![]() ![]() ![]() The glimmer in a child’s eye when they recognize themselves as important enough, valid enough, to be seen and heard by others is why representation matters. Do you remember the viral photo of little Parker Curry gazing up at the portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama in awe as she recognized a woman of power and grace who looked much more like her than the previous 43 portraits? This spontaneous photo touched so many people because without saying anything, it says everything. It’s such a simple concept, and yet it holds an incredible measure of meaning. In recent years we’ve seen the growing commonality of the phrase: Representation Matters. The progress made in media representation is nothing small to celebrate. We are consuming stories created by previously silenced voices. We see characters who represent sexual orientations and gender identifications that go beyond the standardized hetero and cis character. We see topics of sexism and inequality discussed and challenged in mass media, and the demystification of Feminism and clarity of what it truly stands for. In a welcome contrast, today we see leading ladies of color, stories written and told from female perspectives, roles that celebrate the multifaceted woman. Mere decades ago the representation of women in media was summarized by heteronormative cisgender whiteness and relegated to the margins, pigeonholed into superficial and misogynistic roles, with entry into the writer’s room barricaded. If we consider the evolution of women’s roles in entertainment throughout history, there is no denying the immense progress and diversification that has occurred. It should be normal.In the words of the late, great, and deeply missed Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg: “ Women belong everywhere where decisions are being made.”Īs we wrap up the month of March, and Women’s History Month along with it, we’d like to reflect upon progress made and to be made still. “Women in business should not be a ‘cause’. “We’re kind of led to believe that you have to be exceptional to be a woman running a business,” she said. “Sometimes you need other people to believe in you, because you don’t always believe in yourself.”Ĭowzer looked forward to the day when women running businesses was not seen as something exceptional. While there have been some “really dark days”, especially in the wake of Ireland’s financial crisis, and she said she often feels like she is “winging it”, the biggest risk she took was walking into her bank branch that Monday morning.īuilding a team of smart and talented people to support you is critical, O’Hagan said. She “gave it socks” they gave her the money. At the age of 26, she wanted to buy a pharmacy she had previously worked for on Baggot Street, but to do so she had to match an IR£2 million offer from an international chain.Īt the age of 26, “with no money” and some student debt, O’Hagan walked into a bank with a business plan, “not having known what a business plan was two months earlier”. ![]() The risks and rewards of going out on your own were also exemplified by Oonagh O’Hagan, the managing director and owner of Meaghers Pharmacy. “Change is coming, but it is coming very slowly.” The same thing is starting to happen here, she said. While acting roles have traditionally tended to dry up for women once they reach the age of 40 – “like a tap being turned off” – Carroll has been encouraged by the number of prominent Hollywood women who have “taken matters into their own hands” and set up production companies. Her preference is to work early in the morning, "when there isn't that white noise of social media". Writing is different, she said, as everyone has their own voice, and the battle is to carve out time to get it done. In acting, it is a fact that only one person can get the part. “It’s an unusual passion, but it is my passion.”Īuthor and actor Claudia Carroll said her experience of auditioning for roles had taught her that "rejection isn't the worst thing". Her inspirational moment came when she realised the world of waxing, having seen few developments since the 1970s, had become “the ugly duckling of the beauty world” and there was space for her products to disrupt the industry. "I know it's not every girl's dream to be ripping out people's hair," she joked, "but I was good at it." “For women in particular, I’m not convinced we ever feel ready.”Įllen Kavanagh, chief executive and creator of wax brand Waxperts, highlighted the importance of loving what you do. Keane implored attendees to grasp opportunities as they became available. Are you being used? Or are you getting support back?"įrankness ran through the speeches by a panel of five high-achieving women. "We have to consider saying no sometimes," said Sarah Keane, president of the Olympic Council of Ireland and chief executive of Swim Ireland. ![]()
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