when we asked 16 young women of color from all over the US and their senior
from all over the US and their senior
from all over the US and their senior years of high school with their thoughts
years of high school with their thoughts
years of high school with their thoughts and feelings on making an impact on the
and feelings on making an impact on the
and feelings on making an impact on the world work this is what some of them
world work this is what some of them
world work this is what some of them told us notice as I read these quotes
told us notice as I read these quotes
told us notice as I read these quotes the metaphor of journey that they evoke
the metaphor of journey that they evoke
the metaphor of journey that they evoke my track is very curvy and bumpy but
my track is very curvy and bumpy but
my track is very curvy and bumpy but that doesn’t really scare me because I
that doesn’t really scare me because I
that doesn’t really scare me because I know I’m going to make it somehow I feel
know I’m going to make it somehow I feel
know I’m going to make it somehow I feel like a shooting star that just comes out
like a shooting star that just comes out
like a shooting star that just comes out of nowhere and just shines
of nowhere and just shines
of nowhere and just shines I’ll come out of nowhere and accomplish
I’ll come out of nowhere and accomplish
I’ll come out of nowhere and accomplish my goals
my goals
my goals people just underestimate me because
people just underestimate me because
people just underestimate me because they don’t see my motivation but we were
they don’t see my motivation but we were
they don’t see my motivation but we were more interested in understanding their
more interested in understanding their
more interested in understanding their experience and perceptions beyond what
experience and perceptions beyond what
experience and perceptions beyond what is just revealed in plain conversation
is just revealed in plain conversation
is just revealed in plain conversation which is why we use the emit a patented
which is why we use the emit a patented
which is why we use the emit a patented metaphor elicitation technique that’s
metaphor elicitation technique that’s
metaphor elicitation technique that’s been used all over the world to reveal
been used all over the world to reveal
been used all over the world to reveal the deeper unconscious meanings behind
the deeper unconscious meanings behind
the deeper unconscious meanings behind the metaphorical images we ask them to
the metaphorical images we ask them to
the metaphorical images we ask them to bring in to represent to represent those
bring in to represent to represent those
bring in to represent to represent those thoughts and feelings these are some of
thoughts and feelings these are some of
thoughts and feelings these are some of their images at surface level these
their images at surface level these
their images at surface level these girls described images that represented
girls described images that represented
girls described images that represented their ambition to change their
their ambition to change their
their ambition to change their communities and the world they saw
communities and the world they saw
communities and the world they saw themselves as the heroes of their own
themselves as the heroes of their own
themselves as the heroes of their own narratives and they were confident in
narratives and they were confident in
narratives and they were confident in their ability to succeed however when we
their ability to succeed however when we
their ability to succeed however when we dug deeper into the imagery we saw a
dug deeper into the imagery we saw a
dug deeper into the imagery we saw a strange and rather eerie trend pretty
strange and rather eerie trend pretty
strange and rather eerie trend pretty stark contrast right so what exactly is
stark contrast right so what exactly is
stark contrast right so what exactly is going on here we’ve all heard that a
going on here we’ve all heard that a
going on here we’ve all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words and
picture is worth a thousand words and
picture is worth a thousand words and while that saying is cliche research and
while that saying is cliche research and
while that saying is cliche research and cognitive psychology suggests that these
cognitive psychology suggests that these
cognitive psychology suggests that these women these young women chose their
women these young women chose their
women these young women chose their images based on implicit attitudes
images based on implicit attitudes
images based on implicit attitudes values and beliefs that is unconscious
values and beliefs that is unconscious
values and beliefs that is unconscious and relatively automatic features of
and relatively automatic features of
and relatively automatic features of thought let’s take a closer look at some
thought let’s take a closer look at some
thought let’s take a closer look at some of these images what do we see she
of these images what do we see she
of these images what do we see she rarely brings in images of her full body
rarely brings in images of her full body
rarely brings in images of her full body and instead her images have only
and instead her images have only
and instead her images have only disembodied hands and feet
disembodied hands and feet
disembodied hands and feet she avoids bringing in images that show
she avoids bringing in images that show
she avoids bringing in images that show her facial expressions instead choosing
her facial expressions instead choosing
her facial expressions instead choosing to turn her back to us as the viewer or
to turn her back to us as the viewer or
to turn her back to us as the viewer or by hiding behind silhouettes and shadowy
by hiding behind silhouettes and shadowy
by hiding behind silhouettes and shadowy figures she brings in images that
figures she brings in images that
figures she brings in images that represent isolated spaces and sometimes
represent isolated spaces and sometimes
represent isolated spaces and sometimes she represents herself as isolated even
she represents herself as isolated even
she represents herself as isolated even in crowded places so what does all of
in crowded places so what does all of
in crowded places so what does all of this mean when we look at these images
this mean when we look at these images
this mean when we look at these images we see a girl who feels who feels
we see a girl who feels who feels
we see a girl who feels who feels isolated from herself and detached from
isolated from herself and detached from
isolated from herself and detached from both herself in the environment and
both herself in the environment and
both herself in the environment and although we see journeys of transition
although we see journeys of transition
although we see journeys of transition in her images what’s beyond the horizon
in her images what’s beyond the horizon
in her images what’s beyond the horizon is unclear although these girls are
is unclear although these girls are
is unclear although these girls are confident in their ability to make an
confident in their ability to make an
confident in their ability to make an impact on the world they can’t they
impact on the world they can’t they
impact on the world they can’t they their future is uncertain
their future is uncertain
their future is uncertain they can’t foresee what might come after
they can’t foresee what might come after
they can’t foresee what might come after it work for them and that can be really
it work for them and that can be really
it work for them and that can be really scary these images provide rich
scary these images provide rich
scary these images provide rich metaphors for the worlds that these
metaphors for the worlds that these
metaphors for the worlds that these girls experience and they provide clues
girls experience and they provide clues
girls experience and they provide clues that may not have been otherwise
that may not have been otherwise
that may not have been otherwise revealed in plain conversation and that
revealed in plain conversation and that
revealed in plain conversation and that brings us to the bigger question what
brings us to the bigger question what
brings us to the bigger question what exactly could be standing in their way
exactly could be standing in their way
exactly could be standing in their way amongst a plethora of obstacles these
amongst a plethora of obstacles these
amongst a plethora of obstacles these girls face is one of the biggest
girls face is one of the biggest
girls face is one of the biggest problems in our society a lack of media
problems in our society a lack of media
problems in our society a lack of media representation and role models for these
representation and role models for these
representation and role models for these girls being able to identify role models
girls being able to identify role models
girls being able to identify role models in media and in reality helps these
in media and in reality helps these
in media and in reality helps these girls fulfill the futures that they
girls fulfill the futures that they
girls fulfill the futures that they dream of however positions of leadership
dream of however positions of leadership
dream of however positions of leadership visible leadership are predominately
visible leadership are predominately
visible leadership are predominately occupied by white men and some white
occupied by white men and some white
occupied by white men and some white women while minority women remain
women while minority women remain
women while minority women remain largely underrepresented in 2016 for
largely underrepresented in 2016 for
largely underrepresented in 2016 for example women made up of about 20% of
example women made up of about 20% of
example women made up of about 20% of board seats in the fortune 500
board seats in the fortune 500
board seats in the fortune 500 while minority women made up less than
while minority women made up less than
while minority women made up less than 4% in Congress women made up about 19%
4% in Congress women made up about 19%
4% in Congress women made up about 19% of the elected body while minority women
of the elected body while minority women
of the elected body while minority women made up less than 6% and although now
made up less than 6% and although now
made up less than 6% and although now women now make up about 30% of the
women now make up about 30% of the
women now make up about 30% of the science and engineering workforce women
science and engineering workforce women
science and engineering workforce women of color make up less than 10
of color make up less than 10
of color make up less than 10 of employed scientists and engineers and
of employed scientists and engineers and
of employed scientists and engineers and if you’re wondering why all of these
if you’re wondering why all of these
if you’re wondering why all of these statistics I’m throwing at you seem kind
statistics I’m throwing at you seem kind
statistics I’m throwing at you seem kind of random and unrelated it’s because for
of random and unrelated it’s because for
of random and unrelated it’s because for the most part these statistics are meant
the most part these statistics are meant
the most part these statistics are meant to cover the experience of women in
to cover the experience of women in
to cover the experience of women in general which doesn’t tell us the full
general which doesn’t tell us the full
general which doesn’t tell us the full story because a majority of these women
story because a majority of these women
story because a majority of these women leaders are white when it comes to
leaders are white when it comes to
leaders are white when it comes to minority women the numbers are much much
minority women the numbers are much much
minority women the numbers are much much lower given all of this it’s probably
lower given all of this it’s probably
lower given all of this it’s probably not surprising that the same norms are
not surprising that the same norms are
not surprising that the same norms are reflected in fiction for example when
reflected in fiction for example when
reflected in fiction for example when you think of the word hero what do you
you think of the word hero what do you
you think of the word hero what do you imagine
imagine
imagine Superman is probably one of the first
Superman is probably one of the first
Superman is probably one of the first then there’s Batman and Robin spider-man
then there’s Batman and Robin spider-man
then there’s Batman and Robin spider-man Iron Man Captain America and maybe even
Iron Man Captain America and maybe even
Iron Man Captain America and maybe even Harry Potter we do sometimes see women
Harry Potter we do sometimes see women
Harry Potter we do sometimes see women in these roles for example superwoman
in these roles for example superwoman
in these roles for example superwoman Hermione Granger Black Widow Katniss
Hermione Granger Black Widow Katniss
Hermione Granger Black Widow Katniss Everdeen and Princess Lea but what’s
Everdeen and Princess Lea but what’s
Everdeen and Princess Lea but what’s wrong with these pictures there are no
wrong with these pictures there are no
wrong with these pictures there are no minority women and they’re so seldom
minority women and they’re so seldom
minority women and they’re so seldom found in the role of hero that we may
found in the role of hero that we may
found in the role of hero that we may not even think of them when we hear the
not even think of them when we hear the
not even think of them when we hear the word when minority women are found in
word when minority women are found in
word when minority women are found in these heroic roles they’re overshadowed
these heroic roles they’re overshadowed
these heroic roles they’re overshadowed by their white counterparts take the
by their white counterparts take the
by their white counterparts take the disney world for example mulan risked
disney world for example mulan risked
disney world for example mulan risked her life and her family’s honour in
her life and her family’s honour in
her life and her family’s honour in order to save her father and end up
order to save her father and end up
order to save her father and end up saying saving all of china
saying saving all of china
saying saving all of china tiana spent hours trying to save up for
tiana spent hours trying to save up for
tiana spent hours trying to save up for her own restaurant to make her dreams a
her own restaurant to make her dreams a
her own restaurant to make her dreams a reality without any man in picture a
reality without any man in picture a
reality without any man in picture a nanny went from job to job just to keep
nanny went from job to job just to keep
nanny went from job to job just to keep the social services from taking her
the social services from taking her
the social services from taking her sister lilo away and yet anna and elsa
sister lilo away and yet anna and elsa
sister lilo away and yet anna and elsa are considered disney’s feminist icons
even in media and advertising minority
even in media and advertising minority women are underrepresented instead we
women are underrepresented instead we
women are underrepresented instead we use white mode women to represent their
use white mode women to represent their
use white mode women to represent their culture for me growing up personally I
culture for me growing up personally I
culture for me growing up personally I didn’t have any relatable role model
didn’t have any relatable role model
didn’t have any relatable role model both in media and reality and I spent
both in media and reality and I spent
both in media and reality and I spent most of my life attempting to fulfill
most of my life attempting to fulfill
most of my life attempting to fulfill the expectations of the people around me
the expectations of the people around me
the expectations of the people around me who tried to tell me what kind of life
who tried to tell me what kind of life
who tried to tell me what kind of life and career goals
and career goals
and career goals I should have based on my gender and
I should have based on my gender and
I should have based on my gender and ethnicity I hated not only being a
ethnicity I hated not only being a
ethnicity I hated not only being a female but also a minority
female but also a minority
female but also a minority I felt ashamed when I was comparing
I felt ashamed when I was comparing
I felt ashamed when I was comparing myself to white women and girls who
myself to white women and girls who
myself to white women and girls who seemingly had a greater potential to
seemingly had a greater potential to
seemingly had a greater potential to succeed just because they had role
succeed just because they had role
succeed just because they had role models who look like them only now
models who look like them only now
models who look like them only now through my background in psychology and
through my background in psychology and
through my background in psychology and through seeking psychotherapy for some
through seeking psychotherapy for some
through seeking psychotherapy for some of these negative and self-defeating
of these negative and self-defeating
of these negative and self-defeating thoughts do I understand the whys behind
thoughts do I understand the whys behind
thoughts do I understand the whys behind the feelings I felt when I was younger
the feelings I felt when I was younger
the feelings I felt when I was younger but that’s not good enough what can we
but that’s not good enough what can we
but that’s not good enough what can we do for young women like me today who are
do for young women like me today who are
do for young women like me today who are experiencing these same complex feelings
experiencing these same complex feelings
experiencing these same complex feelings how can we ultimately help them awaken
how can we ultimately help them awaken
how can we ultimately help them awaken their inner hero social cultural and
their inner hero social cultural and
their inner hero social cultural and political change don’t happen overnight
political change don’t happen overnight
political change don’t happen overnight but that shouldn’t discourage us from
but that shouldn’t discourage us from
but that shouldn’t discourage us from taking the small steps to make a bigger
taking the small steps to make a bigger
taking the small steps to make a bigger change here’s how you can help whether
change here’s how you can help whether
change here’s how you can help whether you’re a content creator or just an
you’re a content creator or just an
you’re a content creator or just an average everyday person recognize how
average everyday person recognize how
average everyday person recognize how young women of color see themselves they
young women of color see themselves they
young women of color see themselves they see themselves the girls that we spoke
see themselves the girls that we spoke
see themselves the girls that we spoke to see themselves as the heroes of their
to see themselves as the heroes of their
to see themselves as the heroes of their own narratives they vision a bright
own narratives they vision a bright
own narratives they vision a bright future for themselves and although they
future for themselves and although they
future for themselves and although they they first see obstacles they know that
they first see obstacles they know that
they first see obstacles they know that they’ll eventually overcome them they’re
they’ll eventually overcome them they’re
they’ll eventually overcome them they’re headstrong and they’ll stand for what
headstrong and they’ll stand for what
headstrong and they’ll stand for what they believe in encourage them celebrate
they believe in encourage them celebrate
they believe in encourage them celebrate them hear their stories share their
them hear their stories share their
them hear their stories share their stories and not just the stories that
stories and not just the stories that
stories and not just the stories that other people made up for them help them
other people made up for them help them
other people made up for them help them to 5 stereotypes and show them that you
to 5 stereotypes and show them that you
to 5 stereotypes and show them that you think they can be big and bold make them
think they can be big and bold make them
think they can be big and bold make them feel confident and represent their real
feel confident and represent their real
feel confident and represent their real true selves don’t just leave them with
true selves don’t just leave them with
true selves don’t just leave them with an ambiguous ending show them that you
an ambiguous ending show them that you
an ambiguous ending show them that you think they can truly be heroes not only
think they can truly be heroes not only
think they can truly be heroes not only of their own narratives but for others
of their own narratives but for others
of their own narratives but for others too
too
too our job as part of society is to help
our job as part of society is to help
our job as part of society is to help these women feel empowered and help
these women feel empowered and help
these women feel empowered and help awaken their inner hero and when we
awaken their inner hero and when we
awaken their inner hero and when we young women feel like we when we young
young women feel like we when we young
young women feel like we when we young women feel like we can make a change and
women feel like we can make a change and
women feel like we can make a change and we have no limitations that gives us
we have no limitations that gives us
we have no limitations that gives us hope and it makes us even more excited
hope and it makes us even more excited
hope and it makes us even more excited when other people think that we can make
when other people think that we can make
when other people think that we can make a difference to the young women that we
a difference to the young women that we
a difference to the young women that we spoke to told us that they feel more
spoke to told us that they feel more
spoke to told us that they feel more positive feelings of encouragement unity
positive feelings of encouragement unity
positive feelings of encouragement unity and incompetency when they’re surrounded
and incompetency when they’re surrounded
and incompetency when they’re surrounded by other people like them imagine if the
by other people like them imagine if the
by other people like them imagine if the support and sense of belonging extended
support and sense of belonging extended
support and sense of belonging extended beyond just their peer groups and to the
beyond just their peer groups and to the
beyond just their peer groups and to the rest of society thank you
rest of society thank you
rest of society thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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