Girls should be safe wherever we are, and not be intimidated. We know about violence because it’s something we see and feel. We learned about it as little kids, from media like television, movies, video games, music and from what happens around us.
You can’t be too young or too old to know violence can happen to you, and that it’s not your fault. We have to teach each other that violence is not our fault, that no one should tolerate it, and that it can be changed. We need to understand that sexual abuse of children, for example, is bad and wrong, not just gross.
We are not surprised at statistics that show violence affects us more than it does boys. Violence makes us feel isolated and alone, and it also makes us want to protect ourselves. We each experience some kind of violence in our lives: it can be emotional (treated like we’re invisible or sexually harassed), physical (being hit), mental (being made fun of), economic (living below the poverty line), or it can seem self-inflicted like anorexia and bulimia. It can happen in our homes (domestic violence), at school, on the streets, and wherever we go. Violence is unwanted and unnecessary.
Some people think they can do anything they want to us. They get that idea from what they see around them, including the media. Even children sheltered from the media are influenced by other people who become violent. People who commit violent acts rationalize them so they don’t have to admit they are wrong even though a girl could be hurt for life.
Some girls are abused, even though all of us (including girls who live in other countries) have the right to be respected by everyone. We can stand up for ourselves. It’s important that we tell what’s happening to us. We have the right to tell someone we trust.
Violence is about power and control. Rape is not about sex, and enjoying your body--it’s about power. Pornography is about controlling females. Domestic violence is about power, too: whether it leaves a mark on your body or not, it’s more than that mark that hurts you. Things would be better if men were not always the rulers in the house, and if more women stood up to men. There must be more use of positive reinforcement like praise and thanks. Parents should be responsible, and there should be parenting lessons. They should acknowledge that being a parent is a privilege, and not a right. The system should educate parents or anyone who is violent against girls to stop the violence. The system doesn’t protect us from people who harm girls; for example, there should be better screening of people who work in schools and with children.
We know that when you have problems as a girl, you could still have them as an adult unless you talk and do something about them. People in prison often have histories of child abuse. When girls talk about sexual abuse in groups like the ones at the First National Girls Conference, it helps take the pain away, and makes you feel strong.
Violence against girls isn’t taken seriously even though it’s hurtful, degrading and harmful to us. When we see a girl who’s badly neglected, for example, it makes us very sad and angry that she isn’t protected. Some girls are scared to do anything about the situation they are in, even to talk to teachers in school. Even if they don’t ask us, it may be a good idea to do something to help other girls. A tradition like Female Genital Mutilation, which some people practice in this country, is violence against girls. It’s not acceptable, and we can make laws against it. Girls should not be scared and in pain.
Girls should be in safe and supportive environments. We need to be respected as human beings.
You can’t be too young or too old to know violence can happen to you, and that it’s not your fault. We have to teach each other that violence is not our fault, that no one should tolerate it, and that it can be changed. We need to understand that sexual abuse of children, for example, is bad and wrong, not just gross.
We are not surprised at statistics that show violence affects us more than it does boys. Violence makes us feel isolated and alone, and it also makes us want to protect ourselves. We each experience some kind of violence in our lives: it can be emotional (treated like we’re invisible or sexually harassed), physical (being hit), mental (being made fun of), economic (living below the poverty line), or it can seem self-inflicted like anorexia and bulimia. It can happen in our homes (domestic violence), at school, on the streets, and wherever we go. Violence is unwanted and unnecessary.
Some people think they can do anything they want to us. They get that idea from what they see around them, including the media. Even children sheltered from the media are influenced by other people who become violent. People who commit violent acts rationalize them so they don’t have to admit they are wrong even though a girl could be hurt for life.
Some girls are abused, even though all of us (including girls who live in other countries) have the right to be respected by everyone. We can stand up for ourselves. It’s important that we tell what’s happening to us. We have the right to tell someone we trust.
Violence is about power and control. Rape is not about sex, and enjoying your body--it’s about power. Pornography is about controlling females. Domestic violence is about power, too: whether it leaves a mark on your body or not, it’s more than that mark that hurts you. Things would be better if men were not always the rulers in the house, and if more women stood up to men. There must be more use of positive reinforcement like praise and thanks. Parents should be responsible, and there should be parenting lessons. They should acknowledge that being a parent is a privilege, and not a right. The system should educate parents or anyone who is violent against girls to stop the violence. The system doesn’t protect us from people who harm girls; for example, there should be better screening of people who work in schools and with children.
We know that when you have problems as a girl, you could still have them as an adult unless you talk and do something about them. People in prison often have histories of child abuse. When girls talk about sexual abuse in groups like the ones at the First National Girls Conference, it helps take the pain away, and makes you feel strong.
Violence against girls isn’t taken seriously even though it’s hurtful, degrading and harmful to us. When we see a girl who’s badly neglected, for example, it makes us very sad and angry that she isn’t protected. Some girls are scared to do anything about the situation they are in, even to talk to teachers in school. Even if they don’t ask us, it may be a good idea to do something to help other girls. A tradition like Female Genital Mutilation, which some people practice in this country, is violence against girls. It’s not acceptable, and we can make laws against it. Girls should not be scared and in pain.
Girls should be in safe and supportive environments. We need to be respected as human beings.
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