March is celebrated as Women’s History Month, but we are also commemorating the women of tomorrow! To support the empowerment of female voices, here’s how young women are shaping the future…today.
Young people can change the world
Historically, there are countless examples of youth-led movements changing history. Consider that when Martin Luther King, Jr. became known as a prominent leader of the civil rights movement in 1955, he was only 26 years of age.
In addition, we also must commemorate the large number of individuals involved in the civil rights movement who were even younger than Dr. King. Honored by the Library of Congress, a number of extremely young individuals made their voices heard – and their actions have had a lasting impact. Here are just a few examples:
- Marilyn Luper Hildreth was only a child when she began attending NAACP meetings with her mother.
- Freeman Hrabowski was only 12 years old when he marched in the Birmingham Children’s Crusade of 1963.
- Ruby Bridges displayed unimaginable bravery when she became the first African American girl to integrate an all-white elementary school at the age of 6 years old.
Put simply – young people can, and have, played a pivotal role in our society’s evolution.
Young women of today are shaping tomorrow
As expressed by author Carmen Rios in her excellent article Girls to the Front: How Young Women are Shaping Their Future, “Young women and girls today are deliberately moving through the world and coming together within it differently – and the reverberations of that will be long-lasting for all of us.” Here are just a few of the young women of today highlighted by the National Women’s History Museum:
- Greta Thunberg called for members of the UN to address climate change at age 16.
- Malala Yousafzai began her fight for girl’s education in the middle east after being shot at age 15.
- Amariyanna Copeny, known as “Little Miss Flint”, raised awareness for the Flint, Michigan water crisis at 8 years old.
- Therese Malinowski began building the world’s only database of college sexual assault statistics at age 16.
- Havana Chapman-Edwards is only 11 years old and has raised thousands of dollars to help girls around the world obtain an education.
These are just a few examples – there are countless young women changing the world every single day, at this very moment.
Getting involved
How can parents encourage their children to get involved? UNICEF has an excellent resource highlighting young women of today who are making their voices heard. Here are a few recommended tips:
- Have a vision. It’s important for young women to discover issues they are passionate towards. Encourage your child to identify with an issue that they have a personal connection with or feel strongly about.
- Start small. This is excellent advice for any new pursuit, but especially when it comes to helping your community. As UNICEF puts it, “advocacy doesn’t have to be grand from the beginning.” In other words, it’s okay to start with small projects (park cleanups, neighborhood awareness, etc.)
- Connect with others. A great way to get involved is to band together with other individuals who feel the same way you do. Whether it’s a local club or a national organization (like the Girl Scouts), joining a community can help young girls to build confidence and inner strength.
If your child is still exploring their passions, Tutor Doctor has some excellent resources to help guide them through the discovery process!
- How to Help Your Child Develop Strong Leadership Skills
- Why Your Kids Should Consider Volunteer Work
- Volunteer Opportunities That Look Great On Any College Application
- Choosing Extracurricular Activities That Will Appeal to Colleges
