I don’t know how many of us have but I most certainly have realised that not a single story I read growing up featured a girl who took her destiny in her own hands and made something on her own without the help of a prince, a brother or a mouse. By the time girls reach elementary school they already have less confidence than boys.
Why is that? They say that “If you can see it, you can be it.” But what happens when you never see someone like you making the headlines? What happens when all that you see around you is movies, cartoons books and TV shows dominated by men? And this is where Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, creators of the viral video, “Cinderfella” come in.
They decided they had to do something about this situation. That is how “Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls” came into creation. One hundred stories of real women who have achieved incredible things, despite all odds. Astronauts, chefs, painters, judges, tennis players extraordinary women who have changed and are changing the course of history in every field imaginable. It’s the book they wish they had when they were children and undoubtedly I do too. Get it for your daughter, your niece, your friend’s daughter. Every girl you know deserves to grow up thinking that she can be anything she wants.
From pharaoh Cleopatra to the warrior queen Lakshmi Bai, from fashion designer Coco Chanel to boxer Mary Kom, extraordinary women populate this book. The 100 stories include that of former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama; novelist Jane Austen; artist Frida Kahlo; and tennis champion Serena Williams. Alongside their short biographies are their portrait illustrations created by 60 female artists from around the world.
The parameters for choosing the featured women were clear in the minds of the authors.
“We wanted to feature women from as many countries as possible, because children’s media productions lack diversity not just in terms of gender, but also in terms of race, sexual orientation, and religious background” says Favilli.
We need to understand how important it is for girls to grow up surrounded by female role models. It helps them to be more confident and set bigger goals. 95% of the books and TV shows we grow up with, lack girls in prominent positions.
But, by any means, read these stories to your sons! It is crucial that they learn to identify and empathize also with female heroes! The stories in the book are a great source of inspiration for anyone, female or male, child or adult.