Feminism: A teen girl’s perspective
“When I see the difficulties and poverty that girls go through in my community; the rape and teenage pregnancy. I feel that I can do something to stop the girls from becoming victims of this”. I feel empowered and more informed about my rights. I have helped other girls to understand that they can take any profession or career they choose. I advise girls acquire education and avoid teenage pregnancy”. Selina, Girls Rights Advocate.
It is appropriate to say that gender equality and respect for women and girls rights campaigns require collaborative efforts to make intended impact. “The story of women’s struggle for equality does not belong solely to any one organization, but to the collective effort of all who care about human rights” Gloria Marie Steinem, renowned Feminist, Journalist and Activist once said.
Teen Impact
The passion for girls’ rights drove three teen girls, led by 16-year-old Selina in Atonsu-Agogo, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to engage girls, parents and community members on the need to support and equip girls with knowledge about their rights. Selina visits market places and churches to advocate for girls’ rights such as right to education; protection; to live free from violence and discrimination; access to good health. She also lobbies for girls to be included in decision-making processes. “ I want to be a lawyer so that I can advocate for girls and women’s rights to be respected in society”, says Selina.
Potentials
Selina believes that girls have a bunch of potentials to unleash if given the platforms to learn, explore their capabilities and to share their thoughts and perspectives on issues of concern, adding “I see women who have made it big even though they are also from this community”.
Selina is delighted that she is able to enlighten her friends, mates and girls in her community on relevant issues concerning girls.
Comfortable Future
The Ghana Health Service recorded 109,888 cases of adolescent pregnancy in 2020. Out of the number 2,865 are girls between 10 and 14 years and 107,023 are between 15 and 19. A regional breakdown of the cases across Ghana indicates that the region Selina lives in, that is Ashanti, has recorded the most number of cases, thus 17,802, followed by Eastern and Central Regions which have recorded 10,865, and 10,301 cases respectively.
But, for Selina who is a Junior High student, she is determined to challenge the status quo by not only furthering her education but also encouraging her colleague girls to focus on their education and acquire useful skills that they can leverage to attain a comfortable future.
Discriminations against women and girls such as the lack of access to education, domestic and sexual violence, low wages, inadequate healthcare and lower participation in decision-making processes often relegate women to secondary roles.
These are societal challenges and over the years, girls rights activists have stood up, striving to deal with these challenges through campaigns, amendment of laws among others.
The United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child, October 11 and the International Day of the African Child, June 16, have sought to not only celebrate progress made towards children’s rights and education, but also to sensitize the world on relevant issues such as gender equality, violence against girls and reproductive health rights.
“Girls, the future belongs to you so do not fear or feel intimidated. You can are great in society”. emphasizes Selina
END.
