Kirthi: To my mind, empowerment is truly attained when a human being is sovereign over their mind and body, and the attainment of the state of understanding and acceptance that every individual’s mind and body is theirs only, and not for another to pass judgment on or impose upon unreasonable restraints, encroachments and demands.
Carissa: Living in a patriarchal society, the concept of equality seems a little transcendental. Equality in terms of gender is crucial for the simple reason of confidence in the society and one's own safety. I fight for women's rights because I think women are capable of doing much more than what people perceive them to be capable of and the way they are treated in today's world suppresses their vigor and potential. Women have the aptitude to guide societies, be astronauts, become amazing chefs, drive school buses and be good role models for the community. Women have done wondrous things around the world so, why should be subjected to a lower status?
Manasa: Being a woman and having faced some of the difficulties of being one, I can empathise with the large scale violence happening against many of them all across the world. Every woman is born with the same inalienable rights as a human and there can be no excuse, cultural, religious or popular practices that can defend inhumane violence against women. It is for these inalienable rights I stand up for and fight till I see a change.
Deepika: Why is freedom elusive for women when men and women are born the same way? We live in a world, so large that there is place for everyone to survive with equal rights. As a woman who has faced the hardships of being one, I will fight for our rights.
Marisa: When I was 10 years old I had to create a book for school and we were free to chose whatever topic we wanted. I wrote a story about a young, intelligent and athletic girl who wanted to play baseball, but the sport was only allowed for boys. She worked hard to gather her friends to encourage them to play, spoke with the coaches and managers and fought diligently to organize a team and then a league. She even invited the boys to join her league. I recently saw this book again and was reminded that I have always been aware of the inequalities that girls and women face and have always felt it was important to find ways to change these situations. I am proud of being a woman and want to work to advance women's rights globally.
Rouble: I'm a Feminist because it's not a dirty word. Because fertility doesn't define me. Because I hate it when 'he' connotes men as well as women. I am a Feminist because, like Mary Wollstonecraft said, I do not wish women to have power over men, only over themselves.
Megan: I'm fighting so a new generation of women can have the freedom to be who they are, without fear.
