. Never let difficulty or adversity prevent you from chasing the desires of your heart.
"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass." -Maya Angelou
Nothing is going to be handed to you on a silver platter, but that doesn't mean it will never happen. Life is hard. It's up to you to go out and fight for the things that matter to you. So follow Ms. Angelou's advice and go kick some booty.
"We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced." -Malala Yousafzai
Malala is the ultimate feminist, fighting for women's rights in an extremist culture where women are barely viewed as human. She is a strong example to all that oppression is never acceptable, and in the case that it does occur, we must fight against its instigators.
"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit other because of your own limited imagination." -Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to go to space. She found success because she never allowed others to limit her goals and ambitions. We should all follow her example, and extend that gift to others.
"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." -Katharine Hepburn
Rules are important, but sometimes they're meant to be broken. Don't let yourself be restricted pointless guidelines that may prevent you from pursuing your dreams, or just having a good time.
"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends." -J.K. Rowling
Sometimes the people who are closest to you can be the most toxic. It does not make you a bad person to stand up for yourself, even though it may seem like it when you're pushing back against someone you care about.
"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud." -Coco Chanel
You are your own person. You have a mind of your own, a voice of your own. Don't be afraid to use them.
"A woman is like a tea bag - you don't know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." -Eleanor Roosevelt
Adversity exposes your true character. You never know your true strength until you have to use it.
