Blog 9: Who’s your hero?

Who is your hero? It’s a simple question, and children will answer it in many different ways. Some will describe in perfect detail their favourite cartoon character, while others will name an inspirational family member. They may even change their answer depending on the day of the week!

“There is no blueprint for heroism and strength of character.”

Giving children a wide range of heroes to look up to during crucial early years can give them a very healthy world view. There is no blueprint for heroism and strength of character. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, speak many languages, and originate from every corner of the planet.

We often hear about the importance of representation in storytelling.

Can an incredibly diverse audience see themselves in the characters of the story? This is a powerful question which works in two ways. On the one hand a hero who looks and sounds like us may inspire us and give us a sense of belonging, but just as potent is reinforcing the above idea that anyone can be “a hero”, anyone can find the courage to take action, to contribute to the betterment of the world.

It may take a willing audience to embrace an unexpected protagonist, but this “willingness” seems to be increasing with each new generation. One of the “heroes” featured in our collection of stories “Women Who Changed the World” is Táhirih, a remarkable poet and women’s rights activist whose short life inspires people around the world to this day. You can listen to her story below: