There’s a saying that goes, ‘if you educate a man, you educate one person; if you educate a woman, you educate a nation’. When girls are not educated, their quality of life is lessened and escaping poverty becomes almost impossible. According to a White House report, uneducated girls have diminished economic opportunities and are more…
Read more
She’s fourteen – though she is often mistaken for twelve – and a mixture of insecurity and confidence is etched into her movements. A freshman in a tiny Texas town, she tiptoes through the halls of her high school quietly and curiously. She’s not quite sure how to carry herself – this body of a…
Read more
April 14. I was probably studying on April 14. I was probably complaining about the amount of study I was doing on April 14, taking for granted my privileged education that has made me a better analyser, empathiser, and questioner. Almost 300 girls between 14 and 18 were sitting their exams on April 13 in…
Read more
There is nothing so delicious as losing yourself in an excellent TV series. You lie static on the couch for hours; when you go to work, your mind is full of the characters’ concerns; you even dream about them. When you pop the DVD in the player for one more episode before bedtime, tears erupt…
Read more
I recently watched an advertisement for girls’ toys, and while there is an abundance of pink, there is not a Barbie doll or My Little Pony in sight. The ad is for GoldieBlox, a range of toys specifically designed to engage girls and encourage them to build things, think creatively and be innovative. The company…
Read more
As she lay in bed at night reading the latest Girlfriend or Dolly magazine, pre-pubescent Jess Planner always dreamt of her first date. It would be perfect. He would pick her up and they would go to a movie. He would buy her dinner and soon enough, he would introduce her to his parents before…
Read more
In most contemporary western countries, there is little difference between the educational participation of males and females. While in the past it was males that predominantly participated in the education system and the workforce, while females worked within the private realm of their home; changes in legislations and cultural values have over time made the…
Read more
A new campaign called NYC Girls Project has hit New York City buses and subways. Intended for 7-12 year olds, the campaign hopes to tell girls they are beautiful the way they are. It is aimed at improving the self-esteem of young girls. The New York Times has reported that Samantha Levine – deputy press…
Read more
About two weeks ago I came across an ad online that stated I could win the chance to watch the Breaking Bad finale with actor Aaron Paul in Los Angeles. As a huge Breaking Bad fan I immediately clicked on the ad and was linked to a page for a company called Omaze. Omaze was…
Read more
‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.’ This is the opening Principle of the Tasmanian Government’s Taking Action: Tasmania’s Primary Prevention Strategy to Reduce Violence against Women and Children 2012-22 released by Minister for Community Development, Cassy O’Connor this week. At the inaugural Tasmania’s Women’s Gathering in Hobart on 3 September,…
Read more
UNICEF has reported that more than 125 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, and 30 million more are at risk in the next decade. Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to any procedure that intentionally changes or injures female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It has no health benefits, and can cause…
Read more
Young women who are or may become victims of female genital mutilation can now find 24-hour support via a helpline, the Independent reported this week. The project, launched by the children’s charity NSPCC, is the first of its kind in the U.K. The procedure, which involves partial or complete removal of the external female…
Read more
Girls is one of my favourite shows. A few weeks ago I watched the entirety of season two in one day: it involved my bed, my laptop, pyjamas and more junk food than I’d like to admit. So, I have an unashamed love for Lena Dunham and her show. I know lots of people don’t….
Read more
Each week “Revision” holds two TV shows up to the light to figure out if they are friends or foes. First things first: Mel is Jessa, Ginny is Shoshanna, Sasha is Marnie, and Boo is Hannah. The comparisons may not be perfect, but hey, someone had to do it. Girls needs no introduction; obviously it…
Read more
