The Tipping Point for Gender Equality

Strengthening the lives and communities of women and girls worldwide should be the priority of all governments, community organizations, international development institutions and global citizens. As we like to say at The Women Worldwide Initiative, “empower a girl, and you empower a nation.” As many of us know – and unfortunately, some still do not – the investment in women is perhaps the single most significant focus for development. Investing in women has the power to lift not only those women, but also their families and communities out of poverty. Women are game-changers, and they need to be given the opportunity to effect change.

Invest in Women and Girl’s Leadership

Investing in women and girl’s leadership is essential to achieving gender equality worldwide. Meaningful participation of women is still lacking at all levels of key fields such as politics, government, media and business – and yet, women make up at least 50% of the global population. The most obvious examples of this disparity are the shortage of women in senior, decision-making positions within companies and governments, and the mis-representative portrayals of women and girls in the media. We – as a culture, society, community – need to encourage our women to push into these positions, and we must support them on that journey. As women, we need to get involved in the political process. Whether this means running for office or simply voting to elect female leaders. Imagine the positive changes we will see for women’s rights – also known as human rights – when we increase the number of female world leaders. This will be a tipping point for gender equality.

When we discuss the actions we want women to take or the positions we want them to hold, we are also inherently talking about the girls who will one day become these women. One of the most holistic, high-impact and sustainable ways in which we can invest in girl’s leadership is through mentorship programs that empower young women. Mentorship programs that partner a strong focus on self-confidence building and leadership skills, with technological tools and critical resources, will take on the current crisis of a lack of female leadership head on. Social media has done wonders for the girl’s voice, and they should be encouraged to keep speaking up – we are listening, girls!

The Power of Mentorship for Girl’s

Our leadership and personal development program, Young Women Rock!, empowers young women in low-income communities in New York City through mentorship. YWR! builds their self-confidence and challenges them to discover and fulfill their potential. The sisterhood we have created at Young Women Rock! increases the self-esteem of mentees by illustrating to them that they have a group of women and girls that respects, loves and believes in them. By having the girls think critically about themselves, their identity and their goals, they are taught to break down negative messages fed to them by society and the media. Every week it is exciting to see our mentees’ eagerness to be a part of something greater than themselves, and to witness their development throughout the year. Upon completing the program, each girl confidently defines herself as a “leader”; a term that a year prior she would not have even thought to use.

Young Women Rock! Mentorship programme. Image via Women Worldwide Initiative on Facebook

After years of mentoring young women in under-served communities, experiencing gender-based discrimination, and experiencing countries such as Indonesia, Morocco, Colombia and Iran among others, I feel that the key to connecting, inspiring and educating girls is to give them a place that celebrates them through love, support and sisterhood, and encourages them to find and express their voice. When girls are shown that they have a unique and important voice, they will use it – loudly and proudly – both as a child and as an adult.

If we are to truly change the course of gender inequality in this world, we must take this opportunity – the opportunity of incredible women leaders, organizations and voices who are all rising to the surface – to back our commitment to empowering women and girls around the world with concrete actions and resources. We must include the voices of women and girls in the design of effective solutions. They need to be sitting at the table, as a central part of the decision-making process. It is then that we will begin to see real, tangible progress for women and girls.