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| Source: abcnews.go.com |
Just yesterday, the engagement of Prince Harry and Meghan
Markle was announced by Clarence House. The couple are set to wed in Spring
2018 (unfortunately with no Bank Holiday in sight for the public).
Whilst many will recognise Markle from the show ‘Suits’,
where she plays paralegal Rachel Zane, the newest member to the Royal Family
has accomplished far more as a long-time advocate for women.
Since 2014, the American actress has used her platform to
work towards equality between men and women as well as issues concerning her
humanitarian work with the UN. In February 2016, she became a World Vision
Global Ambassador after a visit to Rwanda, which has the highest percentage of
women with roles in the parliament.
However it is fair to say that fighting for gender equality has
always been a part of Markle’s nature even as a child. Markle has spoken about how
she discovered the road to raising awareness about the inequality of the sexes.
At the age of 11, at her school in Los Angeles, Markle
remembers watching the TV when an advert for a brand of dishwashing liquid was shown
to the class. The advert featured a tagline: “Women all over America are
fighting greasy pots and pans”.
"Two boys from my class said, 'Yeah.
That's where women belong — in the kitchen,'" Markle recalled.
Meghan was shocked and angered by this
comment, and felt the need to protest against this immediately. She decided to
let her voice be heard and write letters to the First Lady at the time, Hilary
Clinton. Her letter was also received by her main news presenter, an influential
attorney and the manufacturer of the dishwashing soap.
Markle’s efforts did not go to waste and she
received letters of encouragement from everyone. However, Markle only felt the
true impact of her actions when, some weeks later, the advert’s tagline changed
to “People all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans”.
The soap manufacturers apologised for the
insensitive nature of their advert and commended her for advocating for such a
cause at such a young age.
Markle speaks of that moment, saying, “It was at that moment that I realized the magnitude of
my actions. At the age of 11, I had created my small level of impact by
standing up for equality."
As she joins the
Royal Family, Meghan Markle’s responsibilities will grow and the influence her
voice has will consequently open up. If she is able to achieve something so profound
as to change a national advert as a child, we can only look forward to exciting
things for the British public as another voice fighting for gender equality comes
to light.
Thank you for reading!
Aman
Thank you for reading!
Aman
