Seeing is believing

What happens when three young girls meet the women doing their dream jobs? In this video, we see the importance of positive female role models.

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. You can also read the transcript.

Preparation

Transcript

Annika: I'm nine years old. I think it's the greatest year to be alive.

Director: So, Sierra, can you tell me what you want to be when you grow up?

Sierra: I want to be an author. Because it's a chance I get to use my imagination.

Annika: I want to be a marine biologist when I grow up. My two favourite animals is a turtle and a jellyfish.

Brianna: I'd like to be a helicopter doctor because I've always wanted to be a doctor and I really love helicopters.

Director: So, can you name some authors for me?

Sierra: David Walliams, Roald Dahl and um ...

Annika: I look up to Charles Darwin and Jacques Cousteau.

Director: Do you think there's more men or women who do that job?

Brianna: I don't think it's a job that women would be interested in.

Director: Why?

Brianna: Because I think women would be more into being a nurse.

(We tell children that they can do anything …)

Annika: There's more boys than girls that do it. Maybe girls aren't just interested in more of that stuff.

(… but how can we expect them to believe …)

Sierra: Girls – they like fairies and mermaids and stuff like that, but they're not really real.

(… what they can’t see?)

Director: We've got someone coming to meet you now.

Helicopter doctor: Hi, I'm Claire.

Brianna: Hi, Claire.

Helicopter doctor: I'm one of the helicopter doctors. Nice to meet you.

Brianna: Nice to meet you, too.

Helicopter doctor: How are you going?

Brianna: Good. I'm really excited!

Biologist: My name is Sam. I work here at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and I'm a marine biologist here.

Author: My name is Jacqueline Harvey. Do you know what I do for a job? What do I do?

Sierra: Write.

Author: I write books. Do you like reading? (Sierra nods.)

Helicopter doctor: Do you want to get in?

Brianna: Yes!

Helicopter doctor: Up you hop! Where you're sitting is exactly where I sit when we fly.

Brianna: Really?

Helicopter doctor: Yep! Exactly where I sit.

Biologist: I'm in charge of this team and I look after absolutely everything in here. So, we have two dugongs and we have a whole bunch of sharks and rays which are ...

Sierra: I wrote a book called The Old Woman Who Lived In A Tree.

Author: Oh! So why don't you read me the first page?

Sierra: Once upon a time, there was an old lady who lived in a tree. One day, the old lady went for a walk.

Helicopter doctor: So you can be an anaesthetic doctor, or you can be an intensive care doctor or an emergency doctor. There are so many different options.

Brianna: Cool!

Helicopter doctor: Yeah.

Sierra: There's not really a difference about 'boy' and 'girl' writing. So they can both become an author.

Annika: I was like 'Oh my gosh! I've only researched about the boy marine biologists. Now I've finally met a girl one!' Like ... just a dream!

Director: Is there anything a boy can do that a girl can't do?

Brianna: No. If you want to do something, you do it.

Helicopter doctor: Good look. Suits you.

Brianna: Thank you.

Annika: When I'm older, those little girls will have someone to look up to because that's going to be me.

© Sydney Opera House

Task 1

Task 2

Discussion

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Submitted by Chel Zin on Wed, 13/03/2024 - 11:16

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I felt motivation after I have watched it.I can see the equality and diversity in somewhere but I would say we can do whatever we want because there's no specific stuff for women or men.

Submitted by Kurnia Khoirun Nisa on Wed, 14/06/2023 - 03:47

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I am crying while watching and listening to those little girls. I just simply remember my own daughters and girl students as well. They do really need fantastic female role models to make them dare to dream big.

We have some in our history in the past and also today. We can do the best as the boys and men do.

Submitted by birdy69 on Tue, 16/05/2023 - 10:45

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All of them! It is meaningless to estimate the value in inspiring young girls the possibility of their future job. In this regard, I think all of them are good role models for girls.

Submitted by Martin07 on Thu, 04/05/2023 - 16:26

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It´s such a motivating video, and it is remarkable how it can act as a powerful inspiration for the children. Having the actual chance of seeing by theirselves that their dreams can perfectly come true and getting together alongside there real superheroes is a wonderful tool and an unforgettable experience.

Submitted by AnaCroatia on Sun, 19/03/2023 - 19:25

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I didn"t expect such a beautiful video and story! I enjoyed! Very inspiring and emotional! Go girls!

Submitted by Soyeon Park on Sun, 05/03/2023 - 13:36

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When I read the title, Seeing is believing, I didn't expect that I would find this story. It's inspiring for all the girls who want to be the one they dream. It's really important that there's role model who gives courage and confidence by theirs existence to the little girls.

Submitted by anwarriady on Tue, 21/02/2023 - 23:19

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Very inspiring and motivating, particularly for girls!

Submitted by meknini on Mon, 18/07/2022 - 17:32

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Children irregardless of their gender need aspiring figures to look up to to spur them to attain their ambitions. Girls who are highly exposed to beauty and entertainment industry are most likely opt for careers in fields related to this whereby those who are raised in business minded community are bound to feel more at ease in entrepreneurship. Thus, how do we inspire girls to be more ambitious? One of the ways could be by personal interaction like in the video. Next, they could also watch documentaries about female figures succeeding in different fields. Then reading biography or autobiography also could open up their minds to possibilities.

Submitted by Murrette on Fri, 20/05/2022 - 12:08

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I think this is an inspirational and motivational video, as it shows how can young girls think, see and after all, try to make their dreams come true.
Nice one...

Submitted by rc22 on Mon, 25/04/2022 - 00:07

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It's a very interesting and uplifting video for girls! Seeing is believing!!!