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Today’s world presents unique challenges for advocating for girls’ futures and raising strong, confident girls. From societal pressures to political shifts, the messages girls receive about their worth and potential are often conflicting and, at times, deeply damaging. In a world that increasingly seeks to control their choices, silence their voices, and dictate their futures, it’s more critical than ever to empower young girls to stand tall, advocate for themselves, and believe in their boundless potential.
The Mixed Messages Girls Face
Girls grow up bombarded by contradictions. They’re told they can be anything they want, yet they see fewer women in leadership roles and hear debates about their right to make decisions about their own bodies. Media often glorifies unrealistic beauty standards while simultaneously criticizing women who embrace their individuality. These mixed messages can chip away at self-worth and create internalized doubts about what they can achieve. Advocating for girls’ futures means addressing these contradictions and fostering environments that uplift and empower.
The Danger of Deflated Self-Worth
When young girls internalize the idea that they are less than—whether through media, societal expectations, or laws that restrict their autonomy—it plants seeds of deflated self-worth that can last a lifetime. This isn’t just harmful to individual girls; it’s detrimental to society as a whole. Advocating for girls’ futures is about ensuring that every girl feels valued, capable, and worthy of achieving her full potential.
A Mother’s Perspective: Protecting Our Girls
As a mother who had my daughter at 16, this topic is deeply personal to me. I grew up with an imperfect childhood and experienced inappropriate attention from older men from a very young age. These experiences shaped my unwavering passion for protecting little girls—especially in light of the rights being stripped away in our country and the fact that some of the worst offenders of abuse now hold positions of power in our government.
The reality is appalling: rape and incest continue to be excused, minimized, and even ignored. Former U.S. Representative Todd Akin infamously claimed, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down” (CBS News). Similarly, Indiana State Representative Eric Turner once argued against a rape exception in abortion laws, suggesting women might falsely claim rape to obtain an abortion (India Today). Statements like these perpetuate harmful myths and foster a culture of victim-blaming. Advocating for girls’ futures means challenging this narrative and ensuring survivors are supported.
Alarming Statistics on Sexual Violence
The prevalence of sexual violence is staggering, and addressing these issues is key to advocating for girls’ futures. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted (RAINN). From 2009–2013, 63,000 children per year were substantiated victims of sexual abuse (RAINN). And only 310 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to the police, meaning more than two-thirds go unreported (RAINN). These statistics highlight the pervasive nature of sexual violence and the critical importance of supporting survivors and implementing effective prevention strategies.
Empowerment Through Action
So how do we counteract these forces? Advocating for girls’ futures starts at home and in the community. It’s about creating environments where girls feel seen, heard, and valued. Here are some actionable steps to raise strong girls in today’s world:
- Encourage girls to question the messages they receive—whether from media, peers, or authority figures. Help them develop the tools to analyze and challenge unfair narratives.
- Whether a girl loves science, sports, art, or activism, foster her passions. Celebrate her individuality and encourage her to explore her unique talents.
- Show girls what it means to stand up for what’s right. Advocate for gender equality, bodily autonomy, and diversity in your own actions, and involve them in causes that matter.
- Break down stereotypes about what girls “should” or “shouldn’t” do. Encourage them to take risks, pursue their goals, and dream big.
- Expose girls to diverse role models who defy the odds—women leaders, scientists, artists, athletes, and activists. Representation matters, and seeing others succeed can inspire them to do the same.
Advocating for Girls’ Futures, Why This Fight Matters
The battle to raise strong girls isn’t just about their futures—it’s about all of ours. Girls who grow up confident in their worth become women who change the world. They become leaders, innovators, and advocates for justice. Advocating for girls’ futures ensures that they have the tools and support to push past the forces that seek to limit them.
A Call to Action
As parents, educators, mentors, and allies, it’s our responsibility to ensure that the next generation of girls knows their worth. Advocating for girls’ futures means creating a world where girls are empowered to stand up, speak out, and break through barriers—because when girls rise, we all rise with them.
