Run the World Like a Girl
International Women Leaders
Noting that only 40 percent of nations have ever had a woman leader, Kate Graham’s plucky biographical essay collection Run the World like a Girl introduces women politicians who beat the odds to work for equality.
The book contains twelve miniature biographies, each a few pages long and making use of straightforward storytelling. They focus on current and former women prime ministers and presidents. On a world map, their nations—including Canada, Germany, Namibia, and Taiwan—represent all continents but Antarctica. As different as their backgrounds are, all are said to value patriotism, protest, and social justice.
The chapter on Jacinda Ardern’s route to leadership of New Zealand is a fine example of the book’s anecdotal style and recurring themes. Early on, she noticed unfairness at home: Her mother stayed home with her children though she wanted to attend university and have a career. Poverty and homelessness also troubled her. She became the second world leader to give birth while in office.
For others, tragedy motivated moves toward politics: Michelle Bachelet’s father was tortured and killed for opposing the Pinochet coup in Chile. She shared his passion for democracy and protecting the vulnerable and became president, as well as a United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights.
The lilac color scheme links the font and illustrations, including the initial portrait of each woman. Inset boxes summarize basic facts. Discussion questions and words of encouragement arise, including the assertion “All you need is to find what you are passionate about and what changes you want to see in your country.” As four-time Icelandic president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir opined, “if the world can be saved, it will be saved by women.”
The nutshell profiles of women leaders in Run the World like a Girl are both engaging and inspirational.
Reviewed by
Rebecca Foster
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
