Former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton says that while women have made great strides, they have to ‘still keep going’ to works towards equality in a message for International Women’s Day.
‘Particularly at this moment, in 2018, when we have so many women who are raising their voices around the world, so many women here in the United States who are running for office,’ Chelsea said, ‘my message is thank you and we have to keep going.’
Chelsea, 38, said in the video message she shared on Good Morning America, that she has drawn her personal inspiration from her mother, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as her grandmother.
‘My mom has definitely inspired me the most, with my grandmother,’ Chelsea said, referring to her maternal grandmother, Dorothy Rodham.
‘We have to keep going’ Chelsea Clinton shared a message for International Women’s Day
In the video message she cited the importance of having strong female role models and called the women in her life, like her mother Hillary Clinton, her ‘North stars’
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‘I’m just so thankful to have such kind of strong, fierce women role models in my family who I have been lucky enough to be loved by, to love, to look up to — and to kind of have as my North stars, as I think about how best to lead the life that I feel called to lead in the world.’
She also called for people around the world to ‘take stock’ of what they are doing for girls and women, in advance of Thursday’s International Women’s Day, which is an annual celebration of the movement for women’s rights and equality.
‘Whether that’s in terms of educational opportunities or employment opportunities, getting health care, including the reproductive health care that every woman around the world should have access to,’ she said.
‘How we’re doing in terms of women in leadership positions in every sector, in every country across the world so that we really have a clear sense of what the gaps are for whether or not girls and women are given an equal shot, equal opportunity, equal affirmation to the boys and men in their families or communities.’
Chelsea adds that while women have made strides towards equality, there are many women who are still left behind all around the world.
‘I just think that, while we’ve made progress, we have so much work to do until every girl and every woman is protected, supported and empowered to be whatever they want to be in the world,’ she said.
Chelsea penned an illustrated book last year called ‘She persisted’ featuring 13 women who have changed the world
Chelsea also says that while she had amassed amazing experiences in her life and growing up in the White House for eight years under her father Bill Clinton’s presidency, she just wishes she didn’t previously hold back.
‘I think I always knew that persistence was really important,’ she said. ‘I just wish I had been a little less afraid when I was younger.’
Chelsea has also authored a New York Times bestselling illustrated book, ‘She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World,’ which was released last year.
The book celebrates women from around the world who have made a difference.
Additionally she is vice chair of the Clinton Foundation and is involved in initiatives including those to help to empower the next generation of leaders.