Welcome to the eighth in our series of bi-weekly columns under the title “The Gender Corner,” published in collaboration with The Anguillian newspaper. We are focusing on specific gender issues facing our island today. Through this publication we hope to provide thought-provoking and stimulating discussion that will translate into practical ways of effecting positive change. This week we explore the plight of girls the assault on education, influences on self-esteem and instilling visionary leadership for healthy girls’ development despite any current or future obstacles.
It is over one month now that we witnessed a prime example displaying the plight of girls. On the 14th of April, over 200 girls in northeastern Nigeria were kidnapped from their school by a terrorist group known as “Boko Haram” (which translates into “Western Education is Forbidden/Sin). This terrorist group is using school girls as pawns to further their agenda of power and control. While in terrorist custody, these school girls who were simply trying to achieve educational opportunities, are being forced to accept Islamic extremist beliefs and are being tortured and abused. The terrorist group declares that these girls should not have access to education and, instead, should claim a place of ignorance and subservience.
Nigeria is a long way from Anguilla (roughly a 40-hour journey by plane) but we must ask, is their fear and trauma foreign to us? As Nigeria’s case turns into global activism, people around the world are joining in the fight to release the girls by declaring their slogan: “Bring our Girls Back.” In this scenario, we can only imagine the fear and trauma that these young teenagers are going through, but do we know what assaults are taking place on our girl’s right here at home? And how will we protect our girls here in Anguilla from the negative influences seeking to make them less than who they were created to be?
We are seeing an increase in girls in higher education and girls succeeding in their academic subjects. However, there is still an assault on girls in education here in Anguilla and around the world. In Anguilla, we are still encouraging girls to pursue their talents and interests even if it means studying in a predominately male field. On the 24th of April, we celebrated Girls in Information and Communication Technologies Day – encouraging girls to consider careers in technology, computer programming and other male-dominated communication fields that are the way of the future. Girls must have the ability to enter into the career fields of their choosing and not be funneled into a set of limited options based on their sex.
In terms of girls’ self-esteem, we hear the word “self-esteem” used often, but do we really know what it means and how to create it? Self-esteem is developed through experiences, conversations, what we do, what we think and what we choose to believe. Healthy self-esteem is knowing your value and worth, and it is crucial in creating an effective life. For girls in this era, value and worth too often come from physical appearance: the latest hairstyles, colorful finger nails, 4-inch heels (that create long-term foot problems), an aggressive attitude that is loud and laced with profanity, and short dresses that barely cover the rear.
These are actually the products of low self-esteem; observing what is lacking from a physical point of view instead of creating healthy mental and spiritual development. So let’s ask ourselves, how can we decrease the pressure that girls (and in some cases, women) face in order to fit into this false notion of worth and value? What information are you sharing with a girl that is either building her up or tearing her down? Any negative talk without a suggested corrective action is worthless. Similarly, sexual activity and thoughts of sexuality are occurring at a younger age for girls, both willingly and unwillingly. How will we protect our girls from offering the very essence of who they are, both body and spirit, prematurely? How will we change the culture to not accept abuse toward our girls? The risk to girls is far beyond pregnancy. It is now a matter of life, death and living a life with a number of incurable diseases. We must encourage our girls to be smart and seriously weigh the risks of momentary satisfaction with a lifetime of pain.
We can “bring our girls back” by teaching them to become visionary leaders. A visionary leader is someone who is able to use his or her imagination, puts no limits on creativity, and dreams bigger possibilities than what his or her immediate circumstances suggest. A visionary leader will also turn unconventional ideas into action. Our girls must be brought back to the place where they value education, where they change mannerisms and habits to not reflect negative popular culture and where they do not succumb to oppression in any form. Let us be encouraged to “bring our girls back” to a state of purpose, health and vigor.
For more information and resources on ways to promote healthy and holistic development for girls, contact the Gender Affairs Unit. We also want to hear about each and every one of your activities, events, or group conversations related to gender issues in Anguilla. Please contact Ronya Foy Connor, Gender Development Coordinator, Ministry of Home Affairs, The Valley, at Ronya.Foy-Connor@gov.ai or feel free to call us anytime at 497-2518.
