International Day of the Girl 2016

Hey everyone! Today is International Day of the Girl, along with Coming Out Day. I feel like these are two important days of the year and show how much we have grown as a more accepting world in the 21st century. I wanted to do a post today on the the importance of being a girl and how awesome it can be. I've been inspired today because of all the positive posts and videos that I have seen about being a woman.

I am a feminist, so to clarify for those of you who don't know the right definition of feminism it is...the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Feminism to me means that I want all genders to be equal. I, personally, advocate for the gender pay gap to be closed because I don't understand why I shouldn't be paid the same amount of money as a male for the same job. I also advocate for men and women to not be forced in societal standards. Why do we use terms such as "man up," "you run like a girl,"or the use of a word that has made a lot of headlines lately due to Donald Trump.

Girls need to be supported in everything we do. The world was run by white males for thousands of years, and females became the oppressed sex. Girls are still seen as sex objects in many countries, and are forced into prostitution before they even understand their own body. For many centuries, girls weren't even allowed to have an education because their jobs were to clean the house and raise children. To this day, girls make up 2/3 of the amount of people in the world who are illiterate. Less than 40% of countries in present day do not give equal education for boys and girls. I am blessed that I was born into the life that I have because I get to have an education, and will be able to graduate from college and get a job. The United States is one of the countries that has made a leap (not a big enough leap, but a leap all the same) to give girls equal education because for every 100 boys in University, there are 103 girls.There are girls around the world who even if they want an education do not have the financial means to or are not allowed to by their family, government, or other forces. In countries such as Nigeria, school girls were captured by extremist groups just for wanting an education. How is this fair to girls? Why is it seen as illegal in many countries just to receive an education?

Girls deal with problems that nobody should be subjected to. Rape is a problem in all genders, but when we have political figures trying to stop non-profits such as Planned Parenthood, we fear for our future generations. Without getting too political, girls need a round of applause for dealing with a choice shaming society for whatever they do. I've seen stories of girls getting shamed for getting an abortion even though it's their own body. I've seen stories of girls getting shamed for keeping a baby no matter what the circumstances. How can a girl develop and prosper in a world where whatever their decision they get shamed?

I can go on and on about the statistics of women in the world and all the injustices they face, but now I am going to talk about the pros of being a girl and the empowerment we deserve.

Women received the right to vote in 1920 in the United States. At the time, this right didn't include all women, but it was a step in the right direction. This is important for me because in the year 2020, I will be able to vote for the president of the United States.

Women can be in the Olympics, and win medals in the sports they compete in. If you haven't learned anything from the Summer 2016 Olympics, then you should look to see how many women won medals in the sports they competed in.

Girls are the future. There is not a job or thing we cannot do. Just because people use the insult "like a girl," that doesn't mean that you can't do something. Yes, I am a girl and I can run, finish college, get a degree, be an engineer, be a soccer player, be a CEO, and anything else I set my mind to.

Everyone should work to build each other up because that's how we make progress. We live in a time with computers, iPhones, and technology that can send our message out in minutes. We need to raise awareness for those who are suffering from injustice, and support those who are trying to beat it. You don't have to be a girl to support other girls, but by not using derogatory terms to put others down is a step in the right direction.

Here are some videos that can explain the importance of celebrating girls:

Hurdles: Narrated by Emma Watson

"Like a Girl" by Always

"The Woman Card"

Emma Watson speaking at the UN in 2012 on Feminism and the #HeforShe Movement.

If you get anything at all from this post, it is to support girls because they are the future when it comes to progressing in society. It is the end of an era of oppressing women. Spread the word about International Day of the Girl, and fight for it to become an even bigger thing. 

                                                                   xx
                                                      Christina Madeleine

*If I said any things that are politically incorrect, it is not my conscious intention to do so*

Start a conversation below in the comments about feminism, the importance of girls, and whatever else in the comments below.