My Favourite Females

Thursday the 8th of March is International Women's day. 2018 seems to be the year of the woman, with the 'me too' campaign taking storm and hundreds of influential ladies wearing black at the awards to represent that enough is enough in terms of gender inequality. It's pretty difficult not to feel inspired at a time like this. I spent the majority of my teenage years with an abhorrent attitude to anything involving feminism, not wanting to seem like a hairy legged lesbian that wasn't attractive to the boys I pined after. I try not to be someone who holds regret, but the way I used to act about feminism is awful. In recent years it is women who have driven me to reach my goals, and femininity that has helped me find confidence, and feminism which has made me a stronger individual. Being a feminist doesn't make me a man-hater, it just makes me a woman who wants the best for my fellow females. But, obviously, I am not a politician equipped to start a debate over the definition of feminism. Instead, to celebrate the day of the lady, I would like to list all my favourite females who, for reasons great and small, have made the world a better place to be.

Katharine Baker

I know everyone says their Mum is an inspiration, but I believe that's just a testament to how amazing women can be. SO, I'm going to be that cliche and tell you why my Mum is the greatest. First of all if someone's coming to the Baker household it is very rarely just to see me, but also to eat some of Katharine's delicious cake. She has the power to be kind to every single human, including a long list of my dodgy ex-boyfriends and my sometimes abrasive, but always adorable, Father. She has pulled me through an eating disorder, 5 years of all girls school, and pushed me every day to remember that I'm better than the person I've been up until now. The greatest compliment I can ever receive is how alike we look, because frankly if I look like someone who can rock being bald as well as this lady, then I'm happy. 

Sia

Sia Furler is someone who I fell in love with for her talent and then, subsequently, discovered what an incredibly strong woman she is. Her music is rooted in the pain which she experienced overcoming a serious substance addiction, which has in fact made her voice what it is today. Severe vocal chord damage from her days as an addict is what creates this woman's raspy, but absolutely stunning, voice. And on top of that, she sings about the trials she's been through. For someone to make a career on their past demons, while not letting it cause relapse or the glamorisation of addiction and depression, is incredible. If I had to sing every day with the voice I destroyed with cocaine I would break down in tears. But Sia takes her past mistakes and creates the person she is today. She is one of my favourite women for her ability the best out of a harrowing situation. 

My Emily's

It was pretty confusing growing up having my best friend and my sister both be called Emily. So the Emily you're always with isn't your sister? But your sister Emily is also your best friend? But, to be honest, both are equally family and friend to me now, and my extremely biased opinion means they are up there with the likes of Sia and Lady Gaga in my eyes. 

Firstly they've put up with me for 21 years. Secondly they follow their dreams with reckless abandon, and are flourishing in each of their profession's like you wouldn't believe. Emily B is working on a UN funded enviromental project and Emily N has got into the Royal Academy of Dance to become a teacher. And both of them aren't even 25. Not only this but they both make me happier than I could have ever imagined every day, and I thank them both for sticking by me but, most importantly, sticking up for themselves and achieving absolute happiness and success. 

Frances McDormand

It is totally impossible to get away from this gal at the minute, what with her winning awards left right and centre. The way that she got every single female nominee to stand up at the awards during her acceptance speech made my heart burst for feminism. McDormand typifies that we are not a mass group of woman fighting for the fall of men, but a group of individuals wanting equality for ourselves. Her role in Three Billboards evokes that strength can be found within femininity, and her beahviour at the Oscars and the BAFTAS has been truly inspiring in a sector that is dominated by sexism and abuse of power. Frances McDormand takes the power she has a famous actress, and shows us that it is a power we all possess, but simply need to embrace. 

Lauren Barker

Loz is a friend who I rarely see, but always remains in my heart as a driving force. Loz did not grow up in the greatest circumstances, but like my beloved Sia, she made the best of what she had and has been a ray of sunshine in my life for the past 6 years. I have never known someone capable of such optimism when the world is crashing down around them. Loz can be piss drunk but still have her to-do list smashed out the next day. She is the only the person I know who went through adolescence needing no one but herself, being my rock and my idol throughout. She's been an independent woman from day one, and I admire her for that every day. 

Margaret Atwood

A huge name in the feminist world, Margaret Atwood explores every corner of female strength through her incredible works. I love her most out of any feminist writers because she embraces the multiple facets of femininity, what makes us strong, sexual, weak and emotional. Atwood attacks the ways in which writers have subordinated women throughout history, and creates narratives that rival the likes of the originals. She dismantled the prestige of The Odyssey in 110 pages of The Penelopiad, and gave an entire life story to the infamous Grace Marks in Alias Grace. Her intelligence and her talents astounds me with every page I read, and I dream to one day be the inspiration to young women that Margaret Atwood is to me.