“We have to change the way our society views women.” –Aly Raisman, ESPN Magazine
Maroon 5 & Cardi B’s “Girls Like You” got me thinking. This masterpiece of videography includes various women who have inspired millions. These include familiar faces, such as Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, J-Lo, Ellen DeGeneres. But some faces aren’t so familiar. The video draws a curious viewer like myself to ponder “who’s that woman?” and search it up on Google; as a result, I’ve learned about a few amazing women I’ve haven’t really heard of elsewhere.
“Girls Like You” by Maroon 5 feat. Cardi B (video directed by David Dobkin)
Ilhan Omar: the first Somali-American Muslim legislator to be elected to office in the United States.
Amani Al-Khatahtbeh: author, tech-entrepreneur and founder of MuslimGirl, an online magazine for Muslim women.
Jackie Fielder: an activist and organizer for Mazaska Talks in solidarity for Standing Rock.
Chloe Kim: just kidding, of course I know who she is already. Also, I’m so glad they included Tiffany Haddish here.
(This article from Billboard helps.)
Aly Raisman: Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastics, and one of the heroes who spoke out in the case against sexual abuser Jeffrey Nasser. Adam Levine holds her hand in the video, and she stands tall wearing a shirt that says “Always Speak Your Truth.” My god-family LOVES watching Olympic gymnastics for some reason, so I already knew about her and the Fierce Five in the 2012 London Olympics. But this woman is a hero not only in her athletic accomplishments; she continues to be a heroic voice- “challenging the very institutions she led to glory” (Mina Kimes, ESPN). And in my humble opinion, everyone should hear her truth.
(I just received this month’s ESPN magazine in the mail, and this article. “Aly Raisman Takes the Floor,” by Mina Kimes is worth the read.)
Maybe I sound like a broken record. Maybe I’m not the best voice regarding this because as a male, I don’t completely understand how much more difficult it is for it to be a woman in this world.
But NO. I shouldn’t shut up because it’s repetitive. I shouldn’t stay quiet because it’s uncomfortable to talk about the constant mistreatment of women throughout the history of mankind.
Women deserve to be celebrated, and they deserve equality in voice, salary, and everything else. That’s why I love what Maroon 5 did with their recent hit “Girls Like You.” With a simple video, they’ve opened the door for us viewers to learn more about a number of fantastic, inspiring women.
But it shouldn’t stop there. To finish my typed monologue, I’m going to share about three amazing women who have inspired my life greatly.
I grew up with a strong-willed mother. My father never looked down at her; rather, they stood side-by-side and provided an amazing childhood for me and my brother. She is my hero.
My first video game was Backyard Soccer, through which Brandi Chastain became my favorite soccer player. Really. I’m serious; my dad would record her US pro soccer games. The San Jose CyberRays.
My favorite teacher in high school was Mrs. Gall, a former computer engineer who became a teacher because she loved inspiring young minds. As a kid, I was always hesitant to follow my father’s footsteps as a computer scientist, because I wanted to do something “cooler.” In short, Mrs. Gall helped inspire me and guide me throughout high school and discover my own interest in computer science.
If you’re still reading this for some reason (I don’t think many people actually read my blog), I challenge you to write down at least 3 inspiring women in your life. It doesn’t have to be a blog post- it could be in your journal, or even a note on your phone.
Because Aly is completely right: we have to change the way our society views women.”
Matthew Lau 