Ted Talks all women should watch

TED defines itself as “a nonpartisan nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks.” The organization has hosted thousands of innovators, creative minds, and thinkers, to speak about their ideas. The speeches vary widely in topic and tone, from funny to uplifting to heartbreaking.

We’ve picked out the most inspiring Ted Talks from women of all ages and backgrounds that everyone, but especially young women, should watch.

Still figuring it out – Tavi Gevinson

Way back in 2012 when she was just a sophomore in high school, Tavi Gevinson, the actress, writer, singer, and editor-in-chief of Rookie Magazine, gave a Ted Talk on the complexities of being a young female in today’s society.

Favorite quote: “A misconception of feminism is that girls think that to be a feminist they have to live up to being perfectly consistent in your beliefs, never being insecure, never having doubts, having all of the answers. And this is not true… Feminism is not a rule book, but a discussion, a conversation, a process.”

The person you really need to marry – Tracy McMillan

In this Ted Talk relationship author Tracy McMillian discusses how being married – and divorced – three times taught her the importance of loving herself.

Favorite quote: “Paradoxically, I found that loving myself exactly where I am is the only way to get where I am going.”

How do you define yourself? – Lizzie Velasquez

This incredibly inspirational Ted Talk is by Lizzie Velasquez, a young woman who suffers from a rare condition and was once labeled “the world’s ugliest woman.” In it she talks about the importance of positive thinking and not letting your struggles or your appearance define your worth.

Favorite quote: “I started realizing, am I gonna let the people who called me a monster define me?… No. I’m gonna let my goals, and my success, and my accomplishments be the things that define me – not my outer appearance.”

We should all be feminists – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

A portion of this Ted Talk was featured in Beyonce’s music video for Flawless, so you already know it has to be good. Adichie, a Nigerian author, perfectly lays out the argument for why we still need feminism, and why there’s no shame in the label “feminist.”

Favorite quote: “Some people ask: ‘Why the word feminist? Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?’ Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general—but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women.”

A motion for masturbation – the naked truth – Jane Langton

This Ted Talk by Jane Langton is the perfect reminder that there’s no shame in self love.

Favorite quote: “I thought that an intimate relationship started with being with someone else, and I realized it started with getting to know me – my body, what I loved, what I needed, what I desired, what I craved… and then having the courage to share it.”