Welcome to my Ted Talk on Ted Talks.
I’m not sure if much of an introduction to this blog post is necessary given the title above, but I want to emphasize the importance of educating yourself and expanding your thought process. You’ve probably seen a Ted Talk or two in your lifetime, and if you haven’t you’ve probably seen posts on social media ended with the phrase “Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.” Ted Talks are incredibly provocative, inspiring, and educating; offering new ideas and perspectives from inspiring people in ways you might not have considered otherwise. While I’ve yet to find a Ted Talk that I do not love and take inspiration from, these are my Top 5 Ted Talk recommendations that left a lasting impact on me. I hope they do the same for you. Welcome to my mini Ted Talk on Ted Talks.
Top 5 Ted Talks You Need To Watch Right Now:
1) Jackson Katz: Violence Against Women– It’s a Men’s Issue
If you know me in real life, you’ve probably heard me mention Jackson Katz and this particular Ted Talk before. I absolutely adore Jackson Katz and what he stands for since I first discovered this Ted Talk video years ago. Jackson Katz, Ph.D, is an author, educator, and a social theorist known for his activism on the topic of gender, violence, and race. He is the author of three acclaimed books, including his 2006 book The Macho Paradox; Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help, co-founder of the program Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) that focuses on promoting education on gender violence, especially within the sports culture and military, and is the creator, lead writer, and narrator of the Tough Guise videos. I think it’s safe to say he is an incredible educator and activist on the topic of gender violence and this Ted Talk demonstrates it. I cannot recommend this video enough. Seriously, go watch it and enjoy the education and motivation that comes with it.
2) Roxane Gay: Confessions of a Bad Feminist
Roxane Gay is an author of the book Bad Feminist and prominent figure in the modern day work of Feminism. I first discovered Roxane Gay in January of this year when my Women and Gender Studies college course required I read sections of her book Bad Feminist (which I also highly recommend). I fell in love with Roxane Gay and what she stands for. While it may come as a surprise given the name of this blog (sarcasm), I have considered myself a proud feminist for years. I could go on about Roxane Gay, but instead I encourage you to watch this Ted Talk presentation by her and hear her own words on the subject of what it means to be a feminist.
3) Adam Foss: A Prosecutor’s Vision for a Better Justice System
You probably won’t be too surprised by this fact about me, but if you know me in real life you know that I am a very big activist for reform within the Criminal Justice System. So, naturally, I found this Ted Talk video by Adam Foss incredibly fascinating, inspiring, and full of information I feel is incredibly important for every American to understand (at least before assuming the system is fair). I don’t know much about Adam Foss, admittedly, other than what I’ve learned of him from this video, but his Ted Talk presentation had an incredible impact on me and the motivation I found in it to really pursue criminal justice system/prison reform was massive. I highly recommend this video to everyone and hope you take from it the same inspiration that I did.
4) Leslie Morgan Steiner: Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave
If you lack the education or personal experience on Domestic Violence, or Intimate Partner Violence as it’s also referred to, and are wanting to better educate yourself, I highly suggest you take the time out of your day to watch this video. While you may not know it, I can promise you that there are women (and men) in your life who have a personal experience with domestic violence in intimate relationships. If you know me personally and are struggling to think of someone you know that is a survivor of domestic violence, I can assure you that you know at least one. Again, I do not know more about Leslie Morgan Steiner than what she discusses in her Ted Talk video, but her video has had a profound impact on me and I find myself referencing it often. I admire her strength in detailing her personal story with domestic violence, the statistics she weaves throughout to educate, and the inspiration she gives to those who can relate to her story. This is a Ted Talk you need to watch.
5) Ashley Judd: How Online Abuse of Women Has Spiraled Out of Control
I don’t feel like the individual who gave this Ted Talk needs much introduction, but in case you’re unaware of who she is, Ashley Judd is an American actress and prominent political activist. I will preference this recommendation with a warning that there is strong language and sexual assault referenced and could be upsetting or triggering to those who view it. While I understand the delivery of this presentation might not be favorable to all, the content described is riveting, inspiring, upsetting, and necessary. The depiction of women in media literacy and the secretive system of Patriarchy is something that we, as a society, need to understand, recognize, and refuse to accept. We owe it to our daughters, and our sons, to refuse and remove the systems set in place to perpetuate the abuse and disrespect of women. I found this Ted Talk by Ashley Judd inspiring and I know you will as well.
Written by Nikki J. Raine
Have a Ted Talk recommendation you want to share? Please comment with your favorite and/or most inspiring Ted Talk in the comments below. I am always looking for new Ted Talks to educate myself with and expand the way I view things. Don’t like one of my suggestions? Leave me a comment on that, and let’s talk about it!
Fire & Female 