Empowering Women - Angelina Jolie

Before I get to the post, I want to share some news...I did my first radio talk show on Friday with author Yvonne Mason. I was nervous but ended up having a blast. You can listen to it here: Off The Chain - Chrys Fey

Or here:

Every month I am highlighting an empowering woman. This month it is:

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is far more than her looks (or her marriage/divorce to Brad Pitt). She is a major humanitarian and has received several awards for her efforts. She advocates for various causes including women’s rights, education, and conservation.

She joined forces with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and started visiting these areas to see what it was like for the refugees. She’s completed more than 40 field missions. To help ferry aid workers and food supplies, she got her private pilot license. In 2001, she became the Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR. And in 2012, she became Special Envoy to the UNHCR’s High Commissioner.

“I think we all want justice and equality, a chance for a life with meaning. All of us would like to believe that if we were in a bad situation someone would help us.”

What else does she do? 

- Pushes legislation to aid child immigrants

- Co-Chairs Kids in Need of Defense

- Has funded a school and boarding facility for girls at Kakuma Refugee Camp in NW Kenya.

- Jolie Legal Fellowship, a network of lawyers and attorneys who are sponsored to advocate the development of human rights in their countries.

- Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, a campaign against sexual violence in military conflict zones .

- Centre for Women, Peace and Security, which aims to contribute to global women’s rights issues including the prosecution of war rape and women’s engagement in politics.

Plus more!

All of this is on top of adopting three children and giving birth to three more, acting, and directing (In the Land of Blood and Honey and Unbroken).

Unbroken:

I want to talk about Unbroken for a moment. I thought she was robbed when she wasn’t even nominated for Best Director. When I watched Unbroken, I was amazed at the power of it, the story, and the craftsmanship. Angelina directed a powerful movie.

I remember hearing her in an interview that she was going through a hard time when she read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, and it changed her. Unbroken is about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner, a Lieutenant in the US Air Force and a POW. (Jolie and Zamperini were actually neighbors!)

Cancer Prevention:

Angelina has also spoken out for cancer prevention. In 2013, she underwent a preventative double mastectomy after finding out she had an 87% risk of developing breast cancer. She also had an oophorectomy (removal of ovaries) due to a 50% risk of developing ovarian cancer.

She wrote about her decisions in The New York Times:

“On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”

“The Angelina Effect” started soon after as women all over the world did the BRCA gene testing. To further help at-risk women, she advocated for wider accessibility and lower costs. June 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court greatly reduced the cost of the BRCA gene test.

Maleficent:

Angelina’s role in Maleficent won her a Kid’s Choice Award for Best Villain.

“I wanna say that when I was little, like Maleficent, I was told I was different, never good at fitting in. And then I realized something, something I hope you all realize—different is good.”

Angelina is a humanitarian, business woman, fighter, and mother. She’s a force to be reckoned with.

INSPIRING SONG:

QUESTIONS: Have you seen Maleficent or Unbroken? Are you a fan of Angelina Jolie?