Like all of us, I look forward to many days throughout the year -- birthdays, weddings, holidays -- but this year there’s one day in particular I simply cannot wait for: October 11, 2012. That will be the first-ever United Nations International Day of the Girl.
It’s a day to celebrate the work being done worldwide by and for girls’ rights. And mind you, this isn’t just about doing work on behalf of girls -- but supporting the many, many girls worldwide who are already engaged, quite literally, in changing the world.
But here’s what’s so exciting about this day: it’s not only a day to celebrate girls, but a day for action. So that all of us, worldwide, can stop and ask ourselves -- what’s the next step? How do we move our advocacy forward? How can we best translate our shared energy and commitment into action, into tangible results for girls throughout the world?
The Day of the Girl website says it best:
In reserving a day for advocacy and action by and for girls, the UN has signaled its commitment to end gender stereotypes, discrimination, violence, and economic disparities that disproportionately affect girls... including gender violence, early marriage, child labor, and discrimination at work.
And of course, in talking about empowering girls, my thoughts go straight to the inspiring work of Shree Bose, Naomi Shah and Lauren Hodge -- the “Google Girls” who won the Google Science fair, and all of our respect and admiration when they spoke at the 2011 TEDxWomen conference. Girls were a big presence at TEDxWomen this year, as Rachel Simmons also spoke, an incredible and compassionate leader in empowering girls. Her GirlTips are powerful reminders for all of us.
Please share about your Girl Posse, and also join me in celebrating all the hard work done by many women, men, and organizations to get the UN to declare October 11 the International Day of the Girl Child.
Follow Pat Mitchell on Twitter: www.twitter.com/patpaley
Men have dominated this culture and society for centuries. In every aspect of public life - professional, financial, political, sexual, familial - men have enjoyed power, privilege, and preference for as long as America has existed (and in other places long before that.) Men don't need a day, because they have every day.
If men want a place all their own, to discuss their challenges and celebrate their strengths, they have lots of options. I suggest you start with http://goodmenproject.com. You might learn something.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgqtlIvNx_o&feature=share&list=PLApdl7sXvtv4Ze9jF6GiHcAcymny23iBA
http://flipthemedia.com/2012/10/help-women-and-girls-save-the-world/
http://flipthemedia.com/2012/10/help-women-and-girls-save-the-world/
"As The Vagina Monologues took us into the minds and hearts of women everywhere." One of the scenes in the vagina monologues described a little girl being given alcohol until she's drunk and raped by a grown woman and calling it a, "good rape." Is the hearts and minds of western women everywhere?
You do realize that empowering women means giving women power, as in not earning it. Is this really the message you want to send? Pride for being given something, not achieving it?