Tomorrow and Friday have the potential to be two of the most inspiring days of my life. I could not be more excited to meet the leaders from She's the First campus chapters all over the country for a conference in celebration of the United Nations' first-ever International Day of the Girl.
"The Day of the Girl is about highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about what really matters to us, we can teach other people–grownups, boys, girls all across the world–a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity. October 11 is not just a day but a movement. 10.11.12 is bigger than one issue, one organization, or even one country."
So, why just a day for girls? These stats from the International Day of the Girl website make it very clear:
ILLITERACY – By 2015, females will make up 64% of the world’s (adult) population who cannot read.
ILLITERACY – By 2015, females will make up 64% of the world’s (adult) population who cannot read.
SCHOOL DROPOUT – Only 30% of girls in the world are enrolled in secondary school. In America, the dropout rate is worse for boys but one in four girls does not finish high school, and the dropout rate is even higher for minorities.
FORCED MARRIAGE – One in seven girls in developing countries is married off before age 15.
VIOLENCE – In the US more than half (54%) of all rapes of females happen before age 18. One in 5 high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner. Worldwide children as young as age 11 are forced to work as prostitutes. Some estimates have as many as 1.2 million children being trafficked every year.
BODY IMAGE – More than half (54%) of 3rd-5th grade girls worry about their appearance and 37% worry about their weight. More than half (57%) of music videos feature a female portrayed exclusively as a decorative, sexual object.
I'll be tuning in to the She's the First Assembly Broadcast tomorrow morning before work. You won't want to miss this powerful lineup: first female speaker of the NYC City Council Christine Quinn, Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen Ann Shoket, Actresses Monique Coleman and Josie Loren, Seventeen Pretty Amazing cover girl Lindsay Brown, and Founder/President of She's the First Tammy Tibbetts. The campus chapter leaders will spend the day meeting inspiring women, drafting proposals to the UN, and exploring the city. In the evening, I'll be joining the group for a reception with even more inspiring women.
On Friday, I decided to take a vacation day from work to join the leaders for the second day of the conference. You'll have to check out my recap later this week to see who I meet and what I learn along the way.
WOO!! So happy to have you on our team, Evann!
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