There seems to be a whole lot of hate for this idea in the comments, but I thought it a good idea.
“Why didn’t they pick a non-fictional woman?”
There are undoubtedly many real-life women who could have been chosen, but doesn’t that risk alienation through choice? Where would you start, the sciences, humanities, medicine, sports? How do you choose and not leave anyone or any field of interest out? Because whoever is chosen, someone, somewhere will complain, or call “unfair!” or “bias!” or it just leaves space for old-fashioned racism and bigotry.
So choose the fictional, world-famous character that has represented strength and truth since the beginning, one accessible to everyone, everywhere, and when that little girl starts asking you questions about Equality and Empowerment, you’ve got a good place to start the conversation. That’s what this choice represented to me, and I believe was intended to represent all along; the start of a conversation, not the exclusive end-point.
