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The post Quiz: What do you know about History? appeared first on GirlSpring.

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.

! CRACK !

It was the second after midnight, and I had fallen asleep in my chair while the rest of the family counted down. I rubbed my eyes and coughed through the scent of copper and metals left in the firework smoke. The back of my chair was leaning against the outside of the house balanced on its hind legs. I rocked myself back upright and the front legs hit the ground with a small ‘Tak’ sound. I stood up and stretched as the scent of roasted foods filled my nose and dulled out the firework air. I made my way back into the house hobbling over the outstretched legs of fully reclined people staring at a TV or were in a head-sent-all-the-way-back sleep. I made it to my room and closed the door behind me. I hopped back into bed and buried my face into my pillow. A whistle sound echoed into the air. I looked up only for a moment as my room lit up in a red glow…

! CRACK !

In the blink of an eye, it was the second after midnight again. Everything was the same. Family and close friends hugged, food was on the grill, and all of the smoke from the fireworks descended from the sky in a haze while rockets were still being shot into the air. I was awake. I know I am awake…. Or at least halfway awake I think. Everything was truly the same as before but I still thought as if this moment was new. I stayed in that same chair and let my eyes focus on the sky. The stars and moon were smothered in clouds, natural and man-made. The haze drifted across the midnight sky in patches before drifting closer to the ground. The rapid-fire fireworks popped followed by the expensive rib rattling explosions with multiple colors that stretched across the sky. Everything was lit up and sparkling. When the moments went silent my eyelids slowly closed before being shocked open by a large– 

CRACK!

  And a

CRACK!

  And another

! CRACK !

The countdown reached zero and… still the same. My eyes shot open with a different thought in mind. I looked around for someone close to me. Maybe it was something I had to do? Something that I missed before? Everyone did the same thing. I don’t feel a difference here. I realize everyone’s been hugged except me. Everyone asleep inside might be going through the same thing. I realize that I stuffed myself into a corner where I could see and not be seen… to a degree. A chair leaned up against a wall isn’t the most hidden look. A familiar firework popped in the distance. I’m running low on time and I feel it. I send myself forward, chair legs and my own feet hit the floor. I lunge at the next person in front of me and I wrap my arms around them. My intent was half catching my fall and half getting the hug over with before I ran out of time. I almost knocked them over. Their shout turned into light sounding laughter as a firework shot into the air. They hugged me back tightly before I could see their face.

CRACK !

Once again, the countdown hit zero. The time seemed to be cut shorter and shorter. I was still stuck in this loop. Everything seemed to hit me all at once. At the top of my lungs I shouted 

“Happy New Year!” hands up in the air.  People were paused in between their kisses and hugs and the person in charge of the grill held in their hand. 

“Happy new year to you too!”

Someone raised their cup and laughed out loud. Everyone joined in cheering once again. One of the younger kids shouted at the people inside, their aunt following behind them to hush their antics. I looked up at the sky, and the fireworks went off after the stream of others.

CRACK !

I watched as the loose sparks fluttered outward and faded. I inhaled some of the same old copper air and sighed. Finally, a new moment.

The post Finally A New appeared first on GirlSpring.

This statement has become a common and unquestionable fact within our society, but does it hold any validity? Modern Homo sapiens have been on this planet for an estimated 315,000 years [1], and only began farming and building housing during the Neolithic Revolution in the Middle East’s Fertile Crescent around 12,000 years ago [2]. But what of those 303,000 years? What were we doing then? While this article will not delve into all aspects of those 303,000 years, it will examine the hunter-gatherer period of human history and the effect gender had on communal roles. By looking at the origin of the male-hunter/female-gatherer theory, modern research, biological factors, and common sense, it is easy to see how ridiculous our presumption of this history really is.

Man: The Hunter

To understand how society accepted this theory as fact, we have to look at where it started. The theory of men as hunters and women as gatherers is relatively new, emerging in the late 1960s. Much of the support for this idea came from the 1966 symposium Man the Hunter, organized by Richard Lee and Irven DeVore. What is particularly striking about this symposium is that it became one of the most influential theories of hunter-gatherer societies, despite being grounded primarily on assumptions rather than in statistical or genetic evidence. Moreover, it is essential to note that this piece’s main point wasn’t even about men being hunters and women being gatherers, but rather about how hunting and gathering created community for humans.

The assumption was that, because male biological tendencies make men stronger and faster, men did the hunting. This theory went virtually unchallenged for sixty years—whenever human remains were found with weapons, they were assumed to be male. Robert Kelly [3], a professor of anthropology at the University of Wyoming, stated to NPR [4], “No one,” Kelly said, “had done a systematic tally of what the observational reports said about women hunting.”

Modern Findings

Although feminists have questioned the notion of men doing all the hunting for decades, it wasn’t until 2020 that there was a solid attempt from the scientific community to test who did the hunting and who did the gathering. So, fifty-four years after the fact, Cara Wall-Scheffler, backed by the University of Washington and Seattle Pacific University, set out to test if hunting and gathering were based on sex.

Wall-Scheffler and her colleagues studied accounts of prehistoric hunting methods dating back to the 1800s and beyond. This led Wall-Scheffler to discover that, rather than the presumed sex-based system, prehistoric societies were much more relaxed about gendered roles, with 79% of societies having female hunters [5]. Furthermore, the study found that women didn’t just participate in opportunistic or small-game hunts. Wall-Scheffler reported to NPR that “the hunting was purposeful. Women had their own toolkit. They had favorite weapons. Grandmas were the best hunters of the village.”

Effects on Modern Society

So, how does a nearly sixty-year-old theory about our million-year past affect today? The idea that men were hunters feeds the argument that men are natural breadwinners and providers, justifying jobs and positions of power being given exclusively to men. It’s important to recognize that this theory was popularized during the second wave of feminism and by those who sought to push back against change. During this time, it wasn’t uncommon for people to believe that men had natural intellectual superiority over women, so when this theory justified men’s supposed physical prowess, it made them appear naturally better in nearly every category. By making women docile gatherers and reducing their natural role to being mothers, it internalizes the idea of the supposed inferiority of the female sex.

Be the Hunter

The fact of the matter is that women are not primarily created to be mothers to men or to serve a lifelong supportive role to them. We have been given the ability to be hunters, chiefs, and whatever else we want to be. Although this theory has been used to justify the subordination of the female sex, it is debunked daily. Be the hunter you were meant to be.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Side note: Below, I have pasted some links that go into more detail about this part of our history. I cannot recommend these articles enough: 

Prehistoric hunters weren’t all male. Women killed big game, new discovery suggests | CNN 

Men are hunters, women are gatherers. That was the assumption. A new study upends it. 

________________________________________________________________________

Citations

Rafferty, John P. “Just How Old Is Homo sapiens?” Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2017, https://www.britannica.com/story/just-how-old-is-homo-sapiens.

HISTORY.com Editors. “Hunter-Gatherers.” History, A&E Television Networks, 5 Jan. 2018, updated 28 May 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/hunter-gatherers. HISTORY+1

Kelly, Robert L. “Robert Kelly — Emeriti Faculty.” Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, University of Wyoming,

https://www.uwyo.edu/anthropology/personnel/emeriti-faculty/er-kelly.html

Aizenman, Nurith. “Men Are Hunters, Women Are Gatherers. That Was the Assumption. A New Study Upends It.” NPR, 1 July 2023, https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/07/01/1184749528/men-are-hunters-women-are-gatherers-that-was-the-assumption-a-new-study-upends-i.

Anderson, Abigail, Sophia Chilczuk, Kaylie Nelson, Roxanne Ruther, and Cara Wall-Scheffler. “The Myth of Man the Hunter: Women’s Contribution to the Hunt across Ethnographic Contexts.” PLOS ONE, vol. 18, no. 6, 2023, e0287101. 

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287101

The post Women’s Role in Hunting: Simplified appeared first on GirlSpring.

Misogyny in Popular Culture and Trends

Things like weightlifting, STEM, and rap music often get a bad rap for being misogynistic. While those stereotypes do hold some truth, it’s important to understand that almost all popular culture contains some degree of misogyny—and that some of the most influential forms are the subtle forms. Trends such as “I’m just a girl” [1] or “Girl Math” [2]  are wildly popular online among women and girls. They’re catchy, seemingly harmless, and often satirical. But they also raise the question: why is the butt of the joke usually women, and why is their supposed “stupidity” or “indecisiveness” the target? Why do women often perpetuate these jokes themselves? 

Beyond these seemingly harmless examples, some trends are far more insidious, such as the “Tradwife” trend [3] or the “I’m not a feminist because ___” [4] trend where thousands of women publicly denounce feminism and call for the regression of women’s social and political rights, all under the guise of a “trend” on social media.

Women Hating Women

So, it’s clear that women can and do internalize misogyny—but how does this affect the way women treat each other? Misogyny between women shows up in thousands of ways, but one of the clearest examples is the “I’m not like other girls” [5] trend. In this trend, girls go to great lengths to prove they’re different from, and therefore better than, other girls. They avoid popular music, reject stereotypically “girly” hobbies, and even alter their style to separate themselves from the rest physically. Of course, this behavior can swing both ways when cliquey girls exclude and ridicule other girls who don’t follow trends. Girls get bullied for being either too trendy or too alternative, and, most of the time, it’s other girls doing the bullying.

The “I’m not like other girls” trend is the most obvious example of women-on-women misogyny, but it’s far from the only one. Think about all the times female relatives have pushed younger girls to help out more than the boys. How often have girls put down their own gender in a conversation with a cute guy? How many of us have caught ourselves catering to or prioritizing our male friends and colleagues over our female ones? There aren’t enough words in this article to capture all the ways women discriminate against other women. Still, I encourage every girl reading this to pause for a moment and reflect on your genuine thoughts and actions toward other women. You might be surprised by what you find.

Women Hating Themselves

One of the biggest tragedies of our society’s sexism is how girls are taught to fundamentally, and subconsciously, view themselves as less than. How many women haven’t pursued their passions because they believed they couldn’t, simply because they were women? How many have denied themselves the very human emotions of rage or angst? How many women have gone their whole lives believing it to be a fault to be a woman in a world of men? These limitations act as chains that have dragged (and continue to drag) every woman down due to the key pillar of our society– misogyny. Women hate women, others, and themselves [6]. I truly believe every girl, if she thought about it, could recall a moment when she deemed herself unworthy or incapable of doing something she was fully capable of doing. In fact, I think she could remember many moments.

The Feminism of Recognized Misogyny

In conclusion, the notion that women cannot be misogynistic is not only ignorant but dangerous. It undermines the real oppression and violence that women can, and do, inflict on each other and themselves. Because misogyny has been ingrained in us since before we could even think, it’s crucial to recognize how it lives within us and to take active steps to unlearn it. I write this knowing that I am misogynistic—but I do not want to be. Unlearning it will take a lifetime, but I owe it to myself and to every woman alive.

Education is key. Don’t support the system that is keeping you down. Don’t hate other women or yourself for simply existing in this world. Support others, love yourself, and remember: it’s very feminist to admit your own misogyny.

Citations

“Unmasking the Trend: the Hidden Harm of ‘I’m Just a Girl.’” The Teen Magazine, 30 May 2024, www.theteenmagazine.com/unmasking-the-trend-the-hidden-harm-of-i-m-just-a-girl.

Teo, Kai Xiang. “‘Girl Math’ Is Going Viral on TikTok — But It Has a Cost.” Business Insider, 13 Aug. 2023, www.businessinsider.com/girl-math-personal-finance-trend-goes-viral-tiktok-2023-8.

Travers, Mark. “A Psychologist Explains the Dangers of the ‘Tradwife’ Movement.” Forbes, 6 Jan. 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/01/06/a-psychologist-explains-the-dangers-of-the-tradwife-movement.

Whitmore, Claire. “’I’m Not a Feminist, I Can Actually Cook’: Conceptual Feminism Explained.” Medium, medium.com/@ClaireWhitmore/why-we-need-to-stop-saying-im-not-like-other-girls-095ce0d9ccd7.

Whitmore, Claire. “Why We Need to Stop Saying ‘I’m Not Like Other Girls’.” Medium, medium.com/@ClaireWhitmore/why-we-need-to-stop-saying-im-not-like-other-girls-095ce0d9ccd7.

Soddu, Isabella. “Internalized Misogyny Is Limiting Self-Expression and Confidence in Women.” The Vermont Cynic, 29 Nov. 2022, vtcynic.com/opinion/internalized-misogyny-is-limiting-self-expression-and-confidence-in-women/.

The post Internalized Misogyny: Simplified appeared first on GirlSpring.

I always seek music recommendations for my seasonal playlists and for various events. Music is always playing while doing anything from studying to relaxing.

With the help of my family, friends, and music, I have been able to overcome some of my toughest moments.

Music helps tremendously by serving as a medium through which I can learn and connect with both my Peruvian and Hispanic cultures.

From Salsa pieces my mom uses to teach me how to dance (it’s all about the hips) to music that beautifully educates me about where I come from, I am grateful to have learned so much about myself and those whom I care immensely about through song.

The messages of these songs are universal. Music is universal. I hope these Latin American songs evoke similar feelings in you as we close out National Hispanic Heritage Month.

10. El Baile de Los Que Sobran – Los Prisioneros

I don’t remember the exact moment I was introduced to this tune, but every listen reminds me of the Sundays spent at our house, eating savory Anticuchos with family friends. Although Latin Rock, “El Baile de Los Que Sobran” sounds similar to some 80’s American rock, you may know.

The catchy chorus, “la-la’s”, and resemblance to Green Day should be enough reason for a rock fan to try.

9. Cariñito – Bareto 

Written and sung by a Peruvian music group, “Carinito” perfectly embodies the cumbia genre, illustrating the mix between Latin rock and the traditional, Andean-influenced genre Huayno.

Listen to this to get a glimpse at an extremely popular Peruvian music genre!

8. Una Aventura – Grupo Niche

Love, dance, and more love. “Una Aventura” warms my heart with its lyrics on the exciting adventures or “aventuras” one experiences with their first love.

The classical instruments of the drums, trumpets, and others create a pleasing experience for the ears, and make it difficult not to dance to. Of these Latin American songs, “Una Aventura” is an excellent introduction to the massive, wonderful world of Salsa.

7. Pedro Navaja – Ruben Blades & Willie Colon

At first listen, this song may seem innocent with its percussion and brass parts that strongly emulate the American Jazz genre, but the lyrics attempt to share an important message. Describing and illustrating a story about street criminals in cities like New York City, “Pedro Navaja” represents the dangers faced by people everywhere.

Ruben Blades ends the song with a bridge repeating the phrase “La vida te da sorpresas, sorpresas te da la vida, ¡ay, Dios!” or “Life gives you surprises, life gives you surprises, oh, God!” The entire story ultimately spreads a message to prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.

6. Robi-Rob’s Boriqua Anthem – C+C Music Factory y El General

The hilarious introduction will have anyone dying of laughter, the first few measures will have your eardrums ringing, and the entire song will have you defenseless against its dance-inducing instrumentals. Its length may seem intimidating, but the entire song jumps from singer to singer, one instrument feature to another, and vibe to vibe in each part.

5. Contigo Perú – Arturo Cavero, Oscar Aviles

Throughout my journey of rejection and acceptance of my identity, this song has never failed to produce in me a great sense of pride.

My love for who I am, who my family is, and where I come from is undeniable, regardless of how I feel at the moment. Our family has blasted this song at gatherings, soccer game watch parties, and in the car. The words flow out of us each time as naturally as the beats within our chests.

This song’s effect is not exclusive to Peruvians, however. “Contigo Peru” details the relentless love and loyalty anyone can feel for another. Listen with an open mind and heart to Cavero’s resounding voice, and these feelings will be drawn out of you, too.

4. Fotografía – Juanes y Nelly Furtado

My attachment to “Fotografía” develops solely from a story told by my parents. After some time apart while dating, my dad drove several hours to see my mom. He pleaded for their reunion and described his time apart from her with this ballad.

Although now listening to this with them only brings more stories of humorous and sweet moments between them, this song’s descriptions of the tribulations of love are relatable across all languages.

Would it be an exaggeration to say this song is the reason for my existence?

3. Brujeria – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

The beauty of traditional Salsa, with its instrumental and vocal elements, will captivate anyone.

Undoubtedly fun, this song is perfect for someone trying to get into dancing or listening to Salsa.

2. Azúcar de Caña- Eva Ayllón

Azúcar de Caña was one of those songs I put on every playlist. I play it on every drive and in every study session.

Eva’s voice has never failed to enthrall me, and her effortless vocals hold my highest admiration.

“Azúcar de Caña” falls under the Peruvian Criollo genre, a type of Peruvian music that blends the country’s influences from the Spaniards and Africans.

1. Enamorada de Estar Aquí – Eva Ayllón

If I were to be asked to pick one song that describes the conglomerate of stories that make up me, this song would be the one. This song is written by a woman with the class and confidence that I aspire to have, but it also evokes the feeling of belonging I have chased forever.

The lyrics “Entre la gente hay muchas ganas, De demostrar un gran cariño, Para el extrano y el amigo” translates to “Among the people there is a lot of desire, to show great affection, for stranger and for friend” may refer to the people of Peru, but I see these words as depicting the people I surround myself with.

While I am grateful for the amazing country I come from, I also appreciate the community I live in, as expressed through Eva Ayllón’s beautiful words.

I really am “in love with being here.”

Learn and listen to more Latin American Songs!

The post Ten Songs to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on GirlSpring.

Observed annually on 11 October, International Day of the Girl is a key global moment on which to celebrate girls everywhere, amplifying their voices, actions and leadership. It is a day that belongs to everyone who cares about girls and their rights. On this day, we come together to recognize and advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights.

This year, 2025, the theme, as shaped by girl-led organizations and networks, is The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis. Learn more about this important day! 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL, 2016

– – – – – – –

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

No matter where she lives, every girl on this planet deserves the chance to learn and grow, to develop her mind and her talents, and to live a life of her own choosing. Although we have made life significantly better for our daughters than it was for our mothers and grandmothers, in too many parts of the world, girls are still undervalued, disrespected, abused, and prevented from contributing to society. On International Day of the Girl, we recognize our obligation to lift up women and girls at home and abroad and to build a world where all girls feel safe and empowered in their classrooms, their communities, and their homes.

My Administration is committed to combating gender disparities, and through the White House Council on Women and Girls, we have made it a priority to consider the needs of women and girls in our policies, laws, and programs. Today, more American women have the freedom to make their own choices about their lives — about their bodies, their education, their career. The Affordable Care Act has ensured that more girls have access to quality, affordable health care and that no health insurer can charge them more simply because of their gender. By encouraging the media to depict more examples of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields — and by working to expand access to STEM classes and careers, particularly computer science — we are striving to address inequalities in education. We will continue to pursue policies that advance gender equality here at home, from equal pay for equal work to protecting reproductive rights, because while some girls have never had more opportunities, there are still many who remain in the toughest of circumstances.

Under the leadership of Vice President Joe Biden, we are working to put an end to violence against women, and we have launched a movement to fight sexual assault and support survivors. Through the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and the “It’s On Us” campaign, we are shining a light on the unconscionable rates of sexual assault against teens and young adults in primary and secondary schools and on college campuses. My Administration recently announced new guidance and resources to help district administrators and educators prevent and appropriately deal with sexual assault in K-12 settings. We have also provided guidance to educators on ways to address harassment and discrimination of students in school settings, including transgender girls and women — who too often face bullying and abuse that harm their education. The Department of Justice also released guidance to identify and prevent gender bias in law enforcement responses to sexual assault and domestic violence cases. And because 84 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls will experience some form of violence in their lifetimes, we have protected the ability of tribes to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of domestic violence in Indian Country through provisions included in the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

As we work to expand opportunities here in the United States, we must also look abroad and acknowledge that any country that oppresses half of its population — that prevents women and girls from going to school or work or refuses to give them control over their bodies or safety from gender-motivated abuse — is not a society that can thrive. The ideologies that harm girls and prevent them from fulfilling their potential are the same ideologies that have led countries to instability, violence, and terrorism. That is why earlier this year, we launched the U.S. Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls — a strategy aimed at bringing Federal agencies together to comprehensively improve the lives of girls around the world, safeguard their rights, and encourage their full social, political, and economic participation. To specifically focus on the challenge of adolescent girls’ education, First Lady Michelle Obama and I launched the Let Girls Learn initiative, through which we are working with companies, organizations, and foreign governments to help give adolescent girls around the world the chance to go to school — because a world in which all girls have access to an education is a safer, fairer, and more stable place. The initiative includes more than a billion dollars for funding new and ongoing programming in more than 50 countries to help adolescent girls attend and stay in school. And the White House will soon host the first meeting of the North American Working Group on Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls to champion regional coordination on the rights of women and girls from indigenous communities across North America.

Around the world — from Africa to Southeast Asia to Latin America — we are striving to improve girls’ welfare, build their skills, and promote their participation as the next generation of leaders. We are working to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls in fragile settings as well as support refugees and displaced persons around the world. We are undertaking targeted efforts to address child, early, and forced marriage, and we are investing in new programs, including survivor-led programs, to end female genital mutilation and cutting in seven countries across Southeast Asia and West Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, we are helping adolescent girls pay for and attend school, while ensuring they learn about HIV and violence prevention. We have sponsored “Women in Science” camps in Peru and Rwanda to give girls abroad the opportunity to learn how to use technology to improve their communities. We are also working with Pakistan to advance women’s economic participation and entrepreneurship and launch the country’s first “Take Your Daughter to Work Day.” And we remain committed to ending human trafficking and have taken unprecedented steps to provide comprehensive services to victims, bring traffickers to justice, apply new technologies to combat modern slavery, and provide training and promote awareness at home and abroad.

This summer, 5,000 leaders from around the world gathered at the first ever United State of Women Summit to highlight the work we have done and to build an agenda for the future. But we know there is still more to do, and I have made advancing gender equality a foreign policy priority to ensure we can continue removing barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential. More than our policies, we must commit to changing the culture that raises our daughters to be demure or criticizes them for speaking out — and to changing the attitude that permits the routine harassment of women and girls, whether walking down the street or going online. We are working with communities and businesses that are rethinking workplace policies, funding women entrepreneurs, expanding female leadership, and creating more opportunities for women and girls who too often face disproportionate challenges — including women and girls of color, women and girls with disabilities, and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women and girls — because everyone has a role to play and everybody deserves the chance to pursue their dreams.

This is the future we are forging: Where women and girls, no matter what they look like or where they are from, can live free from the fear of violence. A future where all girls know they can hold any job, run any company, and compete in any field. Today, we recommit ourselves to the belief that when everyone has the opportunity to go to school, explore their passions, and achieve their dreams, our communities are stronger, more resilient, and better positioned for peace and prosperity. Let us keep working to build a world that is more just and free — because nothing should stand in the way of strong girls with bold dreams.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2016, as International Day of the Girl. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that advance equality and opportunity for girls everywhere.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

BARACK OBAMA

#girlspringpower #Dayofthegirl #obama #itsonus

Article From: The White House

The post October 11, International Day of the Girl – The girl I am, the change I lead 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

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In a world where kings lead empires, governments are run by men, and revolutions are remembered through the names of generals, the work of women remains overshadowed, undervalued, and ignored. To such an extent that many believe true feminism is a creation of today. The truth is more unsettling and more inspiring: women were always there, shaping cultures, leading revolutions, writing poetry, and healing communities. It is not that they lacked voices; it is that history chose not to echo them.

The Myth

The prevailing opinion is that women waited their turn and earned their place in society through suffrage and years of oppression, which ultimately led to revolutions. But what if this belief itself is the illusion created by silence? Women were never absent. Enheduanna, a Sumerian priestess in the 23rd century BCE, composed hymns that shaped spiritual life in Mesopotamia and became the world’s first known author. Hypatia of Alexandria, a philosopher and mathematician in the 4th century, taught astronomy and Neoplatonism until her brutal murder for daring to be publicly appreciated. The work was undeniable, yet in the way history has been told, they became exceptions instead of representatives of a wider truth: women were always part of the story, just not credited as storytellers.

Why the Silence?

Silence is not intentional- the women of the past were never in power, and those who did were shut down.
Men, as the dominant record-keepers, decided what was monumental. Wars, treaties, technologies, and
dynasties were “worthy” of preservation. The main influences of women, such as education, sustenance,
and caregiving, were all regarded as “ordinary.”

Ask yourself this, though: in times of hardship, what is more “monumental” than keeping a community alive in famine? Than passing down knowledge when institutions denied you literacy?

The most agonizing truth of all is perhaps this: the society directed by men valued the personality traits typical of them over those of women. Destruction over creation. Power over care. Cleverness over kindness. And so, a system that only allowed measurement for specific things diminished the role of women, not because of its lack of importance, but because it became a regularity. A “great” man does things a regular woman does. If history had been measured by endurance instead of conquest, by nurture instead of dominion, society would have carved women in stone as readily as generals.

A stage for those on the sidelines

Mary Wollstonecraft: In 1792, Mary Wollstonecraft published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, a manifesto that rattled the foundations of her society. At a time when women were dismissed as intellectually inferior, Wollstonecraft dared to insist that education was a birthright, not a privilege. In her time, men disgraced her memory, but she remains an inspiration. Wollstonecraft laid the groundwork for many major feminist movements that have emerged worldwide. Her courage lies in her dare to dream a world with equality.

Ada Lovelace: Known as the world’s first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace was ahead of her time, envisioning possibilities that came into existence decades later. She laid the groundwork for the digital revolution by predicting that computers could do much more beyond calculations. She believed they might compose music, create art, and extend human thought. Science, especially as a male-dominated field, was where she became the first of so many remarkable women who altered science as we know it today.

The First Suffragists: The women who risked everything—livelihoods, imprisonment, and death —went down in history refusing to be silenced. The women, including Emmeline Pankhurst, Susan B. Anthony, and countless others, dared to demand voting rights at various times across the world. Their persistence cracked open democracy, allowing those who came after them to be acknowledged, if not fully heard. Today, when voting feels ordinary, it’s worth remembering that women once risked everything for the right to mark a ballot.

Modern Reckoning

Today, we acknowledge and appreciate more and more of the women who made it possible for our names to shine, not for the pursuit of academic excellence and integrity but for the imagining of new possibilities. When learning that the first author or programmer in the world was a woman, a girl can feel part of an everlasting legacy. The act of remembering is part of a greater justice that women were denied for centuries. Call it a correction, a way of revoking the errors. But to some, it is a promise that sometime in history someone will know your story. You will have left an impact on the world that goes beyond the understanding of even the most simple-minded individual.

To read about more inspirational women, click here!

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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.

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