How to create a future that empowers women | Shereen Thor | TEDxUKY | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Mother's journey from postpartum depression to empowering women to close the gender pay gap through entrepreneurship.

Key Insights

• 🥳 Postpartum depression can deeply impact a mother's mental health post-birth.
• 🧔‍♀️ Societal standards place undue pressure on women regarding productivity and appearance.
• 🧔‍♀️ Entrepreneurship provides a path for women to overcome the gender pay gap.
• 🕵️‍♀️ Male support and collaboration are essential to empower women in society.
• ❓ Historical examples show that a balanced value system is achievable.
• 🔐 Collaboration over competition is key to closing the gender pay gap.
• 🧔‍♀️ Empowering women benefits both genders and boosts economic performance.

Transcript

I wrote a book to empower women and dedicated it to my daughter when my son got old enough to read he read that dedication and was like Mom what about me it's funny when you become a parent there's so many things that come up that you don't really anticipate the first one was the baby weight I just could not get it all off so I did what any rationa... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How did postpartum depression impact the author's life?

Postpartum depression led to suicidal thoughts, but receiving a diagnosis allowed her to seek help, leading to self-discovery and empowerment.

Q: What challenges do women face in the workforce according to the author?

Women face societal expectations of productivity, selflessness, and beauty, leading to undervaluation and the gender pay gap.

Q: How did entrepreneurship empower the author to overcome societal challenges?

Entrepreneurship provided the author with autonomy, allowing her to set her own terms and earn a full-time income while closing the gender pay gap personally.

Q: What societal changes does the author advocate for to empower women?

The author calls for collaboration over competition, financial support for women's ideas, and societal recognition of women's unique strengths to close the gender pay gap.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Author shares her struggle with postpartum depression and journey to self-worth.

• Discusses the societal pressures on women and challenges faced in the workforce.

• Advocates for empowering women through entrepreneurship and closing the gender pay gap.