Nothing to Declare

Mill, wrote in the dedication to On Liberty , that Harriet, his wife, had been responsible for all the “great thoughts” he had.

Though women are now allowed to publish their work and must no longer hide behind their masterpieces, there is still a pressing need for female narratives in storytelling in literature, film, and media. Without these narratives, we lose stories of women’s accomplishments and failures, their colourful lives and relationships, and stories replete with morals and life lessons. Young girls and boys would grow up believing that success in the past was only achieved by men, and therefore it is only men that can excel in the future. Women’s stories have the innate power to subvert the ge nder stereotypes and norms that have been deeply rooted in society. Inspirational stories illuminate the future and give young girls hope to chase their dreams. Authentic, raw, and vulnerable voices that convey their feelings and experiences hit home most and teach society understanding and empathy. Stories are bigger than us – they hold a mirror to society and expose its flaws. “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity.” This quote by Chimamanda Adichie from her The Danger of a Single Story perfectly encapsulates the power of stories to touch, reveal, and distil the human experience. Women need to be given the space to share tell their stories. Space that has been denied to them for far too long. For how can we ignore half of humanity’s expe rience?

Sam-I Liew, Cooper Lodge