Changing History to HER story
This in-person exhibition became an online sensation due to covid restrictions. Due to its immediate popularity, it quickly became a book, published by Girl God Books.
We live in a world that is predominantly shaped and dictated by men, so for International Womens day 2021, Kat Shaw decided to take a look back over history, and change it to HERstory, honouring the magnificent women who have shaped the way the world is today that have often gone unnoticed. It is time to raise the profiles of the glorious, strong, brave women who have made HERstory, and place them onto the pedestals they should have been on for many years!
WELCOME TO THE GROUNDBREAKING AND EMPOWERING EXHIBITION BY KAT SHAW ARTIST.
These strong and influential women have changed the world in such a huge and impactful way – yet, the majority of them have gone unnoticed. Now is the time to honour the women who have walked before us and change history to HERstory. These women (and the many others I have not mentioned) may not have intentionally set out to become role models but have all achieved extraordinarily amazing things by following their hearts, talents, dreams, beliefs and passions. They didn’t listen to the confining drone of a society who places women in the “cannot do that” box – they dared, and they took a stand, stepping into their power, following their truth and using their voices to be different and make a change to the world we live in today. We are standing on their shoulders. We are using the stones thrown at them as women to build our paths forwards. They are the women who walked before us. It’s time to honour them now. It’s time to change history to HERstory.
To buy the hardback 'Changing History to HERstory' book, click here
Rosa Parks
“No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
1955
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (1913 – 2005) was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has called her 'the first lady of civil rights', 'the mother of the freedom movement' and 'the woman who stood up for herself and others by sitting down.'
Back in the 1950s, the rule in Montgomery, Alabama, was that if the 'white' section of a bus became full, seats must be given up in the 'coloured' section to allow white passengers to sit down. Parks, a leader in the local NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People), and the civil rights movement, iconically refused to give up her seat and remained quiet and dignified throughout, even though it led to her arrest.
Her willingness to disobey the rule helped to spark the Montgomery boycott and other efforts to end segregation in America. When Rosa Parks refused to move, she took an important step towards making the lives of black and white people equal.
“Never trade in your authenticity for safety.”
“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”
Brené Brown
Brené Brown (born November 1965) is an American professor, lecturer and author who holds an Endowed Chair at the University of Houston's Graduate College of Social Work. She is also a visiting professor in management at McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas.
She has studied courage, shame, empathy and vulnerability for two decades, building a highly successful career. She has now officially gone 'mainstream', and is the author of five number-one New York Times bestsellers.
She says: “I believe that you have to walk through vulnerability to get to courage, therefore . . . embrace the suck. I try to be grateful every day and my motto right now is, 'Courage over comfort.' I do NOT believe that cussing and praying are mutually exclusive, and, I absolutely believe that the passing lane is for passing only.”
“If you trade in your authenticity for safety, you may experience the following: anxiety, depression, addiction, rage, blame, resentment and inexplicable grief.”
“If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”
“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.”
“I am both war and woman and you can't stop me."
Nikita Gill
An Ode to Fearless Women
“Defined by no man, you are your own story.
Blazing through the world, turning history into herstory.
And when they dare to tell you about all the things you cannot be, you smile and tell them,
I am both war and woman and you cannot stop me.”
Nikita Gill, a poet and writer, grew up in Gurugram, Haryana in India. In her mid-twenties, she emigrated to the south of England. She worked as a carer for many years but has been writing for as long as she can remember. At 12 years old, a non-fiction story she wrote was published in a newspaper in India and she started sharing her poetry on Tumblr ten years ago.
“You are your own story.”
Nikita Gill’s first manuscript was rejected by 137 publishers, and she used it as fuel to better her creative process – and that certainly happened as she has published many books since then! She has a very modern view on the ever-changing world of social media and how poetry plays into it, advocating extremely vocally for poets to be credited as they deserve, having been the victim of famous celebrities like Khloe Kardashian not crediting her work. She longs to educate people about personal responsibility within the arts.
In her book, Fierce Fairytales: & Other Stories to Stir Your Soul, she takes classic tales and turns them upside down with a feminist twist. Cinderella turned princess who saved herself, Little Red Riding Hood turned leader of wolves, and villains turned misunderstood characters whom you suddenly can relate to. It’s amazing to see such a strong woman who seems to be conquering the world and inspiring those along the way.
Coco Chanel
“Always have in mind your true worth – self-awareness leads to self-confidence and self-confidence leads to self-love. And all are crucial.
Remember who you are, where you come from and where you are going.”
Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel (1883 – 1971) was a French fashion designer and businesswoman. The founder and namesake of the Chanel brand, she was credited in the post-World War I era with popularizing a sporty, casual chic as the feminine standard of style, replacing the 'corseted silhouette' that was dominant beforehand.
Coco literally liberated women – by stripping off the constraints of corsets, she unapologetically gave them back their right to breathe and introduced a new, bold, modern style of leveraging elegance which women embraced gladly.
The legendary fashion designer and true icon of style was also a remarkably intelligent and audacious woman. Apart from her creative ingenuity and a sharp eye for sophisticated aesthetics, she was an incredibly empowering woman who continues to empower women of all generations.
“Remember who you are.”
"Be your own kind of beautiful.”
"A girl should be two things: Who and what she wants.”
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible.”
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn (1929 – 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen legend from the Golden Age of Hollywood and was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.
She was thought to have repeatedly struggled against the way women should dress, making trousers a female fashion statement, and often wearing flats, giving women an out from towering stilettos.
“Always be the leading lady of your own life.”
Hepburn devoted the final years of her life to humanitarian work. Having donated to UNICEF since 1954, she became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) in 1988. She dedicated the rest of her life to helping impoverished children in Africa, Asia and Latin America by working in the field, nursing sick children and raising awareness of the conditions in deprived areas.
In 1992 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She also remains one of only 16 people who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards.
Audrey Hepburn is a hero because she overcame adversity, helped others, and never gave up. She was in Holland when the Nazis took over and watched German soldiers put men against a wall and shoot at them – her uncle being one of them. Her waif-like figure was the visual remnant of her starvation as a child in that time during World War II, which resulted in a slew of ailments that led to "a lifetime of quietly suffering frail health." In short, her pain became her beauty — and by extension, her livelihood, and she then used her fame for good with UNICEF.
Amelia Earheart
Amelia Mary Earhart (1897 – 1937) was an American aviation pioneer and author: a woman with grit, determination and a dream. She was only the 16th woman to be issued a pilot’s license and on 18th June 1928, she achieved her dream of becoming the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean (3875 km) solo. The dangerous journey had only ever been completed solo once before by a man and many others had died attempting it.
Her record-breaking flight wasn’t easy, as she flew into a storm near Paris, where she was initially supposed to land. This caused mechanical issues and she thought fast, changing course to land safely in Londonderry, Northern Ireland after a 14-hour, 56-minute flight.
Earhart set many other records too, and wrote best-selling books about her flying experiences. She was also instrumental in the formation of The Ninety-Nines, an organisation for female pilots.
Amelia mysteriously disappeared during a flight in 1937 over the Pacific Ocean whilst trying to be the first woman to fly around the world. Despite a huge rescue attempt, she was never found and was pronounced legally dead 2 years later.
