How Books Empowered me and Shaped My View on Equality and Identity
- Renee Myltoft
- Feb 5
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 10
My blog is about my life, my choices, and my consequences. It is mostly about the harassment I am experiencing because my harassers cannot 'see my disability'. This started as harassment within the Health Sector; which led to harassment from members at the YMCA, military and civilians, in Trenton, Ontario; the Education Sector, and within my community. Of the members of my community, my harassers are among them. Who exactly are they? I would like to know. I have requested my criminal background check, the thorough one, to show me who has been putting forth requests to investigate me on ficticious allegations. However, they are withholding it from me. However, a PBS request in 2024 indicated from the RCMP that they could neither confirm nor deny that they had any information on me. That tells me they were not the lead and that they do not have power in and of themselves to put me away. They had to manipulate and lie and concoct evidence fake evidence to build a case against me.
The harassers are there, but I am told nobody would ever do that and yet there they are. I have collected license plate numbers because those around me on the road. The most frequently are my harassers.
They are gaslighting my lifes experiences, my health issues and my son's. I thought we were in the land of the free, but why have I been prevented from thriving? We will explore that and many other things, so you can really know who I AM, and who 'They' are. We will discover it together!
I want to be a good influence on others, and help lift them. It has been hard to set aside my anger to really understand this complex experience and bring rationality, logic, objectivity, and understanding from everyone's perspective. So, please bare with me as I introduce myself, describe my life thus far, and help bring clarity for everyone who is willing to come along with me, to understand me. Maybe I will inspire you to strive to be a better version of yourself every day.
The beginning of my blog sets the tone for how I have developed, my choices in actions, and who I have chosen to become along with my characteristics, every moment I choose. It does not mean I am perfect or think I am better than anyone else. It means I have bad days, and I just try to do better the next. I hold myself accountable to my morals, values, and integrity.
When I was a little girl, I often woke up happy, skipping around the house and singing songs. I often sang my older sister to sleep and making up my songs as I went. My imagination was fueled by stories that I identified with and made me feel seen and valued, no matter my gender, color, race, or how I identified. The only thing I identify as is a 'Human Being'. Anything else, is divisive; something that causes strong disagreement and splits people into opposing groups," which fuels projections onto others as if they are of lesser worth.
Characters like Laura from Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and the mysteries of Agatha Christie opened doors to worlds where equality and identity mattered. These stories shaped how I viewed myself and others, planting seeds of confidence and fairness that still grow today.
To understand me, the following lays a lot of the ground work of how I became who I am, and my love of reading really helped to shape me.
How Childhood Stories Influence Our Sense of Self
Books have a unique power to shape our understanding of the world. For children, stories are more than entertainment; they are mirrors and windows. Mirrors reflect who we are, helping us feel accepted and understood. Windows show us lives different from our own, teaching empathy and broadening perspectives.
When I read about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s adventures, I saw a girl who was brave and curious, not limited by the expectations of her time. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys showed me that intelligence and courage were not tied to gender. Agatha Christie’s mysteries invited me to think critically and question appearances, encouraging me to trust my own judgment.
These characters did not define themselves by stereotypes. They acted with strength and kindness, proving that identity is complex and personal. This helped me believe that I could be anything I wanted, regardless of labels. Aside from the fact my mom, Audrey, told me I could be anything I set my mind to. She was right.
Stories That Break Barriers
Many childhood stories still carry old-fashioned ideas, but the ones that stood out to me challenged those limits. Here are some ways these stories broke barriers:
Gender equality: Nancy Drew was a female detective solving crimes with skill and independence. She was a role model who showed girls they could be smart and brave.
Racial and cultural inclusion: While Little House on the Prairie has faced criticism for its portrayal of Native Americans, Laura’s story also highlights family, resilience, and community, values that cross cultural lines.
Identity beyond appearance: Agatha Christie’s characters often reveal that people are more than what they seem. This encouraged me to look deeper than surface traits and pay attention to subtle cues.
Friendship and teamwork: The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew often worked together, showing that cooperation across differences leads to success.
These stories taught me that equality means recognizing everyone’s worth and potential. They helped me understand that identity is not fixed but something we shape through our choices and actions.
Why Representation Matters in Children’s Books
Seeing yourself in a story matters. It builds confidence and a sense of belonging. When children read about characters who look like them or share their experiences, they feel valued. When they read about different lives, they learn respect and kindness.
Books that include diverse characters and perspectives help break down prejudice. They show that no one is “other” or less important. This early exposure to diversity creates adults who are more open-minded and fair.
For example, Nancy Drew’s character was groundbreaking because she was a young woman who solved mysteries with intelligence and courage. She was not defined by romance or appearance but by her skills and determination. This representation gave girls permission to dream big.
Personal Lessons from Childhood Reading
The stories I loved taught me lessons that still guide me:
Equality is a right, not a favor: Everyone deserves respect and opportunity.
Identity is personal and fluid: We define ourselves, not society. Seek to develop your internal locus of control.
Courage comes in many forms: Standing up for yourself and others matters. This is where I stand today.
Curiosity leads to growth: Asking questions and seeking truth is powerful.
These lessons helped me face challenges with confidence and kindness. They shaped my values and how I treat others.
How to Choose Books That Support Equality and Identity
Parents, educators, and caregivers can help children by choosing books that reflect diverse experiences and promote fairness. Here are some tips:
Look for stories with characters of different genders, races, abilities, and backgrounds.
Choose books that challenge stereotypes and show characters in varied roles.
Include stories that explore identity in thoughtful ways.
Encourage children to read widely, including nonfiction about different cultures and histories.
Discuss the stories with children to deepen understanding and empathy.
By selecting books carefully, adults can support children’s growth into compassionate and confident individuals.
The Lasting Impact of Childhood Stories
The stories we read as children leave lasting impressions. They shape how we see ourselves and others. For me, the characters who defied limits and embraced their true selves became my guides. They helped me believe in equality and the freedom to be myself.
Books are more than words on a page. They are tools for building a fairer, kinder world. When children grow up with stories that celebrate diversity and identity, they carry those values into adulthood.
If you want to support the next generation, start with the stories you share. Choose books that open minds and hearts. Help children find their own voices, develop healthy boundries, know their own value and to value themselves, and respect the voices of others.
I understand that many people do not believe in God or that there is something greater than us involved. As I grew up, I took an interest in the bible, and I took it to heart. I absorbed all good things by way of guidance on how to live a good life. Even though I was not certain if God really exists, but I liked and identified with what it had to say: these are two quotes from the Bible that my character rests on. The Bible says, "Do to others as you would have them do to you," Luke 6:31; and "Do all things with love." Corinthians 16:14.
When you do all things with love, your efforts are light and fluid, almost effortless. I think this is why most people who see me scoff when they look at me, they think I am faking being ill because I do not look what I have been through, or am experiencing. And because they cannot see my disabilities, and have been lied to and manipulated, they have justified their actions. But believe me, when someone starts talking poorly about others, it's usually because they want to manipulte you to do actions that feed their ego; and that would be having power over others. However, I must forgive everyone because, "They know not what they do".
Life's challenges are not meant to bring you down, but to break you and make you grow emotionally, intellectually, and set your code of morals and values. From my life's experiences, I find forgiveness of others is necessary for you to move in life without becoming hard, vile, mean, or worse; someone who believes in nothing.
If you want love, life, value, and healthy connections with others, you need to focus on yourself to be deciplined mentally, physically, and psychologically. Basically, love yourself first, in order to develop your sense of personal value, your worth. If people do not value you, use you, put you down; it's time to stop accepting less than, and start reaching for more! Every second is another chance to choose better for yourself. If you are doing your best, and though you may not be perfect, know that perfection is not expected, and your effort is good enough.
I am a leader, and I am standing in my truth. I will share it with you.
I previously started a petition on line with Change.org, 'Weigh in Canada', for Canadian's to share their experiences within the Canadian Health system; which is broken and needs to be fixed. I think it is important that if we want our rights to be protected, we need something like "The Patient's Advocate", which would be tax-payer funded; no more money going to the protecton of physicians, but for the protection of Canadian Health standards. It would advocate on behalf of the patient to ensure outcomes aim for win-win in every patient's case. Please take a look and sign it if you identify with it.
Comments