Alongside untangling developments such as the global and domestic #MeToo campaigns, and the backlash against it (that for many manifested itself in the recent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court), the question of how to prepare future generations of boys and girls has been utmost on the minds of many parents.
In a world where basic tenets of equality continue to come under threat, how to equip the world’s future adults for what life throws at them?
Enter a recent and welcome genre of children’s books aimed at bringing to life and light the achievements and history of the many women who have shaped our life — from scientists to musicians and activists — yet for many years remained invisible.
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Now if you visit a bookshop, you are likely to see the
There are other series such as Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World that also delve into characters from science, politics and art — some of whom are familiar names and others far less so.
For slightly older children, there is the
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And with their successes in the West, there’s a drive to increase diversity of the subject matter. Next year, Stories for South Asian Supergirls , featuring everyone from the Second World War spy Noor Inayat Khan to the world’s first woman head of government Sirimavo Bandaranaike is set to be published (including in India).
For those keen to instill in their girls and boys a fundamental respect for each other and what they are capable of, such books are a fun and provide a lovely means.