To mark International Women’s Day, Queenswood’s Academic Scholars were tasked with researching a female role model and justifying their choice.

LUCIE B (YEAR 9): J.K. ROWLING

I think that J.K. Rowling is a good advocate for other women because she has proved that if you persevere, it pays off. She managed to go from a single mother living on benefits to a multimillionaire author whose books have been sold more than 500 million times over the course of just a few years. She has also created a large franchise, which includes 8 films, several Harry Potter theme parks and a very popular stage-production of Harry Potter and the cursed child. She is also the president of a charity, Gingerbread, and helps write children’s stories to help one parent households.

AMELIA M (YEAR 8): BILLIE EILISH

I think that Billie Eilish is a role model to so many young women in today’s society. She is astronomically successful for her age, inspirational and aspirational for women today, with commercial success. The lyrics she writes speak to millennials about issues relevant to their lives whilst she also addresses topics in her music, such as global warming, which have universal appeal.

Eilish has personal challenges with Tourette’s Syndrome and Synaesthesia and in overcoming this neurodiversity, she has demonstrated to young women that you can rise above the challenges you are born into. Her androgynous dress sense is not a typical image for female singers who care about body image and looks. She demonstrates to young women that you can dress to please yourself, and not as society expects you to look.

In a recent interview, Eilish said, ‘anyone is allowed to wear whatever they want’. She continues to speak against female body shaming and how women should not be afraid to be themselves just because there is a ‘typical female image’ in society today: she said, ‘all women are beautiful’ (Instagram Story, International Women’s Day 2018).

MEYIWA W (YEAR 12): SERENA WILLIAMS

Serena Williams’ career alone acts as a source of inspiration for women – especially black women. Throughout her career she was racially attacked for her physique and appearance. Her perseverance to become one of the best tennis players to walk this earth in a traditionally white sport acts as inspiration to thousands of women.

Serena Williams has taught millions of black women who are often overlooked and disregarded by society to persevere. She has taught them that no matter how society appears to think of you, only your opinion matters.

Through the years she has inspired me to both understand and appreciate adversity, and to properly cope with racism as a Black Woman. Though she may not chair any boards or be the founder of any charities, she has done more for women of colour than many could say.

ABBY S (YEAR 11): OPRAH WINFREY

I think that Oprah meets the criteria. Not only is she so inspiring for young girls and her achievements speak for themselves but she has also done some amazing advocate work for women and their rights. She was a powerful driving force in the drafting, lobbying and passage of the National Child Protection Act in America, which was signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. The act creates a national registry of child abusers to help employers and child-centred services screen dangerous people. In 2002, she started The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa because she wanted to give the girls of South Africa a chance at an education. She said, ‘I wanted to create a leadership academy because I feel strongly that women’s leadership can reshape the world.’ In 1998 she formed the public charity Oprah’s Angel Network to help underprivileged women and children rise to their full potential. In partnership with other organisations, the Angel Network has built over 55 schools in 12 countries, provided more than $1 million in school supplies to South African children and helped rebuild 300 homes affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The organisation also helps to empower young people to be global citizens, provides books to underprivileged communities, and provides grants to organisations that provide women with life-changing assistance.

ELIZABETH J (YEAR 10): ELIZABETH I

I have chosen Elizabeth the First to be the woman that I think is an excellent advocate for other women.

First of all, she was an amazing ruler. She was firm (some would say cruel) but she had a very high success rate. She used her status as a woman to benefit her and the kingdom; she had countless suitors that would travel over land and sea to bring her exotic foods and chests of gold. However, she did not let people perceptions of women ruin her ruling and support.

She had several ‘scandalous’ affairs with many lords but was said to never show shame - which people would assume; she always held her head high. She did not allow her male advisors to take over and she had clear control over her subjects and assets.

Another way in which she ‘broke the rules of women’, is that she didn’t have a husband. Despite her numerable suitors and propositions of allies, she never married anyone, instead, declaring herself married to her country, saying that she could rule the nation better unattached and giving all of her attention to it.

At the same time as showing her ‘manly’ (successful) handling of her homeland, she also embraced her femininity, she set many fashion trends throughout her reign:

• Having a large forehead – which was said to display intelligence
• Having red hair - people were said to use urine to dye their own hair to look like the Queen
• Increased the popularity of ruffs
• And she had an infinite amount of beautiful dresses

She also played a large role in the shaping English language as it is today. Her attendance at – and enthusiasm for – Shakespeare’s plays increased their popularity and the new words that Shakespeare invented.

Her rule was so successful that some historians have theorised that she was actually a trans man; she never married, almost always wore ruffs (which could haveve disguised a voice box), had a strong stature, was demanding and was never argued with (or at least not for long).

In my opinion, she is an amazing advocate for women; she showed everyone that one could be both feminine and an amazing, strong leader.