One of my happiest moment was when my daughter was born. I still remember her chubby little face and small curls on her head, her tiny fingers twining around my thumb, and oh she was simply adorable. The day she was born I had decided that I will give her the best I can, just like my parents who gave us two sisters all the love, care, support and have always been our guiding pillars till date. This post is dedicated to all the girls around the world.
We all know what is the status of a girl child in India; she faces discrimination even before she is born. Denial of fundamental needs and rights, preference for sons, early marriages, domestic abuse, no access to education, and also less food. On reading a UN report, I learned that this is not the case just in India but in other developing nations too. Just have a look at what the statistics have to say:
- Of the more than 110 million children not in school, approximately 60% are girls.
- By the age of 18, girls have received an average of 4.4 years less education than boys.
- From the 130 million primary school-age children worldwide who are not enrolled in school, about 60% are girls.
- At least 1 in 3 girls and women worldwide has been beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime.
- Around 450 million adult women in developing countries are stunted, a direct result of malnutrition in early life.
I was horrified to find not just these appalling figures but also many other stories and incidents around the globe which highlight discrimination against girls. I found stories wherein it's not just the male members who discriminate against the opposite gender but also the women of the household who are to be equally blamed.
A few words from John Mayer's song 'Daughters' that fits in here:
Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too.....
Poverty, cultural norms or whatever the reason maybe for this gender disparity, we can and should give, the best education and support to our daughters. Many a times I have came across parents who have refused to invest in their daughter's education with the same vigor as they do for their sons since they feel that the girls will ultimately end up being housewives and mothers, so its wiser to invest in their marriages later. They are ready to spend crores of rupees on marriages but not on education. They don't realise that when they educate a girl it is more than book-knowledge; education empowers women socially and economically. You never know, your daughters may be educating your grandsons tomorrow!
A few words from John Mayer's song 'Daughters' that fits in here:
Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too.....
Poverty, cultural norms or whatever the reason maybe for this gender disparity, we can and should give, the best education and support to our daughters. Many a times I have came across parents who have refused to invest in their daughter's education with the same vigor as they do for their sons since they feel that the girls will ultimately end up being housewives and mothers, so its wiser to invest in their marriages later. They are ready to spend crores of rupees on marriages but not on education. They don't realise that when they educate a girl it is more than book-knowledge; education empowers women socially and economically. You never know, your daughters may be educating your grandsons tomorrow!
My message to all the girls and the women around the world (though it may sound a little cliche but it comes straight from the heart):
Don't be afraid to speak up, fight for your dreams.
You have the power to create a better world. So make it happen.
Live with dignity and laugh without fear.
Most importantly believe in yourself.
The world is yours.
You have the power to create a better world. So make it happen.
Live with dignity and laugh without fear.
Most importantly believe in yourself.
The world is yours.
---
sources referred:
www.un.org
www.who.int
www.unicef.org
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