That Barbie girl/ LOH contest #144

…I'm very feminist in the way I look at the world, and that worldview must somehow be part of my work."

There are lots of societal complexities and expectations that limit women's ability to express themselves fully and seeing women who have strived to achieve leadership positions gives me the Barbie girl feeling.

My mentor in this aspect of woman leadership is the lady Chimamanda Adichie. She has written novels, short stories and nonfiction. Ever since I read her book "A feminist manifesto in fifteen suggestions", I've loved every inch of her. She's a sixteen honorary doctorate degree owner, she's bold, daring and everything I need in a mentor.

The book aforementioned has imparted my life so much, it brought me to limelight and made me make decisions that today are working greatly in my favor. If I'm to give a brief background information of this author, you'll learn that she grew up in an African home and at a time when women weren't really regarded in social gatherings but were only known to be caregivers and home keepers. Despite having an educated "mother", there were still limitations to the rights of women at that time. She fought hard to stand out, she wrote and when edited books at a young age. Books that pierced the hearts of men, she got lots of critics but none of those stopped her because she was on a journey to change the ill view the world has about women.

She's actively using her writings, to teach and enlighten young women to come out from their shells and reject likeability as one of the suggestions in her book aforementioned states. Accepting likeability at this time is limiting and would drag many women to the ground instead of lifting them. I love Adichie so much because she has proved that critics shouldn't be anyone's stopping point. Critics will come because as we all know, the truth is bitter.

Many men hate the truth and seeing women get on stages, trashing issues and walking down with people applauding feels like a pin slid in their necks. I really don't know why it makes some of them feel inferior but it is what it is. Women will keep getting enlightened, through books, through leadership programs etc and we'll keep raising our voices. We're not quitters. Personally, I love the Barbie girl vibe, confidence despite critics is the goal.