+
upworthy
Most Shared

Girls put themselves in the shoes of Amy Schumer, Beyoncé, and others to show what they can do.

Breaking the mold, one industry at a time.

A recurring theme in 2015 has been "seeing is believing" — especially for girls.

It's easier to believe you can do something when you've seen someone else do it. That's why no matter how frustrated you get assembling IKEA furniture, you have to believe in those instructions. You saw it put together in the store. You know it can be done!

2015 has been marked with some major "seeing is believing" milestones of its own. From comedy to politics to sports to engineering, many women have taken the status quo and said, "ehhh … let's try it my way instead."


These women are helping to shift perceptions on what women and girls are capable of, and they're inspiring a whole generation while they're at it.

Could she be the next RBG? Maybe! Image of Ginsburg from Steve Petteway/Wikimedia Commons. Image of future-Ginsburg via GoldieBlox/YouTube.

In a new music video, girls step into the shoes of 10 of today's top female role models.

The video comes from popular toy company GoldieBlox and features mini-superstars like Sophia Grace, Heaven King, Jillian from EvanTubeHD, Sam Gordon, RadioJH Audrey, Annie and Hayley from Bratayley, and Flippin' Katie.

Their message is simple: Girls can run on the field and run the world. They can do whatever they want to do. And right now they've got some badass women to show them how.

For instance, in 2015, Viola Davis became the first black woman to win an Emmy for lead actress in a drama series, showing millions of girls around the world that they could too.

GIF via GoldieBlox/YouTube.

And the on-point message Davis delivered gave when accepting her award says it all:

GIF from "67th Emmy Awards/Fox."

Remember when Misty Copeland became the first ever black principal ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre this year? Yeah, that was rad.

And now it seems more possible than ever before that any girl, no matter the color of her skin, can be next.

Shattering the ceiling in her ballet shoes. (Hello, Heaven King!) GIF via GoldieBlox/YouTube.

A woman who needs no introduction, Hillary Clinton is no stranger to the spotlight. She shows time and time again that it's cool to stand up for what you believe in and, oh yeah, run for PRESIDENT!

The more girls see that politics isn't just a "boys only" club, the more likely they are to go for it.

We need more amazing lady power suits in office. GIF via GoldieBlox/YouTube.

And let's not forget Amy Schumer, who has proven that you can find hilarious ways to talk about issues that matter, like equal pay and sexual double standards.

Her "Girl, you don't need makeup" sketch was gold.

You can show how smart you are AND be funny. Go get 'em, girls. GIF via GoldieBlox/YouTube.

So many industries today are male-dominated, and the idea that 'you can't be what you can't see' hits home with women of all ages. It's refreshing to see that beginning to change.

How are you supposed to think you can become a female NFL coach if you only see men on the job? A woman named Jenn Welter made it happen this year. Now, who will be the next?

Slowly but surely, the tide is turning.

GoldieBlox and organizations like The Representation Project are helping to make it happen by shining a light on the need for positive women role models in the media and showing that there is more for girls outside of the stereotypical pink aisle at the department store.

It's working. Bring on 2016.

You can watch GoldieBlox's music video celebrating some of this year's women superstars and their mini-me's here:

The gaze of the approving Boomer.

Over the past few years, Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964) have been getting a lot of grief from the generations that came after them, Gen X (1965 to 1980), Millenials (1981 to 1996), and now, Gen Z (1997 to 2012). Their grievances include environmental destruction, wealth hoarding, political polarization, and being judgemental when they don’t understand how hard it is for younger people to make it in America these days.

Every Baby Boomer is different, so it's wrong to paint them all with a broad brush. But it’s undeniable that each generation shares common values, and some are bound to come into conflict.

However, life in 2023 isn’t without its annoyances. Many that came about after the technological revolution put a phone in everyone’s hands and brought a whole new host of problems. Add the younger generations' hands-on approach to child rearing and penchant for outrage, and a lot of moden life has become insufferanble.

Keep ReadingShow less
Humor

Iliza Schlesinger's hilarious rant just might unite Gen Zers and millennials

The 40-year-old comedian begs for the younger generation to cut millennials some slack.

@ilizas/TikTok

Comedian iliza Schlesinger urges Gen Z to be nicer to millennials.

Generational differences have long been the bread and butter of TikTok humor, but lately, millennials have been a prime target for their younger Gen Z counterparts.

Clips of Gen Zers mocking stereotypical millennial behavior, otherwise known as “millennial core” is particularly popular—everything from a millennial’s affinity for skinny jeans and self-deprecating humor to their love of the word “adulting” is current fodder for ridicule.

Things have gotten so heated that millennials have, as the kids say, begun serving clapbacks—accusing Gen Zers of acting superior, nihilistic and completely disconnected due to their over-reliance on social media.

But earlier this month, comedian and self-described “elder millennial” Iliza Schlesinger went viral for her rallying cry for both generations to unite. It’s a delightful blend of unhinged and insightful that Schlesinger has truly mastered.

Keep ReadingShow less

Prepare to get Thatcherized.

It seems that Adele is going viral once again.

Perhaps you’ve seen the image in question previously (it seems to make the rounds every couple of years). But in case you missed it—it’s Adele’s face. Normal, just upside down.

Only it’s not normal. In fact, when you turn Adele’s face right side up, what you notice is that her eyes and mouth were actually right-side up THE ENTIRE TIME, even though the entire head was upside down. So when you turn the head right side up, the eyes and mouth are now UPSIDE-DOWN—and you can’t unsee it. Do you feel like you're Alice in Wonderland yet?

Keep ReadingShow less
Family

New England mall's ingenious ‘Santa elevator' is a child’s Christmas fantasy come true

Natick Mall takes Santa visits to a whole other level with its magical "elevator" to the North Pole.

Visiting Santa at the Natick Mall is an otherworldly experience.

Visiting Santa Claus at the mall is a holiday tradition for countless American families, and it's usually a similar setup no matter where you go. You find the big display with the big Christmas decor, step into a long line of parents and kids ranging from giddy to terrified, wait for Santa's helper dressed in an elf costume to say it's your turn, then take pics of your kid telling a stranger in a Santa suit what they want for Christmas in an effort to give your kids a taste of holiday wonder.

But one mall in Massachusetts has upped the mall Santa bar so far it's above the clouds—literally.

The Natick Mall's "Magic Elevator Express" takes visiting Santa to a whole other magical level that even the Grinchiest of grownups can appreciate. And the idea is so brilliantly simple, it could be replicated just about anywhere.

Keep ReadingShow less

A TikTok post about McDonald's prices and President Joe Biden speaking with attendees at the Moving America Forward Forum.

Sometimes, there are images that perfectly encapsulate a moment in time. In December 2022, a viral TikTok video featuring a burger meal at McDonald's that cost a whopping $16.10 went viral, and to many Americans struggling through inflation, the image rang true.

Topher Olive posted the TikTok video on December 10, 2022, showing a burger, large fries, and a large Coke that cost $16.10.

The price of a value meal at McDonald’s is something that every American understands. The Economist even uses the Big Mac sandwich as a tongue-in-cheek way of measuring the purchasing power between countries.

Surely, if a McDonald’s burger meal was becoming too expensive for the average American to eat for lunch every day, then the country must be headed in a disastrous direction. The image was the perfect weapon for those looking to blame President Biden for his handling of the economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keep ReadingShow less

Tia Savva has an invested father.

Sadly, a lot of men go out of their way to avoid learning anything about a woman's period.

(That could be why throughout most of the United States — where the majority of lawmakers are men — feminine hygiene products are subject to sales tax.)

So we should give some love to the guys who make an effort to learn a bit about the menstrual cycle so they can help their family members when they're in desperate need of feminine hygiene products.

Personally, as a guy, the feminine hygiene aisle can be a little intimidating. There are multiple brands, styles of products, scents, absorbency levels, and they are all color-coded.

What do the colors mean?

Keep ReadingShow less