Michelle Obama has advice for girl's battling self-doubt

Summary

Michelle Obama and Melinda Gates speak with Amal Clooney about battling self-doubt and encouraging young women. They emphasize defining yourself, following your talents and voice, persevering through setbacks, and fighting for justice. Despite backsliding women’s rights globally, they find inspiration in brave women speaking out, like Iranian girls protesting compulsory hijab laws. Their message calls on women to support each other in overcoming barriers.

Takeaways

• 😊 Michelle Obama wants young girls to know that even she struggles with self-doubt sometimes
• 👧 Melinda Gates would tell her 25-year-old self to reconnect with who she was in high school
• ✨ Michelle Obama advises girls to recognize their inherent value and power
• 👀 Amal Clooney draws inspiration from her family and children
• 🤝 Melinda Gates believes life gets even more beautiful with age
• 💪 Michelle Obama says to keep fueling your inner flame and don't let anyone extinguish it
• 🏫 Amal Clooney is gathering evidence of crimes against women and girls in Ukraine
• 🌍 One in three girls globally experiences gender-based violence
• ⚖️ Amal Clooney says we can't assume justice will happen on its own
• 👭 Amal Clooney is inspired by the brave women fighting for rights around the world

Q & A

What does Michelle Obama emphasize when meeting young girls?

She wants them to see her as the girl from the South Side of Chicago, not the former First Lady. She wants to break down the wall of impossibility and let them know that they are the same.

What does Michelle Obama say is the source of self-doubt in women and girls?

She says that self-doubt is intentionally instilled in women and girls from an early age by people with power who want them to stay small and doubtful. Our cultures reinforce it.

How does Michelle Obama recommend combating self-doubt?

She recommends focusing on your education when you have the opportunity, doing the work in front of you, and taking small steps over time to build a different story for yourself. She says no one can do it for you.

What would Melinda Gates tell her 25 year old self?

She would say that life is even more beautiful ahead than she realizes. She would also say to be the girl she was in high school, because that's when she grew into the full woman she could be.

What advice does Amal Clooney have for combatting self-doubt?

She gets strength from the people she loves - her family, friends, and children. She thinks about the example she wants to set for her kids in a few years when they ask what she did about issues in the world.

What does Emma Watson say is the worst kind of failure?

She defines the worst failure as not trying - not following your dreams or even admitting what they are. Going for things and falling down is fine, because it makes you stronger.

Where does Amal Clooney see the bravest people in the world?

In her human rights work, she sees the bravest people as women and girls who have suffered horrific crimes yet continue fighting back and fighting for justice, even under threat of violence.

How can the courage of women protesters inspire us?

Amal Clooney says that if girls in places like Iran can risk everything for basic freedoms, then we can all do more from where we're sitting. Their courage puts things in perspective.

How early does Michelle Obama say negative messages about women and girls start?

She says that people with power try to make women and girls doubt themselves starting at a very early age, and those feelings are reinforced throughout our entire lives.

What gives Amal Clooney strength when self-doubt attacks?

She gets strength from the people she loves - her family, friends, and children who look to her for guidance. She also thinks about the need to set a good example.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 Michelle Obama on overcoming self-doubt and empowering young girls

Michelle Obama shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt, emphasizing the importance of empowering young girls to realize their self-worth. She advises girls to get an education, do the work, and take small steps to build confidence in themselves.

05:01

👩‍🎓 Amal Clooney on finding purpose through motherhood and fighting for justice

Amal Clooney finds purpose in motherhood and fighting injustice. She hopes her work fighting crimes against women and pursuing accountability will set an example for her children. She is inspired by the bravery of women fighting for their rights globally.

10:03

💪 Melinda Gates on rediscovering one's identity and embracing womanhood

Melinda Gates encourages women to reconnect with their true identities from their youth before outside influences clouded their self-perception. She advocates for fully embracing womanhood in all its choices and possibilities.

Keywords

💡self-doubt

Self-doubt refers to lacking confidence in one's own abilities or worth. Mrs. Obama says she struggles with self-doubt all the time, especially when bombarded with negative messages about not being good enough. She wants young girls to know these feelings of self-doubt are common but can be overcome with time, patience and by focusing on personal growth.

💡empowerment

Empowerment means gaining power and control over one's life and abilities. Mrs. Obama works to empower young girls by breaking down barriers, letting them know that they can achieve great things if they believe in themselves. She advises them to get educated, do the work, and keep following their dreams.

💡sexism

Sexism refers to prejudice or discrimination based on one's gender. Mrs. Obama says sexism intentionally makes women and girls question their worth, looks, background etc. from a young age in order to keep them doubtful and small.

💡activism

Activism means taking action to bring political or social change. Amal Clooney discusses her human rights legal work to fight for justice and accountability for crimes against women and girls globally. She is inspired by the brave activism of women protesting for rights in Iran and Afghanistan.

💡solidarity

Solidarity refers to unity and mutual support within a group for a common cause. Michelle Obama and Melinda Gates emphasize solidarity among women and girls by advising their young selves to reconnect with and fuel their inner power to uplift others.

💡sex trafficking

Sex trafficking involves illegally transporting people, often women and girls, for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Amal Clooney works on legal cases involving Syrian and Iraqi women who were victims of enslavement and sexual violence by terrorist groups like ISIS.

💡gender equality

Gender equality means equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for people regardless of gender. Amal Clooney notes there is severe backsliding globally on women's rights, highlighting Afghanistan where Taliban rule has reversed progress made over 20 years.

💡sexism

Sexism refers to prejudice or discrimination based on one's gender. Mrs. Obama says sexism intentionally makes women and girls question their worth, looks, background etc. from a young age in order to keep them doubtful and small.

💡sisterhood

Sisterhood refers to friendship, trust and solidarity among women based on shared experiences and advocacy for gender equality. Michelle Obama and Melinda Gates aim to inspire young women by sharing wisdom on self-confidence, achieving dreams and uplifting others.

💡misogyny

Misogyny refers to hatred and prejudice against women. Amal Clooney notes the extreme misogyny behind crimes targeting women in conflict zones and restrictive policies forcing Afghan women out of public life under Taliban rule.

Highlights

Michelle Obama wants young girls to know she was an ordinary girl from Chicago's South Side, to break down the wall of impossibility.

Michelle Obama says she deals with self-doubt all the time and negative messages about not being enough.

Amal Clooney says thinking about her kids expecting her to have the answers helps push past self-doubt.

Michelle Obama advises girls to follow their inner flame and not let anyone extinguish it.

Melinda Gates would tell her 25 year old self that life gets even more beautiful ahead.

Amal Clooney is gathering evidence of crimes against women and girls in Ukraine.

Amal Clooney sees girls in places like Iran and Afghanistan risking everything for basic rights.

Michelle Obama reminds girls they knew their power and worth when they were young before others diminished it.

Melinda Gates knew herself in high school before letting that go for various reasons.

Michelle Obama tells girls they are good enough, valued and worthy.

Amal Clooney defines failure as not trying rather than falling down.

1 in 3 girls globally suffer sexual or gender-based violence.

Progress for women's rights is backsliding in places like Afghanistan.

Seeing brave girls fight for justice inspires Amal Clooney.

Melinda Gates says to follow your dreams and admit what they are.

Transcripts

I wanted to ask you, Mrs.

Obama, you know,

so many women struggle with self-doubt,

do you?

And if you do.

How do you push past it?

Mm hmm.

I talk about this all the time,

especially with

the young girls

I meet,

because they look at people

like us in these positions.

And they think, well,

you must have been born into that place,

which is the 11 of the reasons

why when I meet with young girls,

I don't care where in the world it is.

I don't want them to know.

Michelle Obama, the former first lady.

I want them to know.

Michelle Obama, that girl

from the Southside of Chicago.

I want to break down that

that wall of impossibility

to let them know that I am them

and they are me.

And yes,

every other moment I feel self-doubt

because when you and Sissi

he intentionally

does that to women and girls,

it starts at a very early age.

We are.

We question our value, our worth.

We question how we look how we talk,

where we're from.

They are people with power

who want us to stay small.

They want us to stay doubtful.

And so our cultures reinforce that.

So the one thing I want

young girls to understand

is that those feelings are real.

They are not crazy.

They are they

they are indoctrinated in us all.

And we carry them around with us

our entire lives.

And I don't care

how far you go,

whether you go to the White House,

you are constantly batting away.

Those negative messages

are being not enough.

And yes,

I deal with that to

and I don't want young women,

young girls to get ahead of themselves

to think that they have to fix it all now

in order to break the cycles

of negativity,

you got to get up every day

and do the work right before you.

That means getting your education

when the opportunity presents itself.

And then focusing on that,

doing the work, doing your homework,

getting to the next stage in life.

Because if you take

those small steps over time,

you build up a lifetime of another story

for yourself.

No one can do that for you.

You have to look over your life.

And we as women

sometimes feel like

we have to have done everything right

before we can take credit for

the things that we have done.

But there is power and

what we do every day.

And I have to remind myself of that

every single moment.

But now that I'm older,

I can now look back and say, yeah,

I am worthy.

I have value,

but is not because I'm sitting here.

I had that value

when I was three,

when I was five,

when I was seven, when I was 12.

And for the young girls out there,

you have it now

you just have to take the time

to realize it

and be patient with yourself

as you do it.

Because the process takes a lifetime

takes a lifetime.

I am trippin right now that you just said

that you deal

with self-doubt all the time,

like somehow that didn't

seem to right in the back.

Write back there. Me too.

Right back there

I was like, Don't trip, don't follow

me.

Don't I?

The same the same things

Amal and I were like,

What are you wearing?

Is this color right?

Well, this be stupid

to be doing this work with you and also,

what are you wearing?

So what do you do, Amal,

when self-doubt attacks you?

Because that's what it feels like, right?

It kind of feels like an attack.

I don't know.

I mean,

I think I get super charged by

the people I love and just having

an amazing family and friendships and,

you know,

now two kids

who are kind of looking up at

you expecting you

to have all the answers.

And if it's put a fine point on

why we're doing all of this,

you know, and I think it's

I imagine them kind of

and they're only five,

so they're not quite on top of

current events. Yeah.

And if you don't believe that,

I bet you they know

more than most people.

Well, actually,

my son

drew a

picture the other day of a prison,

and he was like, Putin should be in here.

And I was like, oh, my goodness.

Maybe I went a little

I didn't know anyone.

I don't know what he overheard,

but I am working on Ukraine now.

I you know,

but I do think about in a few years when

maybe five or more when they sort of

start to learn about some of these issues

that we're talking about

and what's happening in the world.

And, you know, when they ask us,

what did you do about this?

What did you say about that?

You know, what will my answer be?

And I, I hope it will be a good one.

I think it's important to tell all girls

that you can be whatever you want to be.

You can be a mom

and a working mom or a working woman

and not a mom or mom

and stay home

like all of these choices are. Okay.

And guess what?

You can also get it wrong with your kids.

So same thing.

My kids

my daughter was five my oldest,

and she told her doll to lay down

because it had HIV aids

and she needed to take care of it.

And I thought, oh, my God, I've

gone way too far on my work.

No, prison drawings?

No.

I have one question

that I'd like you all to answer

because I thought

this is a brilliant idea.

So the Girls Opportunity

Alliance asked girls

to write to their 25 year old self.

And since we are so young,

I'm going to ask you to reverse that.

What would you

and I'll start here with you, Melinda,

what would you tell your 25 year old self

now that you've lived a life

I would say

life is even more beautiful ahead

than you realize.

And I would say to my 25 year old self,

you knew in high school who you were

and you let go of some of that for

lots of reasons.

People,

situations, college people around you,

you knew who you were

and once you learn to re

be the girl you were in high school

is when you grew into the full

woman that you could be. Boom

Mrs.

Obama, that part

just simply

what I would tell

myself, you are good enough,

you are valued,

you are worthy,

your story matters, your voice matters.

You will do

the great things that you know

you can do.

There was something that struck a chord.

It's like we all knew who we were

when we were little.

We knew our power.

Then it was just second guessed.

So I would tell myself to follow

that instinct that

pay attention to that flame in you

because it is real and keep it fueled.

And don't let anybody try to blow it out

because you're going to need it.

Once you

in.

It's so inspiring to hear Mrs.

Obama and Melinda Gates

share about

what they would tell themselves

in their 25 years old.

I think the best thing I would say is

if there's nothing,

if there's something good

that someone can be put to invest on

and has the best interest in this world

is knowledge and

let's keep on encouraging our girls.

Keep on doin it.

Keep on believe in yourself.

Keep on. You'll get in there.

Keep on

Let's get her there.

No interest

among them, what they said.

I know it's hard being last on this one.

You know, I would say

define failure as not trying

because actually

going for things and falling

flat on your face is fine.

It's a learning experience.

It makes you stronger.

But if you don't try

and if you don't actually

follow your dreams

or even admit what they are

and go for it,

something that will stay with you.

So the idea is go for it.

Get there and get others there

because you do work all around the world.

Where in the world

are you most concerned about?

What is happening to girls and women

right now?

Everywhere?

It's unfortunately I mean, you know,

at the moment

I'm working on with our foundation

gathering evidence of crimes

being committed

against women and girls,

among others in Ukraine.

You know, I've spent seven years

working on cases

where I represent

women who were victims of

enslavement and sexual violence

committed by ISIS.

And that's women from Syria and Iraq.

We know one in three girls in the world

has suffered

sexual or gender based violence.

That's a huge number.

And the problem is

it's going to keep happening

if we don't have accountability.

So at our foundation,

we call what we do

waging justice, because,

you know,

we cannot assume that

justice is just going to happen.

You have to actually fight for it.

You have to make it happen.

And, you know,

you can't even assume

that things are going to move

in the right direction.

We are think backsliding.

You know, ask a girl in Afghanistan

where the clocks have turned back.

20 years on her rights set against that.

I do also see

through my work

the bravest people in the world

being women and young girls

who sometimes have suffered

the worst crimes, you know,

genocide and sexual enslavement.

And they are the ones fighting back,

fighting for justice.

And I have to say

you know, today, watching on our screens

what's happening in

Iran with girls who've suffered,

you know, the worst brutality,

but a protest movement

and you know,

being led by

girls in school

uniform who are facing off against

a regime

that is using force to torture and kill.

And they're still determined

because if

they're not the ones on the front lines,

they they can't rely on others

for change.

And I think that's incredible.

And I think it also gives us perspective

If girls like that can risk everything

to, you know,

just be free

to show their hair

and have just basic freedoms, then

we can all do more,

you know, from where we're sitting.

And so I, I find that really inspiring.