What glass ceiling? Issue #39

By Aynsley Karps
Published: March 1st, 2009 | 9:38am

It’s tough to stand out and make a name for yourself in today’s competitive and judgmental world. But it’s even tougher when there’s an outside barrier to conquer on top of it all. These self-starting women overcame major hurdles in their lives to shatter the glass ceilings of age, ethnicity, and gender.

Catherine Cook
Back in 2005, then 15-year-old Catherine Cook and her brother Dave (then 17) came up with an idea for a new teen social networking site: an interactive yearbook. The siblings persuaded their older brother to invest, and soon launched myYearbook.com. More than three years later, the free site boasts over 16 million users and is the third largest social network in the United States. The site recently launched the feature “Causes,” which allows members to support their favorite charities by sending virtual “lunch money” that myYearbook.com translates into real donations each month. Now 18, Cook currently shares the title of Founder with her brother; she heads up the Public Relations department while he takes care of member support.

The Accolade
As the first all-girl rock band in Saudi Arabia, the AccoLade brings progressiveness and greater promise to a country with a traditionally severe system of religion and public morals. The band started three years ago, when Dina (guitar) brought together her sister Dareen (bass) and friends Lamia (lead vocals) and Amjad (keyboard). Their first single, “Pinocchio,” is already a MySpace hit, but their growing fame is hindered by the fact that the girls aren’t allowed to perform in public or pose for photographs. Fortunately, they live in the more modern and tolerant city of Jidda, where religious police have largely retreated. Because of this, they hope to begin playing shows inside private compounds and record an album.

Eri Yoshida
Not only is Eri Yoshida Japan’s first female professional baseball player, but she’s also only 16 years old. In November 2008, the high school student was drafted into the Kobe 9 Cruise, a team in an independent league, which starts its opening season in April. It was only 10 years ago that Japanese girls were first allowed to play little league, and softball was the sole choice before then. Yoshida, who began playing baseball in second grade to tag along with her older brother, is coveted for her side-armed knuckle ball. She considers her idol to be Boston Red Sox pitcher and famous knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield. And, with major leagues in the U.S. scouting for rising talent in Japan, the 5-foot-tall, 114-pound Yoshida could potentially one day give Wakefield a run for his money.