I asked my acquaintances and friends the following:
If you could say one thing, just one, to teenage girls out there, what would it be?
As an educator I find myself in the privileged position to communicate to avid listeners. I've used that privilege, among other things, to advocate for equity and the celebration of diversity, both in and out of the classroom. Unfortunately, everyday I see girls hurt by boys or other girls on account of the assumptions they make about what being a girl is or should be, and about what they need to accept and tolerate.
So, in the context of abductions, campus and off campus, mass or individualised rape, exploitation of the image of the female body, work-place harassment and so much more, I'm embarking on a quest to expand ways to convey a message to teenage girls about their worth and their rights.
During this process I've become aware of two notions which have astounded me;
1. Not many women are willing to speak about equity.
2. More strong male figures are needed.
The first notion has left me feeling a bit helpless. I would have thought that many would have liked to speak or write so as to make it easier for girls who might go through both simple and complicated situations of injustice. About that, I was delighted to hear that Madeline Albright has a motto; "There's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other".The second idea just might be the answer I've been waiting for. I've been operating under the assumption that as a male teacher, others might believe that I lack the authority to speak about gender equity and injustice towards women. However, in the past few weeks, while listening to Madeline Albright, Malala Yousafzai and Shabana Basij-Rasikh interviews, I've become aware that we need more strong male figures advocating for gender equity. When Malala Yousafzai was asked by John Steward during a 'The Daily Show' interview, "What gave you the courage to continue?", she simply answered "My father was a great encouragement for me." At a TED sponsored event, 22-year-old Shabana Basij-Rasikh spoke about her experiences in Afghanistan and says of her father that when he learned that the Taliban had left, his words to his daughter were, "You can go to a real school now." She speaks of a persistent father and a determined grandfather. In the coming months I will be calling students to weekly assemblies where I will reserve a few moments to talk about the constraints and pressures girls and women face today. If you, male or female have something you believe young boys and girls should hear in relation to gender equity, please post on this blog in the following manner:
State a sentence with a direct message.
State your name, occupation, country of origin and/or residence(Optional) Explain your sentence with as much depth as you'd like.
