Seton Hall students shared what Women’s History Month means to them and all the women who they find inspirational.
Ruby Pasupuleti, a sophomore biology major, said, “It’s a month celebrating women and honoring achievements and strides they made through history.”
Andi-Kaye Walters, a sophomore biology major, said, “I think it’d be a good idea to sit and reflect on just any kind of pioneer woman helping us to achieve what we’ve achieved so far as women, like pushing boundaries.”
Ishani Sachdeva, a sophomore economics major, said, “Women’s History Month is a good recognition of all the women that have fought for us and women of today. They can have an easier life and better platform to represent themselves, not only in domestic life, but also in corporate world or the medical world.”
Sachdeva added that the range of issues women face today, like unequal pay between men and women, exists today in firms like Google or Facebook.
“But now as we are progressing, as these things are more open to talk about, we have seen that the world is progressing towards a better pay, and an equal pay, for both men and women,” she said.
Students also shared female role models who have been close to their homes and hearts.
“I’m celebrating by showing my appreciation to important women in my life like my friends and specifically my mother,” Pasupuleti said. “She inspires me to love, and encourages me to never give up, and to continue to pursue my passion of becoming a doctor.”
Walters said she admires her high school biology teacher, Kathryn Stewart. Stewart is an Oxford University alumna, Walters said. She said she truly respected that someone really qualified in the biology field still chose to become a teacher and teach the upcoming generation with such valuable knowledge, when she could be pursuing a more lucrative career.
Students also mentioned the famous women who have made an impact on their lives.
“Indra Nooyi, the former CEO of PepsiCo, has taken PepsiCo to a whole different level, and made it like a multi-billion dollar company because of her strategies,” Sachdeva said. “I think that she represents what women can achieve no matter all the barriers society puts on us.”
Walters, who hails from Jamaica, cited singer Rihanna as one of her inspirations. She said she not only appreciates Rihanna’s music, but also her philanthropy through relief work and charity, and that she has become an Ambassador of Barbados. “Even though she came from such a small island, she’s able to impact the world in a bigger way,” Walters said.
Walters also noted her positive work with the Fenty brand, which includes Rihanna’s lingerie for all shapes and sizes, as well as a makeup line that is more inclusive for all skin tones.
“She doesn’t only focus on doing music,” Walters said. “She has used her influence to try and open up doors for other opportunities.”
Sachdeva said, “We have come this far and we cannot go back, so we should all voice our opinions any time we feel that we are discriminated, especially related to gender.”
Kristel Domingo can be reached at kristel.domingo@student.shu.edu.
