It Only Takes a Girl

[redqueen]

This deserves to be posted again. Especially considering how some people repeatedly whine about anyone raising the issue of education for girls... because they think there is parity in education in soooo many places around the world. Apparently some people think that others should shut up about girls' education already. Interesting.

[niyad]

1. k and r--do you ever feel as if you are shouting down an empty well?

[redqueen]

3. Yes, often... but people are noticing these things.

Despite the exceedingly loud, hyper-animated, and over-represented voices that fight so hard to shout down, shut out, and silence everyone they disagree with... slowly but surely, more and people are noticing.

[seabeyond]

16. evolution says old menz gotta have their child brides.... when we hear this on a progressive board

from u.s. raised and bred men, that says a whole lot about the world.

[seabeyond]

15. i was at a family gathering. SIL, a powerful attorney with a voice said to two teenage daughters

the father needs to call the school board and insist....

because they only hear a mans voice.

my mouth dropped. i told those girls, your voice. i expect to hear your voice.

this woman was stating an obvious, a trueism, a fact.... and i reject it. a woman that is educated, accomplished, knowing that it takes a mans voice to be heard...

ya, i do feel as you say.

i also reject it.

[PDJane]

2. Yes. Often.

I've known this since 1985. I've said so, often. It feels repetitive even to me.

But I will still keep saying it.

[TexasProgresive]

4. K&R

This man wants all of our people educated to the maximum of their ability-regardless of gender, race or wealth.

[snappyturtle]

5. I can't agree more with the message however I feel the U.S. has put

education on the back burner....America is being dumbed down and the girls will suffer the most.imho

[eridani]

8. Actually, America has always been anti-intellectual, and now boys are getting the worst of it

It used to be that widespread social contempt for 'book learning' was no barrier at all to getting a well-paying job, most of which were reserved for men. Girls in US culture have always been more diligent at school, and used to be rewarded for this by being stuck in low-paying pink collar jobs regardless of educational attainment. Now girls are more likely to go to college, and boys are still stuck with Beavis and Butthead for role models.

The developing world is, as the OP illustrates, a very different story.

[seabeyond]

17. i have fought this with my two sons, in the panhandle of texas. the parent wins....

when addressing this. it does not have to be.

but, i agree. it was a very real issue in this house, with boys peers.

[ancianita]

6. Women need to woman up, lawyer up and build compensatory institutions for girls.

And actively shut up sexist innuendo about the relative worth of girls.

[zinnisking]

13. Unless they're within reach of the taliban where even little girl activists get shot in the head

[seabeyond]

18. mmmm, have you seen the results of that effort on this progressive board?

it is an interesting dynamic, trying to shut down the sexist/misogynist mouths. especially when there is no help from the people that run the board.

[redqueen]

20. People all over the world, men and women, need to shut down anything and everything

that enables and encourages the idea that women and girls are of lesser status.

Unfortunately, it isn't all that easy. http://www.democraticunderground.com/125512671

But with education and vigilance, we will keep making progress, despite whatever setbacks we will encounter.

[nahant]

7. Girls!

I have three daughters and three grand daughters and they deserve the same opportunities of education that my three sons and three grandsons have as I have taught them all... Anything else is bigotry plain and simple sexist bigotry!

[seabeyond]

19. that was one of my favorite things obama said. want the same for my daughters that a son

would get.

[kimmylavin]

9. Great video.

All those lovely, amazing faces!
Very powerful.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

10. Bravo!

.

[Cassidy]

11. Places to go to help girls and women obtain an education

I am sure there are other organizations like this, but two direct ways I know of helping girls and women are through loaning them money, as little as $25, specifically for educational goals. The first organization is Kiva (kiva.org). They usually don't have many education loans, but there are a few. An organization more specifically directed toward education loans is Vittana (vittana.org).

[hrmjustin]

12. Welcome to DU!

[burrowowl]

14. Beautiful video!

[Mosby]

21. K and R