For a while now, here in the United States, we have focused on making sure girls aren’t left behind in school. There have been STEM efforts and there are sports efforts and there are efforts after efforts to make sure our girls are heard in the classroom, on the field and in some boardrooms. Then, as usual with the United States, the backlash came and we started wondering if we weren’t leaving our boys behind. What, with all this effort to engage girls, we raised test scores and college admissions and career levels and so that must mean we need to stop paying so much attention because our boys are failing now and our girls are just fine.
No. No. No. No. No.
We must not stop paying attention or encouraging or stretching or giving or screaming from the rooftops that girls are equal and powerful. Girls are important to the world and worth everything we have to give . This does not mean boys aren’t worthwhile. This does not mean boys should be ignored. This simply means, we aren’t finished promoting our girls yet.
Worldwide, girls aren’t anywhere close to “there”. Earlier this week I wrote about young girls being forced into marriage and thus forced out of any other kind of productive life for themselves. Today is International Day of the Girl and as a girl and a mother of a girl, I wanted to do all I could to keep bringing attention to the girls of our world.
Because, maybe we do have a higher college admission rate here in the US than ever before. Maybe we are running more companies than anyone ever dreamed. Maybe we can run for President and even threaten to win. But we here in the US are a small part of the world and we are a small portion of the world’s girls. I don’t just want MY girl to have a bright future full of her own limitless choices. I want all girls to have that same chance.
No. No. We are not finished yet.
Today is the International Day of the Girl Child. To me, that means a reason to stop and marvel at the wonder of girls and then confirm a course of action to help the girls of the world seize that wonder. As Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, points out, “If we unleash the potential of the world’s girls and young women, we will unleash a powerful force that will bring lasting change to all corners of the globe.”
Thanks to the wonderful creator of SmilePlayLearn.com, I get to share the link-up other awesome bloggers who are sharing their unique thoughts and perspectives about girls and girl power. Click below to add yours. It’s is not only our moral duty to empower girls and ensure their rights, it helps fight poverty, intolerance, death and violence around the world.
