Barack Obama’s International Women’s Day message will get you fired up to change the world
On Friday, March 8th, the world celebrated another International Women’s Day, and if you weren’t impressed with the message Donald Trump had to offer, don’t worry—former president Barack Obama totally came in clutch with the perfect tweets for the occasion.
Let’s be real: it’s hard out there for women in America in 2019. The gender wage gap is a very real thing, and we’re still fighting for basic equality—especially where women of color are concerned. And don’t even get us started on the stress-inducing political climate. So if you’re missing Obama in office, his words today might offer a bit of comfort.
Not only did Obama talk about how important women are to the future of this country and our world, but he also took the time to celebrate some of the ladies who are working hard to make a difference right now.
“On International Women’s Day, I’m reflecting on the future we all want for our daughters: one where they can live out their aspirations without limits,” he tweeted. “And I’m celebrating some of the women who are building that future for all of us today.”
On International Women’s Day, I’m reflecting on the future we all want for our daughters: one where they can live out their aspirations without limits. And I’m celebrating some of the women who are building that future for all of us today.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 8, 2019
He then went on to tweet about three women who are doing amazing things all over the world—Alice Barbe, who is helping settle refugees in France, Preethi Herman, head of Change.org, and Sefora Kodjo, whose organization provides leadership training to young women across the African continent.
.@BarbeAlice is helping refugees resettle into welcoming communities in France, offering them job training and language immersion, as well as a place to stay. More importantly, she’s fighting a narrative that suggests our differences are more important than our shared humanity. pic.twitter.com/jNIiKIAZaO
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 8, 2019
.@preethiherman is helping women unleash their power to change their societies. As head of the https://t.co/3RwHe5Razz Foundation, she’s leading an initiative that combines online tools with in-person organizing, giving women a voice in her native India—and beyond. pic.twitter.com/TKuAKVL5Y1
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 8, 2019
And @SeforaKodjo is helping the next generation of women leaders in Africa rise up. Her organization is training and mentoring young women across the continent to adopt a new model of leadership, one that puts gender equality at the heart of economic development. pic.twitter.com/cRb4EKcrvv
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 8, 2019
“Preethi, Alice, and Sefora are just three of many @ObamaFoundation leaders who remind us what International Women’s Day is all about: imagining a world free of artificial ceilings for the next generation—and doing the hard work to get us there,” he tweeted.
Preethi, Alice, and Sefora are just three of many @ObamaFoundation leaders who remind us what International Women’s Day is all about: imagining a world free of artificial ceilings for the next generation—and doing the hard work to get us there.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) March 8, 2019
If you’re suddenly feeling inspired to roll up your sleeves and get to work, check out a few tangible things you can do right now to support gender equality. Happy IWD!
