When isolated, these historical facts may seem trivial or even funny, but when paired with the hundreds of other examples of gendered expectations and stereotypes changing, it becomes clear that—contrary to common belief—there is no such thing as a hobby or skillset that one gender is inherently better at. In reality, the things that are considered either masculine or feminine are viewed the way they are because of socio-political misogyny. By analyzing the current treatment of “feminine” stereotypes, the degradation of “feminine skills,” and society’s overall disdain for any hobby or skillset an individual woman has, it is clear that skills are only considered valuable based on their dissociation from women.

The Irony of Feminine Interests

In and of themselves, stereotypical feminine interests—makeup, pumpkin spice lattes, the Pride and Prejudice movie—are generally accepted by and as mainstream culture. However, once a woman actually likes any of the above, both the interest and the woman are ridiculed. This scrutiny can be seen every time a male comedian makes a career off mocking women for fitting these stereotypes, or in every eye-roll a girl receives when mentioning an interest in these subjects. Iliza Shlesinger [3] pointed out the irony of men who rampaged through India and Southeast Asia for a taste of cinnamon mocking women for their occasional Instagram post featuring a pumpkin spice latte. This irony can be found every time a man is praised for keeping up his appearance and is called “well-groomed”; meanwhile, if a woman is caught putting effort into maintaining the flawless appearance expected of her, then she is vain.

While not as ironic, another double standard appears when men revere The Godfather and the film is immediately regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, but when women praise Pride and Prejudice, it is dismissed as a stupid “chick flick.” Society expects women to have feminine interests, but once they actually do, they are shamed. There is no inherent issue with effeminate things; they only become a problem when they are embraced by women.

The Reality of Feminine Skills

On the flip side, women are both allowed and expected to have what have been deemed feminine skills. Cooking, a sense of style, teaching—but these skills are considered fundamentally less skilled and important by society. This perception changes, however, when a man shows interest in these fields. For instance, the burden of cooking falls disproportionately on women because it is considered a natural feminine skill, yet men make up 94% of Michelin-star chefs [4]. Although fashion and physical appearance are considered natural feminine interests, men hold 86% of leadership positions within major fashion companies [5]. Even though teaching is considered a feminine job, men constitute 56% of college professors [6].

These dissonant facts prove that once separated from women, these skills become redeemed in society’s eyes and become high-paying and well-respected industries. The worth of these skills is not determined by their actual complexities or their impact, but rather by who is performing them.

The Trap of Femininity vs. Masculinity

Even though women will not get recognition through feminine interests or skills, they will receive an equal amount of mockery when engaging with ​“masculine” interests and skills. If a woman likes to play video games, she will be accused of doing so for male attention. And she may even be harassed out of the gaming community [7]. A woman who plays sports will not simply be called an athlete, but rather, “too aggressive” and “unladylike” [8]. A woman who engages with high fantasy literature or comic books will be dismissed with the assumption that her interest is based on attraction to a male character. And likewise, she may be harassed out of a fandom [9].

On the other hand, men’s interests are always presumed to stem from a place of genuine passion and talent. By embracing femininity, women are subjected to mockery. By embracing masculinity, women are ostracized; either way, this is a system in which women are designed to lose. Society created femininity and then ridiculed it and the women who participate in it. But  society betrays women who do not participate in it. This begs the question of whether it is femininity that society dislikes or if it is just women.

How to Win

When passions and talent are judged not by merit but by the subject, the real reward is not working for the praise you will never receive but allowing yourself authenticity. In a system that will judge a woman whether they conform to the system or rebel against it, then the only solution is to ignore the inevitable judgment of others and make yourself who you want to be. A world that will not validate you is not a world that should be allowed to control you.

Works Cited

Janik, Erika. “The Masculine Origins of Cheerleading.” WPR, 7 Sept. 2016, www.wpr.org/history/masculine-origins-cheerleading.

Little, Becky. “When Computer Coding Was a “Woman’s” Job | HISTORY.” HISTORY, Sept. 2017, www.history.com/articles/coding-used-to-be-a-womans-job-so-it-was-paid-less-and-undervalued. 

Wikipedia Contributors. “Iliza Shlesinger.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Feb. 2026, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliza_Shlesinger. 

Staff, Chef’s Pencil. “Share of Female-Led Michelin Restaurants Is Only 6%.” Chef’s Pencil, 20 July 2022, www.chefspencil.com/female-chefs-6-percent-reach-the-top/. 

Guest Contributor. “Women Are Finally Leading Global Brands. So Why Is Fashion Still Failing Them?” FashionUnited, 2025, fashionunited.ca/news/people/women-are-finally-leading-global-brands-so-why-is-fashion-still-failing-them/2025100742019.  

KLACZYNSKA, MIRIAM. “Gender Demographic Disparities between Teachers and Professors.” Berkeley.edu, 27 Apr. 2024, econreview.studentorg.berkeley.edu/gender-demographic-disparities-between-teachers-and-professors/. 

Fishman, Andrew. “Women in Gaming: A Difficult Intersection.” Psychology Today, 2022, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health/202201/women-in-gaming-a-difficult-intersection 

Women’s Sports Foundation. “Do You Know the Factors Influencing Girls’ Participation in Sports? – Women’s Sports Foundation.” Women’s Sports Foundation, Women’s Sports Foundation, 2024, www.womenssportsfoundation.org/do-you-know-the-factors-influencing-girls-participation-in-sports/ 

Juliet Kahn. “Why Women in Comics Don’t “Just Report” Sexual Harassment.” Comics Alliance, 23 Sept. 2014, web.archive.org/web/20141210174642/comicsalliance.com/sexual-harassment-women-comics-games-fear-way-of-life/?trackback=tsmclip

The post Gendered Stereotypes and Women’s Place in Them: Simplified appeared first on GirlSpring.

Art is a representation of people, power, and the times. Every significant moment in history is captured through photography, paint, or writing as a tribute to the greatness humankind has created. Art is not just self-expression. It is a collective expression- a language through which people protest, reclaim power, and rewrite narratives.

The Language of Resistance

The true beauty of art exists in its understanding. Only those looking for the meaning are bound to find it, while others see a pretty picture. Circumstances allow scarce things, but in restraints is where artists employ creativity.

Under dictatorships, artists hide rebellion in color. Under censorship, filmmakers bury protest in metaphor. Even in the modern world, where people cling to the idea of being better, artists still hide the struggles of racism, inequalities, class, and gender divides in what they create.

The Defiance of the Greats

Art often inspired irony as it usually criticized those who bought and sold these priceless pieces and hung them up like hunters’ game.

Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, painted in 1937, remains a visceral outcry against the brutality of war– a monochrome mural of anguish that spoke louder than any political address. Diego Rivera’s murals reclaimed art from the elite, embedding the labor and dignity of Mexico’s working class into public consciousness.

Digital Renaissance

Today’s world offers a new level of activism, transforming it into a visual and participatory experience. Campaigns like #MeToo, Fridays for Future, and Women, Life, Freedom have demonstrated how digital art, whether photography, animation, or hand-drawn, can ignite global movements in minutes.

Protest can now exist in pixels as much as paint, making it accessible and therefore more impactful. People are also able to spread awareness and raise motions from across the world that demand action and spark global awareness and education. The medium may have changed, but the message remains: art continues to democratize dissent.

Art: Our Witness and Weapon

Confrontation takes a forward role when it comes to truly creating change. Addressing the problem allows people to fight for justice from a knowledgeable standpoint. Every poem that mourns, every painting that accuses, every performance that questions —it showcases beauty in hopeless circumstances to motivate and inspire.

For marginalized communities, art is not merely resistance; it is self-definition. It is the act of existing, visibly and unapologetically, in societies that have often tried to erase or rewrite them. For example, Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits transform personal pain into public power, blurring the boundary between the body and the political. Similarly, Judy Chicago’s “The Dinner Party” reclaims female legacy through symbolism and craft.

Art allows empowerment not to be a textbook topic but a being, harder to ignore.

Depths

A song can unify where speeches divide; an image can move where statistics fail. By humanizing suffering and amplifying hope, art dissolves the distance between observer and subject. Art embodies emotion that turns facts into reality, theory into motion.

Artists like Banksy have mastered this form, combining irony with critique to expose systemic contradictions —capitalism, war, surveillance —all in stenciled anonymity. Similarly, movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) transformed urban streets into canvases of solidarity, turning slogans into collective identity.

People are forgetful creatures: words, statistics, speeches are all short-lived, while an image and the feelings it invokes can make a world of difference.

Expression → Revolution

From 1960s civil rights posters to 21st-century climate protest imagery, these creations endure not just as artifacts but as moral records. Those who are labeled radical or transient are now at the forefront of motion and change, in ways most of us only see on screens.

Art is not a decoration; it is a declaration.
Through protest, art gains urgency.
Through art, protest gains immortality.

The post Art: Protest & Empowerment appeared first on GirlSpring.

No one can discredit how far we’ve come, but segregation is no longer about separation. It looks like access and language. It looks like privilege disguised as merit. The walls have simply become more polite.

The Opportunistic Segregation

Meritocracy: the world’s favourite preach. A comforting idea that effort is the sole determinant of success. But beneath that optimism lies a quiet truth: not everyone begins from the same starting line. Opportunity is distributed unevenly, shaped by geography, wealth, and inheritance.

Children born in affluent neighborhoods with picturesque families have the world at their fingertips. They grow up with the resources to live the dreams they were allowed to dream. The ladder of success is built on a tilted stage, so many have to put in extreme effort to even get on the same standing ground that others had the privilege of being born on.

Technology mimics this, as, like most things, it is a result of our creation. Once held as the great equalizer, the digital world also possesses the same hierarchies it was made to dissolve. Algorithms are constantly learning what we do, thus adapting and mimicking them, and that also applies to our biases.

Algorithms are then reinforced by our interaction with them, allowing us to align with certain languages or faces favorably. Social media creates echo chambers that filter out opposing views; artificial intelligence misreads darker skin tones or flags marginalized speech as “harmful.” Perhaps one of humanity’s biggest juxtapositions is that what was made to unite has instead created an invisible divide.

The Barriers

Language proves to be a big barrier, not through the words themselves, but in what is said and how it is said. The way someone speaks, the accent they carry, or the dialect they choose can dictate how seriously others take them. What we deem appropriate or “professional” is a notion conceived through the previously privileged, educated, and historically dominant Western society.

Even in an age of global media, society sees certain stories as universal while labeling others “niche.” The world claims to celebrate diversity, but whose culture gets to represent modernity? Whose aesthetic dominates amongst others? Even through inclusion, minorities and women tend to remain in the background while others are the centerpiece.

Feminism and the world share a long history, much of it horrid, but ultimately successful. Women navigate workplaces that reward their competence but resist their authority. The narrative of progress sometimes forgets intersectionality: a woman’s experience is not universal but is shaped by race, class, sexuality, and geography. True equality cannot exist while society only sees certain kinds of women as symbols of empowerment. The workplace often sees women with families as less serious, preferring a cold, emotionless personality.

The Casual Divide

The streets echo stories of how you find who belongs and who doesn’t. Who defines what is a good or bad neighborhood? Gentrification often arrives cloaked as development, but for many, it is displacement disguised as progress. People walking the same streets live in different worlds.

Segregation does not limit itself to material situations. The need to belong often means silencing the parts of you that don’t fit the room you’re in. Code switching is a survival tactic, especially in professional settings. Inclusion, without true acceptance, breeds loneliness. The very existence of segregation forces people to feel that way almost instinctively.

Even empathy—the way we feel about people or situations—varies from person to person and is not based on personal choices. We learn to feel more for certain faces, certain tragedies, and certain accents on the news. The hierarchy of compassion mirrors the hierarchy of privilege. Diversity can exist in the room, but it may not be present in the conversation.

Believing the Unseen

When something isn’t there, we choose not to believe it. The consequences of this are tragic, allowing privilege to masquerade as fairness, bias to dress as taste, and exclusion to pose as order. When inequality hides behind civility, it becomes even harder to confront.

To fight something that doesn’t exist is a battle no one knows how to fight. Acknowledgment is just the first step, though. Understanding these differences allows people to at least voice their opinion without being overly judged. Segregation never left; it just evolved, so our methods of addressing and tackling it must evolve, too.

Click here to learn about mental health effects on minorities.

The post Unseen Segregation appeared first on GirlSpring.

The History

To understand the history of medical misogyny, it is necessary to understand that for the majority of medical history, females were believed to be deformed, smaller males (3). This idea was considered common and unquestioned knowledge for thousands of years. This context is crucial to understanding why women have been excluded from medicine for so long. Why would a study include women if it costs more to house the male and female mice? Why would a study include women if their pesky hormones affected the otherwise “clean” data? 

Another historical theory that has had a significant impact on modern medicine came from the Greek philosopher Plato. Plato claimed, without any proof or medical trial, that women’s wombs were in constant motion within their bodies, and this was the cause of female mental and physical disturbances. This unquestionable theory came to be known as female hysteria, which derived from the Greek word ὑστέρᾱ, which translates to the uterus. It justified keeping women out of intellectual spaces such as medicine. The claim was also the cause for countless women throughout history being subjected to physical and psychological torture when they dared to step out of line. All of this in the name of medicine and logic. 

Still Failing Us

So, what has changed? As mentioned above, in 1993, the NIH Revitalization Act (4) was passed, which required medical trials to include women and racial minorities. Note that this only applies to medical trials that are funded by the NIH (National Institute of Health), and this does not apply to industry or private medical research. Additionally, there is no requirement for how many women have to be included.

It is important to remember that this act was passed around thirty years ago and that the vast majority of foundational knowledge of modern medicine, which is still used today, came far before this law. Of course, this fact raises questions about how much of our fundamental understanding of medicine only applies to men.

When considering modern medical misogyny, it is also notable to mention that women are routinely and severely underrepresented. They are underrepresented in medical trials due to the lack of policies requiring women and the lack of enforcement for the laws that do exist. This lack of representation is also evident in the shortage of female health professionals. Outside of pediatrics and family medicine, women make up only 30.2% of doctors (5). Women hold 25% of board seats in healthcare companies (6). Women only make up around 28% of hospital and health-system boards (7). 

With the scarcity of laws protecting women in health and the lack of women in positions of power, it is clear that modern medicine continues to fail women just as it has in the past.

Lethal Ignorance

This history is not behind us, and these laws are not protecting us. Women and racial minorities are 30% more likely to be misdiagnosed compared to their white male counterparts (8), and 93% of women have reported feeling dismissed when attempting to seek medical treatment (9). Nearly one thousand women in the wealthiest country in the world die during childbirth each year (10).

In their 2001 study “The Girl Who Cried Pain”, University of Maryland scholars Diane Hoffman and Anita Tarzian found that, “…female chronic-pain patients were more likely to be diagnosed with histrionic disorder (excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior) compared to male chronic-pain patients.” and that “…when it comes to receiving adequate treatment, proper medications, and even timely and correct diagnoses of illness, studies suggest that women frequently get treated differently—often worse—than men.” (11).

These studies are not just jarring statistics; they are real people who are suffering and dying solely because of their sex. How many women die every year due to ignorance? How many more lives will misogyny claim before some action is taken? 

This is an uncomfortable situation that needs to be addressed. Historically, medicine has failed women, but it does not have to continue to do so. These numbers and deaths are not unfortunate facts of life; they are very changeable. With the right policies, equal representation, and proper conduct of research, these deadly mistakes can be corrected, and women can receive the care they deserve.  

Citations

1. National Institutes of Health. “NIH Policies on Inclusion.”
   Office of Research on Women’s Health, https://orwh.od.nih.gov/toolkit/nih-policies-inclusion.
2. University of Utah Health. “Why We Know So Little About Women’s Health.”
   University of Utah Health, 2020, https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/womens-7.
3. “Sex Determination – Developmental Biology.”
   NCBI Bookshelf, National Center for Biotechnology Information, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9985.
4. “S.1 – National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993.”
   103rd Congress, 1993-1994, https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/1.
5. Statista. “Share of Female Doctors by Specialties U.S. 2023.”
   https://www.statista.com/statistics/1105355/female-doctors-share-specialties-usa.
6. Gonzalez, Georgina. “In Healthcare, Women Hold 25% of Board Seats: 5 Findings to Know for 2021.”
   Becker’s Hospital Review, 8 Oct. 2021, https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-management-administration/in-healthcare-women-hold-25-of-board-seats-5-findings-to-know-for-2021.
7. Jeffries, Jane. “Women Underrepresented in Hospital and Health System Boards.”
   American Hospital Association, 2021, https://trustees.aha.org/articles/881-women-underrepresented-in-hospital-and-health-system-boards.
8. “Medical Mistakes Are More Likely in Women and Minorities.”
   PubMed Central, National Institutes of Health, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34387620.
9. “She’s Not Imagining It: The Continuing Medical Dismissal of Women.”
   Psychology Today, 27 July 2025, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/its-not-just-in-your-head/202507/shes-not-imagining-it-the-continuing-medical-dismissal-of.
10. Hoyert, Donna L. “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2022.”
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2022/maternal-mortality-rates-2022.htm.
11. 11. “The Impact of Medical Malpractice on Women.” Best Lawyers, 12 June 2020, https://www.bestlawyers.com/article/medical-malpractice-effect-on-women/3010.

The post Medical Misogyny: Simplified appeared first on GirlSpring.

Today, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl Child. Why is there an entire day dedicated to girls?

The International Day of the Girl Child, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011, is a heartfelt recognition of the unique challenges that girls face around the world. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of advocating for their rights and empowering them to overcome obstacles. Stemming from the global women’s rights movement, this day emphasizes the urgent need to tackle gender disparities and discrimination, ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to thrive and lead a fulfilling life.

According to UNICEF,

• Girls aged 15-19 are twice as likely as boys to not be in education, employment, or training. In fragile contexts, they’re nearly 90% more likely to be out of school than girls in stable settings.
• Nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15-19 who have ever been in a relationship have experienced intimate partner violence.
• 1 in 5 young women aged 20-24 were married as children. In fragile settings, child marriage rates are almost double the global average.
• Crisis, conflict, and displacement all increase the risk of child marriage, sexual violence, and maternal mortality for girls.
• In the last 20 years, self-harm has been a leading cause of death among adolescent girls.

Today, we celebrate girls and advocate for their rights. This year’s theme is “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis.” At GirlSpring, everything we do is to advocate for girls.

How Can You Support Girls?

• Share girls’ stories. Celebrate achievements and amplify their voices.
• Advocate for change. Demand policies that protect girls’ rights and empower them to lead.
• Create girl-led spaces. Support safe spaces where girls can connect, learn, and get the support they need, like here at GirlSpring.
• Lend your voice. Advocate for dedicated funding and programs to address the specific needs of girls in crisis, such as health, education, mental well-being, and support for all girls.

The future is female, yes, but every woman was once a little girl.

Take some time today to reach out to young girls and let them know they are not alone. Whether it is body image, peer pressure, or general anxieties about their future, little girls are expected to manage a lot with little recognition. Girls must support other girls, especially in a society where our rights are at risk. GirlSpring strives to create a safe community for girls to express themselves, support other girls’ work, and learn about tough topics from peers who understand.

The post International Day of the Girl 2025 appeared first on GirlSpring.

What is a “Single Story”?

Nigerian author Chimamanda Adichie coined a term to describe the widely accepted, oversimplified narratives concerning certain cultures. Groups are typically reduced to their negative stereotypes, giving justification for discrimination and prejudice. Adichie says, “The problem with stereotypes is not that they aren’t true, but that they are incomplete.”

There’s an incomplete story out in the world about me, too.

According to almost every American news outlet, Hispanic Americans are uneducated. From Mexico. Scammers. Non-tax payers.

We eat the same food, dance to the same provocative music, and speak the same form of ridiculously fast Spanish.

I have been told I meet all these requirements by people who do not even take the time to learn my name.

But I understand. I understand how ingrained a stereotype can become, and how difficult it is to rid yourself of the prejudices set before you could even think for yourself. I understand how these issues arise, but I also believe it is the mission of our generation to contest these single stories through education. In this article, I hope to do my part by teaching others where my family and 679,000 Hispanic Americans originate from: the charming country of Peru.

Quick Facts:

Location-  Located in the Northwestern region of South America. Bordered by Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile

Capital – Lima

Population- 32.8 million (as of 2024)

Official Languages – Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara

Culture:

Popular dishes: Ceviche and Lomo Saltado

Music genres: Criolla (Creole), Andean, Afro-Peruano

Dances: Marinera and Salsa

Plaza de Armas:

A beautiful city square made up of the Government Palace, Municipal Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Lima Cathedral, and other public buildings. The Plaza de Armas is best known for its delicious street food and busy life at night.

Machu Picchu:

Machu Picchu was built hundreds of years ago by members of the Inca Empire. The ancient citadel stands today, attracting many tourists to Peru each year.

My Story.

I decided to ask my parents what they missed most about their country, and they said:

Mami: “The Peruvian Creole culture. The delicious food, the music, the noise, the FUN of Lima. I miss my city. There is no other place like it.”

Papi: “The street food. You could taste the smoke, the carbon, the freshness of it. You could taste the ‘alegría’ (happiness).”

Many American-born citizens are not aware that not all immigrants arrive by crossing the border illegally. In fact, the United States participates in a program that legally grants visas to individuals from countries with low immigration rates, known informally as the Visa Lottery. My parents were able to move to the U.S in 2007 due to this program. Read more about this government program here.

Conclusion

I hope my story challenges the possible flawed narratives you hold and propels you to further learn about the millions of other stories that make up the United States.

We must learn that the only way to grow is to listen and learn from each other.

Learn about the unique challenges faced by Hispanic Americans and other minorities during the height of the pandemic here.

Sources:

1. www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/stereotypes-and-single-stories-0#:~:text=Author%20Chimamanda%20Ngozi%20Adichie%20uses,country%20where%20she%20is%20from.
2. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/peru
3. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=PE
4. https://www.machutravelperu.com/blog/plaza-de-armas-lima

The post Challenging the Single Story: Hispanic Americans appeared first on GirlSpring.

History is written by the survivors, usually about powerful leaders, governments, and institutions. In the footnotes exist the youth who are the driving force behind many changes that have occurred, shaping the future through a quiet struggle. Unjaded by cynicism, still raw with a sense of justice, they ask the very questions adults have learned to ignore. In doing so, they alter history—not blatantly, nor with notable names, but with a reminder of what true peace should look like.

The Youth Paradox

“Innocence” is the euphemistic condescension often used by adults to dismiss young people as ‘trouble-makers.’ The years of youth are considered times of waiting– waiting to know more, waiting to be understood enough to become a part of the real world. Truth is, the world is happening so blatantly in front of us that waiting is now a privilege. Injustice, inequality, and crisis do not wait. The youth fight because today’s crises are the disasters of their future.

The paradox is this: the future the youth fight for is their own, yet somehow they are still disregarded as unaware of “reality,” which only fuels their power as the drivers of change. When a teenager stands in the face of power, the contrast is too significant to ignore. Their courage is a strength that reflects on society’s failings.

History Speaking

The examples throughout history speak volumes about the impact of youth and what they stand for.

● Little Rock Nine 1957– A group of African-American teenagers protested their way into an all-white school under bright camera lights and the threat of violence. They were not well-known activists, policymakers, nor military professionals; they were youngsters with a cause. They paved the way for the nation to confront the hypocrisy of segregation.

● Malala Yousafzai– The world remembers the bullet that was meant to silence the great activist on girls’ education. Her current actions credit her legacy of inspiring young women and girls to express their rights and become something special. Every defiance against the norm is a reminder that history isn’t only made in parliaments or war rooms. In the real world, age is not a regulator.

These are not accidental or one-in-a-million instances but a few famed examples of teenagers taking charge in defining the world.

Sparks Mean Fire

Teenagers live in a liminal space between dependence and independence. They are young enough to hold onto their unfiltered honesty, yet old enough to understand the weight of their actions. Adults may rationalise injustice under the pretense of “the way the world works,” while teens demand change.

The belief in change becomes the driving factor behind young people, contrasting the apathetic nature of most of the world. A teenager with a phone and access to social media can rattle millions, dismantle narratives, and advocate for justice faster than traditional systems. The attention they can bring to global crises, due to their knowledge and access to the internet, allows them to enact a bigger change, even if other generations rally for the same cause.

A Modern Wave

Teen activism is becoming increasingly common as the belief that everyone has a voice becomes more widespread. The most famous example of teen activism is Greta Thunberg and her unflinching climate strikes, which have sparked a global movement among teens to help save the planet. Another example is the March for Our Lives, started by survivors of school shootings. This movement transformed grief into relentless advocacy for gun reform in the USA.

The fight for survival that the youth participate in is one they didn’t create, yet are forced to endure. So for the fate of their future, they choose to fight now to prevent a bigger battle with deadlier consequences. Through youth activism, some of the most influential changes have occurred, such as widespread attention to women’s equality, increased representation and safety for all, and enhanced mental health.

The Legacy of the Young

There are times when the youth teaches older generations more about life than vice versa. Youths do not possess formal power, but they awaken the conscience in the people who do. They reveal courage that doesn’t come with age but with a fresh perspective. They alarm urgency now, so one day, new alarms will not be triggered.

The youth of today are often referred to as the leaders of tomorrow, so they should have a say in defining what future they inherit. Every generation of teenagers has asked the world ‘WHY?,’ and every time the world must respond, or change.

Click here for more powerful women driving change.

The post Teen Movements Alter History appeared first on GirlSpring.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and we’ve got 5 great books to check out

1 – Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (2011)

A high school girl leaves behind a series of cassette tapes after taking her own life. Those tapes lead classmate Clay Jensen on a chilling journey as he reconstructs her pain.

In honor of National bullying prevention month, click here to read more info on anti-bullying provided by Girl Spring.

The post National Bullying Prevention Month appeared first on GirlSpring.

 It pains me to share that people of color are forgotten in the pages of history. Unfortunately, women of color are most likely underrepresented, underappreciated, and overworked. Society needs to be better at honoring the work of all citizens, especially women from minority ethnic backgrounds. Below are three Latinas in politics who deserve to be in every textbook because of their significant impact on the world.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

She went from being an unknown bartender to being the youngest congressman in the US seemingly overnight. The “democratic socialist” was born in the Bronx, one of the poorest boroughs in New York, in 1989 to Puerto Rican parents. The Nuyorican did not let her underprivilege determine her density.

Instead, from an early age, she was passionate about controlling the outcome of her life. While she was in high school, she was a part of the National Hispanic Institutes’ Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session. Moreover, she participated in the 2007 Intel Science and Engineering Fair and won second place. After high school, she attended Boston University and double majored in international relations and economics.

AOC in Politics

Due to her family’s economic situation, she took waitressing and bartending jobs in her early twenties to help support her family; her father’s cancer journey and subsequent death put the family in debt. Therefore, Cortez worked hard to help pay off her family debt while paying off her student loans. Her lower-class socioeconomic background and her young age are two factors that significantly helped her become a popular choice among lower and middle-class Americans, as well as Generation Z.

Her first involvement in politics was during the 2016 presidential election because she was a volunteer organizer for Bernie Sanders, an American senator from Vermont. She became a household name two years later, on June 26, 2018, when she defeated 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley during the 2018 midterm elections. Four months later, the newcomer became the youngest-ever congresswoman.

According to AOC’s website, her first action as Democratic representative for New York’s 14th district in the Bronx was the Green Deal resolution, “which envisions a 10-year national mobilization, akin to FDR’s New Deal, that would put millions to work in good-paying, union jobs repairing the nation’s infrastructure, reducing air and water pollution, and fighting the intertwined economic, social, racial and climate crises crippling the country.” While her first legislation is impressive, the young up-and-comer didn’t stop there.

Instead, she introduced 22 more pieces of legislation, including the Loan Shark Prevention Act, which would cap credit card interest rates at 15%. In 2019, Donald Trump, a Republican, was the President, but AOC did not let Republican control of the Senate and Presidency stop her from accomplishing her goals. On the contrary, she became a nightmare for the republican party as she became an effective questionnaire in committee hearings, a consistent town hall host, and saw three amendments pass into law.

Sonia Sotomayor 

She was the first Hispanic, the first Latina, and the third woman to serve on the High Court. Just like AOC, she was also born in the Bronx neighborhood of New York to Puerto Rican parents. Another similarity to AOC is that Sonia’s father passed away while she was young, so she had to work to support her family. She knew at age ten that she wanted to be an attorney, so she studied diligently.

Her academic efforts paid off as, in 1972, Sotomayor graduated as the valedictorian of Cardinal Spellman High School. After high school, she attended the prestigious Princeton University. At the Ivy League school, Miss Sotomayor was a part of Acción Puertorriqueña, a Puerto Rican activist group. After graduating from Princeton University with a bachelor’s in history, she attended Yale Law School. Her first job in politics was as an assistant district attorney to famous Manhattan attorney Robert Morgenthau.

SS in Politics 

During her time working under Mr. Morgentau, a particular case was the Tarzan murder case. Five years after working with Morgenthau, she joined a private practice known as the New York law firm of Pavia and Harcourt. Rather than handling matters related to shoplifting, robberies, assaults, murders, and police brutality, she mainly dealt with businesses, corporations, and property rights under the private firm.

Three years later, she was appointed to serve as a district court judge. During her time in district court, she remained veiled from media attention as she mainly dealt with non-controversial cases. Six years later, she was appointed Court of Appeals Judge. According to Oyez, Sotomayor heard “more than 3,000 cases and [wrote] around 380 majority opinions.”

Upon the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, the Barack administration quickly got Sotomayor his seat. On May 26, 2009, Hispanics across America and many working-class people from the Bronx rejoiced as their favored representative rose to the position.

Aida Álvarez

She is the first Hispanic and Latino American woman to serve in the United States Presidential cabinet. Similarly to the first two Latinas, Alvarez also hails from Puerto Rico and grew up in New York. In high school, she was a part of the ASPIRA program, a non-profit founded by Dr. Antonio Pantoja to “empower the Latino community through advocacy and the education and leadership development of its youth” (ASPIRA).

Upon graduating High School, Alvarez attended Harvard University, earning a Bachelor of Arts. Her first job was being a journalist for the New York Post. She later became a successful news anchor for Channel Five. She received an Emmy Award, Front Page Award, and an Associate Press Award. Aidachanged her career path from news reporter to investment banker and succeeded in it. After a decade, in 1997, Alarez made history by becoming the first Hispanic and Latina to serve on the cabinet.

AA in Politics

Her role as an executive officer was to handle small business administration. According to Stanford University, “She presided over record activity: $61.5 billion in guaranteed loans and venture capital financing over four years.” She created social change by “trip[ling] lending to women and doub[ling] lending to minority-owned small businesses” (California Competes). Currently, Alvarez serves on the board of many major businesses, such as HP Inc., Zoosk, and Oportun Financial Corporation. Moreover, she is on the board of the Latino Community Foundation and the San Francisco Symphony.

Click here to read about how women’s voting rights are so important in politics.

The post Influential Latinas in Politics appeared first on GirlSpring.

• Little Amal represents the millions of children and families who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and other crises. She embodies the resilience and courage of refugees, reminding us that behind every statistic is a human story.
• Hope and Resilience: Little Amal’s journey is a testament to the indomitable spirit of refugees. She embarks on a journey filled with challenges, but her determination to reach safety and find her family reflects the hope and resilience that many refugees hold onto in the face of adversity.
• Unity and Compassion: Little Amal’s story transcends borders and speaks to the universal values of compassion and unity. As she travels through different countries, she encounters people from diverse backgrounds who come together to help her on her journey. This reflects the idea that we are all connected, regardless of our differences, and that we have a collective responsibility to support those in need.  

Why is Little Amal important?

• Raising Awareness: Little Amal’s journey serves as a powerful platform to raise awareness about the refugee crisis. Through her story, people are reminded of the human faces behind the headlines and statistics, fostering empathy and understanding.
• Fostering Empathy: The Walk project and Little Amal’s character invite people to step into the shoes of refugees, even if just for a moment. This empathetic connection can lead to greater compassion and a willingness to take action to support refugees and migrants.
• Promoting Dialogue: Little Amal’s journey sparks conversations about the refugee crisis, immigration policies, and the need for international cooperation. It encourages individuals and communities to engage in meaningful dialogues about these complex issues.
• Inspiring Action: Little Amal’s journey isn’t just a passive experience; it encourages people to take action. Whether it’s supporting refugee organizations, advocating for policy changes, or volunteering, her story inspires individuals to make a positive difference in the lives of refugees.

Representation for those in need

Little Amal is more than a puppet, she is a symbol of hope, unity, and compassion in a world divided and indifferent to the suffering of others. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that we can all play a part in creating a more inclusive and empathetic world.

By embracing the values she represents, while taking action to support refugees and migrants, we as a collective people can make a difference. We must ensure that the world becomes a more welcoming place for those seeking safety and a better future. 

Here are the following dates for where Little Amal will be walking across America:

• Sept 20 – Pittsburgh, PA  
• Sept 22 – Cincinnati, OH 
• Sept 24 – Oakland, MI  
• Sept 26 – Detroit MI 
• Sept 28 – Chicago, IL    

The post Little Amal: A Puppet with a Global Message appeared first on GirlSpring.