Marianne Elliott Quotes

I think that we need women role models everywhere. I think that it's really hard to imagine yourself as something that you don't see.

Women have to be able to look at themselves in the mirror as men do and say, “I see a presidential candidate!”

I have no issue with my boys looking up to women.

The more people feel comfortable to showcase that and the more we highlight that as a visibility for young girls to see and look up to - I think that's better.

I like to think I'm a role model for women. But I also don't like to just limit it to women. I like to think I'm a role model for human beings in general.

Women need opportunity and encouragement. If a girl can climb mountains, she can do anything positive within her field of work.

I'm getting a lot of roles as women who are very powerful. I think that's a reflection of me as a person.

I would say that one of the things that encouraged me so much when I became elected to the leadership was the letters I received from fathers of daughters, saying that, 'My daughter can now do many more things because of what you did.'

The school made it very clear that women were entitled to positions of authority. That sense of entitlement allowed us to feel that we have a natural place in leadership in the world. That gave me a mental and emotional confidence.

I've had some very strong female role models, so I think that's an important thing.

As a representative of women let my message be: Yes you can.

We don't need to be men in skirts to have a role in politics. Women can be leaders by being sensitive women.

In everything I do, I like to set the idea for girls that they can do anything. I was really moved by Hillary Clinton's speech when she lost the election - she didn't want young girls to feel like it wasn't possible and wanted them to know a female president will eventually happen. That's important.

For me, it's important to be the representation that I wanted when I was a young girl.

I think being a young woman is a strength.

I love performing and entertaining, but what I want to really share is a stronger voice to the people and empower women to show that women and girls can do anything. Don't ever let your gender stop you from chasing dreams.

Little girls need someone to look up to - and little boys need strong women to look up to, as well. I don't think your heroes should be relegated to someone who's the same sex or from the same background as you. Little boys should grow up wanting to be like Serena Williams.

My boys will not only respect and admire women and see them as their equals, but they will also see them as sources of inspiration and knowledge.

Especially in the world of fantasy and superheroes, it's great to have role models that aren't in skimpy little outfits, in impossible poses. That's so important for young women.

The door might not be opened to a woman again for a long, long time, and I had a kind of duty to other women to walk in and sit down on the chair that was offered, and so establish the right of others long hence and far distant in geography to sit in the high seats.

Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail their failure must be but a challenge to others.

You ask how I feel to be the first female president in southern Africa? It's heavy for me. Heavy in the sense that I feel that I'm carrying this heavy load on behalf of all women.

For me, personally, it has been humbling since I became First Minister to speak to women and girls and have them tell me how much it means to them to have a woman in the top job in politics in Scotland.

I think it's important for little girls growing up, and young women, to have one in every walk of life. So from that point of view, I'm proud to be a role model!

When I was 14, I told all the girls in my class that I wanted to be the first woman prime minister. Someone else beat me to that!