The Power of a Woman: Embracing the Super Woman Within
Being a woman alone is a prestigious position in every society. However, the sad reality is that many women are defined by cultures and traditions that try to shape them into who they are not, but who society wants them to be. The way society regards women has limited their power to specific duties that are considered “feminine.” Societies that regard women this way are generally backward in all-round development.
A woman who has accepted the way society sees her can never truly know who she is, because these cultures and traditions act as barriers preventing women from discovering their potential and developing themselves.
When we look at the Western world, we see women who know who they are, thanks to the acknowledgment of the power of a woman. This is evident in the development of these countries, where women enjoy the same rights as men, own land, have access to education, and are protected against violence.
The major problem, especially in Africa, is that the duties considered “feminine” are often regarded as less important. This mindset makes women in these societies look down on themselves. Take, for example, a woman being a homemaker: in Western countries, homemakers are considered a crucial part of society. In Africa, however, being a homemaker is often seen as a less important, underrated role.
It is essential for a woman to know who she is, what she can do, and her rights in this world. In this century, a woman who knows herself is always at the top because she takes aggressive steps toward achieving her goals, doing what many of her peers cannot. Men call her an “Iron Lady” based on how she presents herself before them. Her courage leads her into places most men cannot enter, and she ventures into things people can only imagine. She cannot be shaped by society’s expectations; instead, she creates her own path, and others follow, as she sees what many cannot see.
Every woman is born a superwoman. Unfortunately, all superwomen are born into a society already framed by preconceived notions of what a woman should be. These women grow up according to the societal mold, never realizing their true potential. They judge themselves and others, believing that stepping out of the norm makes them “wayward” rather than extraordinary.
It takes one superwoman to awaken the superwoman in another. When a woman follows a superwoman, she becomes one. When a woman reads about a superwoman, she immediately discovers who she truly is. The courage of a superwoman cannot be seen in men; she is unique, goal-oriented, and knows her worth. Her courage allows her to accomplish tasks in record time.
The world needs superwomen—women who do not look down on themselves, women who stand strong in the face of challenges, women who give birth to the potential within them for the betterment of the world. Women who speak out when their rights are being taken, and women who stand up for the peace, development, and security of their communities.
Inspirational Superwomen
Serena Williams is a prime example of a superwoman. She has won more major singles titles than any man or woman in the Open Era. She holds the record for Grand Slam singles titles on hard court (13), and the most women’s major singles matches (349), among many other records. Williams was also the highest-paid woman in sports in 2016 and 2017, when she was the only woman on Forbes’ list of top-earning athletes. Despite her successes, Serena faced life-threatening challenges when she almost died giving birth to her daughter in 2017. After complications from a pulmonary embolism and emergency C-section, she was bedridden for six weeks. Yet, she returned to the court, showing the world what resilience truly looks like.
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, is another great example of leadership. In October 2017, she became the world’s youngest female head of state. Ardern made history by bringing her baby into the U.N. Assembly, setting an example for working mothers everywhere. She stood firm in the face of the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, leading her country through one of its darkest moments and introducing stricter gun laws as a response. Ardern has never been afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what is right, even when it meant challenging global powers.
Greta Thunberg became Time magazine’s youngest-ever Person of the Year in 2019. The Swedish teenager garnered worldwide attention for her climate activism, addressing world leaders at the U.N. Climate Action Summit in New York and inspiring a new generation of activists. Her fearless advocacy for climate action has made her a global voice for environmental change, earning both admiration and criticism, especially from political figures like Donald Trump, whose jabs she quickly turned into a powerful statement on her Twitter bio: “A teenager working on her anger management problem.”
The Path to Super Womanhood
Looking at these examples, we see that every woman is a superwoman in her own right. However, the “super” in most women is hidden beneath fears, traditions, and cultures that hold them back from taking steps to do great things. It takes courage to break free from these societal constraints, but once a woman discovers her true potential, there’s nothing she cannot achieve.
The world needs more women like Serena Williams, Jacinda Ardern, and Greta Thunberg—women who are fearless, self-assured, and determined to make the world a better place. It’s time for every woman to embrace her inner superwoman and shine, for the world is waiting for her unique brilliance.