Girl Power (or the lack of it)

I've just done an exercise that gives you the opportunity to make decisions as if you were a 16 year old girl, whether you male or female I suggest you click here to also do it before you read this blog.

I writing this blog because it hit me again, just how lucky I am. I am a woman living in a country where I have rights, where I can be independent. Where I have GIRL POWER!

I see myself as independent. I'm not fully, but my parents are supportive in my decisions. I know, whatever I decided to do, they won't stop me, they may try and talk me out of it, but they won't stop me. I know, they only want whats best for me.

My parents see education as a priority and have encouraged me to attend school, 6th form college and now Uni. But, for many children, especially girls, education isn't seen as a priority. As many parents in other countries don't have an education, they don't understand the advantages of their children having one.

So, many children, again especially girls, drop out of high school due to the long distances they have to walk.

They then go and work in the fields.

But, often after a year of working in the fields that parents have found someone for the girl to marry, either a boy the similar age - but can a 'marriage' between a 13 year old girl and a 14 year old boy really be called marriage? Or a man much older.
Why? The man has to pay a dowry for the girl, so the parents gain money and lose a mouth to feed.

Liz said despite it being illegal for a girl under 18 to marry, it is rare to discover an unmarried woman under the above the age of 18. However, they would wait until 18 until starting a family.

IF, however, the girl did end up staying on in high school. Many girls end up getting pregnant by their boyfriends, and end up disgraced back at their family home as the boyfriend might not marry them. In this case the girl and her unborn child is reliant on her families support.
Her prospect for marriage are slim, however a man may marry her as his second wife.

Like in the 'Girl power' scenario, marriage isn't an option, it was an expectation in the community we stayed in. However, unlike the scenario sexual education was available. One afternoon we went into the local primary school, so beforehand we asked to look at the textbooks they used. I was shocked at the level of sex ed the children were receiving at primary school. They were learning stuff that I was taught in years 7-9 at high school in primary 4-7, like contraceptive methods and where to get them from.
However, as my fellow team mates pointed out, it was important for them to learn it earlier on, partly because many might not reach high school but also because of  HIV/Aids and other STIs.

Sorry that this blog is quite similar to "Education is your life, guard it well" but, these issues hit me again hard and I wanted to blog about it.

Because I believe that Girl Power needs to be available to all.

Because I believe that girls need to have a voice.

Because I believe that girls shouldn't be sold into marriages or the sex trade.