Girl Power

The 16 Days of Activism campaign led by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute led to the start of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign runs annually from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day).

During this campaign, it is important to remember that there is much that can be done at an individual level. Promoting the rights of women is something that should concern everyone, including men. Campaigns often send a strong message to women to stand up, but it unfairly places the burden on women only. Men, too, should know that women should be treated with respect and cannot be excluded from opportunities simply because they are women. Activism does not only include reporting a crime to the police, but it also includes not laughing when someone makes a misogynistic joke, not cat-calling women, and not forming bonds with other men based on the belittling of women.

Schools, in particular, are spaces that need to take the 16 days of activism to heart. Schools carry with them the tremendous privilege and opportunity of influencing young people’s minds when it comes to the treatment of women and people in general. Even more, schools should be safe spaces for all children. There should never be a day when gender-based violence and unfair discrimination against women are tolerated. We need these 16 days to reflect on the fights that have been won, the people we have lost, and the battle that lies ahead. It is hoped that during this time we will stand together and recommit ourselves to the fight against gender inequality and child abuse. We would also like to take this opportunity to focus on the girl child.

Part of the reason girls are prone to compete is that they worry about losing out on opportunities – scarcity theory might lead young girls to believe that there are limits around how many good things can happen to any one person, which could also lead them to believe that their success will be limited. That means that girls may conclude that losing one chance to another girl means they’ll never get another one, says business leader and pro basketball pioneer Donna Orender: “Unfortunately, it’s been communicated to us over the years that there are fewer spots for women – a limited inventory.”

How to boost the girl child’s self-esteem

· Model body acceptance. Parents or caregivers have a huge impact on their daughters’ body image.

· Make girls media literate. Watch TV with her and talk about what you see. Help her develop a critical eye through which to decode media messages.

· Don’t raise her as a “pleaser”. Encourage her to stand up for what she needs and wants.

· Start team sports early. Research shows that girls who play on teams have higher self-esteem.

· Don’t borrow your daughters’ clothes. You want to let her have her own style, her own look.

· Direct your praise away from appearance. We need to make a very conscious effort to balance our compliments about a girl’s appearance with compliments about who she is.

· Help her build skills that are independent of appearance. Get her involved in activities that build a sense of confidence.

· Speak up about your daughter’s school curriculum. Does it include a female perspective? Imagine if you were putting together a family history and you only asked the men about their memories.

· Praise your daughter for her efforts rather than her performance. Focus less on the outcome.

Don’t trash-talk other women

And don’t let the boys and men in your household do it either. Don’t let kids tease each other around food or looks. Do not let that go down in your house. It’s harmful. Don’t treat your daughter like a damsel in distress. When caregivers treat girls as though they are these fragile beings, the message is, ‘Your role is to look good so someone will sweep in and save you.’

So, what can parents and educators do to help girls understand that it’s not a zero-sum game?

Showing girls images of confident girls and women standing with strength can also help reinforce the message of feeling empowered. Encourage girls to do their best in competitive situations but emphasize the importance of good sportsmanship and empathy throughout. As part of this, experts recommend introducing girls to fierce but kind female characters in media.