Why Empowerment Matters

I firmly believe that we live in a society that puts more focus on the way girls look, rather than what they can accomplish. Because of this, our young Canadian girls are growing up in an environment of toxic hyper-sexuality, which impacts nearly every area of their lives. Some research has found that a girl who believes that sexual attractiveness is an important part of her identity will even get lower grades than her peers. 

Despite a growing awareness of the importance of good mental health, young Canadian girls are still experiencing poor mental health. One statistic shows that 36% of girls in grade 6 say they feel self-confident, however by grade 10 it falls to only 14% (Canadian Women’s Foundation).  

Empowering our young girls is urgent! As girls approach adolescence they face higher levels of sexual assault and other forms of violence, along with a sharp decline in mental health and confidence. Social media bombards girls (and women) with negative messaging, that only perpetuates the narrative that they are never ‘good enough.’ Low value and low self-esteem is the main contributor to a girl being vulnerable to predators and exploiters.

It is imperative that we counter this narrative with a positive, empowering message that allows each girl to feel good about herself and proud to be a girl. Research tells us that when we empower a girl, we impact a family and change a community. The impact is far reaching, for they are the ones who will raise up the next generation. Empowerment matters because these young girls are tomorrow’s leaders.  

Ask yourself, “how can I make a difference in empowering young girls?” We would love to help you answer that question! Follow along with us this month, as we focus on Girl’s Empowerment.

Cathy