Empowering girls is something every educator and parent must do. It is both mentally and physically healthy for girls to feel empowered. It is also a human right. When girls are empowered, families are healthier. Girls must be given opportunities to grow mentally and physically into adulthood. They must understand themselves and be shown that they have a voice and are worthy. Otherwise, they are treated as second class citizens.
A school environment must be created so girls develop the confidence they need to be effective and resilient. A U.S. consumer data study conducted in 2015 states “girls between the ages of 18 and 24 who play sports regularly are twice as likely to be confident compared to women who didn’t play sports at all.”
Empowering Girls In Sports
Participation in sports is an important social empowerment tool for girls. It plays a key role in them becoming responsible adults. Team sports and other organizations provide opportunities. Girls share information and dialogue about social and academic topics. They also provide mentors and female role models.
Empowering Academically
Encouraging girls to participate in STEM or STEAM classes inspire them academically and professionally. It also enables them to build self-confidence beginning in elementary school and continuing through college. Boys are natural risk takers and take STEM classes. However, girls need encouraged to take courses in Mathematics, Engineering, Technology, and Art/Design. With girls involved in these classes, our future becomes brighter.
Today girls are exposed to sexual violence and abuse. Media also has an influence on how girls view themselves. Statistics reveal that one out of every six women in America will be a victim of sexual assault at some point in their life.
When girls accept that being themselves is okay, they trust their instincts and take risks. They also accept the fact that mistakes make them stronger. Mistakes give them the opportunity to learn and improve. Parents and educators must make an effort to empower girls and base it on the belief that all girls deserve to love themselves both mentally and physically. We must allow them to make choices that help themselves and their families.
A new Brookings report states, “Increasing the number of women completing secondary education by just 1 percent could increase a country’s economic growth by 0.3 percent.”
Respecting and empowering girls to be physically and academically active will lead us to a more prosperous world. All girls have the right to be in charge of their future. And, educators and parents have a moral obligation to protect their rights and promote their well-being.
