The recently released film The Iron Lady presents Margaret Thatcher, one of the longest-serving Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, as a headstrong advocate for what she believed. Truly, women in leadership are held to high expectations: They are asked to champion issues effectively, be exceptional communicators, all the while projecting a pleasing image.
As a young woman, I see that we do not have many positive female role models in the public eye. Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama are two inspiring women to look up to; on the flipside of the equation we have Lindsey Lohan and Kim Kardashian, who confuse my generation, encouraging us to believe that the image they are portraying is acceptable. Yet us young women not comprehend why we are not respected or taken seriously when we do achieve leadership positions, and why it is so hard for us to actually obtain such success.
I am excited about The Iron Lady because it shares with us the story of a woman who was disciplined, respected, and committed to her own values. Mrs. Thatcher’s journey was not easy, and it wasn’t overnight that she accomplished her goals, yet she worked hard to be the best. Struggling with age and changing times, she rose to power despite numerous challenges. This was encouraging for me to see, and lets me know that with discipline and the correct mindset, anything can be accomplished.
I hope a lot of young women not only watch the film, but take note of the struggles she went through and how it shaped her. Mrs. Thatcher remained classy, strong, and held to her values in a male-dominated field. If women carry such qualities of a piece of iron, they too will be magnets for younger generations to come, molding positive leaders for tomorrow.
Lorin Perkins is one of The White House Project’s hard-working interns.
