Short Essay

Save Girl Child Essay – 100, 500, 1000 Words, 10 Lines

Save Girl Child Essay: Delve into the urgent and compelling discourse on gender equality and empowerment through this insightful essay on saving the girl child. Explore the societal challenges, implications, and potential solutions, shedding light on the importance of fostering a supportive environment for girls and advocating for their rights and opportunities.

Short Essay on Save Girl Child in 100 Words

Also See – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Essay – 100, 500, 1000 Words & 10 Lines

Table of Contents

Save Girl Child Essay in 10 Lines in English

Addressing the critical issue of gender imbalance, this essay advocates for saving the girl child by examining societal challenges, emphasizing empowerment, and proposing solutions in a succinct 10-line exploration.

  • The “Save Girl Child” initiative is a crucial social cause advocating for gender equality.
  • Female feticide and infanticide pose significant threats to the girl child’s survival.
  • Discrimination against girls denies them opportunities for education and personal growth.
  • Empowering girls through education and awareness is essential for societal progress.
  • Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (means save girl child and educate girl child) scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 by Narendra Modi for the welfare of women.
  • Eradicating gender stereotypes fosters a more inclusive environment for girls to thrive.
  • Celebrating the birth of a girl and promoting equal rights contribute to social change.
  • Addressing economic disparities and providing financial aid can uplift girl children.
  • Educating communities on the value of the girl child helps break deep-rooted biases.
  • Collective efforts are crucial to building a society where every girl child is cherished, protected, and given equal opportunities.

Short Essay on Save Girl Child in 100 Words

Explore the urgent need for gender equality and the empowerment of girls in this concise Save Girl Child Essay, addressing societal challenges and advocating for a more inclusive and supportive environment.

The “Save Girl Child” initiative is paramount in addressing gender inequality. Female feticide and discrimination pose threats to the girl child’s survival and development. By empowering girls through education, eradicating stereotypes, and promoting awareness, we can foster a more inclusive society.

Celebrating the birth of a girl and implementing government policies are crucial steps. Economic support and breaking deep-rooted biases contribute to social change.

Education on the girl child’s value and collective efforts are essential for creating a world where every girl is cherished and given equal opportunities.

Save Girl Child Essay in English in 500 Words

Dive into a comprehensive exploration of the imperative to ‘Save Girl Child’ in this 500-word essay, addressing societal challenges, advocating for gender equality, and proposing impactful solutions.

The “Save Girl Child” campaign is a poignant call to action against gender-based discrimination. In a world where girls often face the threat of female foeticide and societal neglect, this initiative strives to reshape perspectives and secure the well-being of the girl child.

The root of the issue lies in deep-seated patriarchal norms that perpetuate gender bias. Female foeticide, the deliberate abortion of female fetuses, reflects a disturbing preference for male children. This practice not only denies girls the right to life but perpetuates a cycle of gender imbalance. Consequently, societies face numerous challenges, including a skewed sex ratio and a lack of diversity.

To address this critical issue, it is essential to understand the multifaceted aspects of the “Save Girl Child” initiative. One pivotal element is education. Providing girls with access to quality education is not only a fundamental right but also a catalyst for societal transformation. Education empowers girls, equipping them with knowledge and skills to break free from the shackles of traditional gender roles. When girls are educated, they contribute significantly to their communities, fostering economic growth and social progress.

Moreover, challenging gender stereotypes is integral to changing societal attitudes towards the girl child. Discriminatory beliefs that perceive girls as liabilities need to be dismantled. Families and communities must recognize the inherent value and potential within every girl, encouraging them to dream big and aspire to any role in society.

The government plays a crucial role in shaping policies that protect and uplift the girl child. Enforcing stringent laws against female foeticide and infanticide is imperative. Simultaneously, promoting initiatives that provide financial aid and incentives for families to educate and support their girl children can be instrumental in breaking the cycle of gender-based discrimination.

Cultural celebrations of the birth of a girl child are equally significant. By changing the narrative and celebrating the arrival of a girl with the same enthusiasm as that of a boy, communities can challenge existing norms and foster an environment where girls feel valued and cherished.

Economic support is another linchpin in the “Save Girl Child” movement. Poverty often exacerbates gender discrimination, as families may view girls as economic burdens. Implementing measures that alleviate financial strains, such as scholarships or employment opportunities, can dismantle this perception and create an environment where families perceive the value of educating and nurturing their girl children.

Breaking down deep-rooted biases requires community-wide awareness campaigns. Education programs that highlight the importance of gender equality, the potential of girls, and the negative consequences of discrimination can challenge societal norms and pave the way for lasting change.

In conclusion, the “Save Girl Child” initiative is a holistic approach to rectifying gender imbalances and discrimination. Through education, legal enforcement, economic support, and cultural shifts, societies can create an environment where every girl child is not only saved but also celebrated, empowered, and given equal opportunities to contribute to the progress of humanity. The journey to save the girl child is a collective responsibility, requiring concerted efforts from individuals, communities, and governments alike.

Save Girl Child Essay in 1000 Words

Embark on an in-depth exploration of the critical ‘Save Girl Child’ initiative in this comprehensive 1000-word essay, unraveling societal challenges, advocating for gender equality, and proposing impactful solutions for the empowerment and protection of girls.

Save Girl Child: A Call to Transform Societal Narratives

Introduction

The “Save Girl Child” initiative is a crucial endeavor aimed at challenging deep-seated gender biases and fostering an environment where the girl child is not only protected but also empowered. This essay navigates through various facets of this imperative movement, examining societal challenges, advocating for gender equality, and proposing concrete solutions.

Female Foeticide and Infanticide: A Disturbing Preference

This section delves into the alarming practice of female foeticide, analyzing its roots and consequences. It highlights the societal preference for male children, contributing to skewed sex ratios and perpetuating gender-based discrimination.

Education as Empowerment: Breaking the Chains

Education emerges as a pivotal tool for change, empowering girls with knowledge and skills to challenge societal norms. This section explores the transformative impact of education on the girl child and its broader implications for societal progress.

Challenging Gender Stereotypes: Redefining Roles

Breaking down deeply ingrained gender stereotypes is essential for reshaping societal attitudes towards the girl child. This section advocates for a cultural shift that recognizes and celebrates the potential within every girl, allowing them to envision and pursue diverse roles in society.

Government Policies: Enforcing Protection and Support

The role of the government in shaping policies to protect and support the girl child is explored here. From enforcing laws against female foeticide to implementing financial incentives for education, this section emphasizes the need for comprehensive governmental measures.

Cultural Celebrations: Changing the Narrative

Cultural perceptions play a significant role in perpetuating gender bias. This section emphasizes the importance of celebrating the birth of a girl child with the same enthusiasm as that of a boy, challenging existing norms and fostering an environment where girls are valued from the outset.

Economic Support: Alleviating Financial Strains

Poverty often exacerbates gender discrimination, with families viewing girls as economic burdens. This section explores the significance of economic support measures, such as scholarships and employment opportunities, in dismantling perceptions that hinder the education and well-being of the girl child.

Community Awareness: Dismantling Deep-Rooted Biases

Addressing gender bias requires community-wide awareness campaigns. This section advocates for education programs that highlight the importance of gender equality, the potential of girls, and the negative consequences of discrimination, fostering a collective understanding that challenges societal norms.

Conclusion: Transforming Societal Narratives

In conclusion, the “Save Girl Child” initiative transcends rhetoric, demanding actionable steps to transform societal narratives. From legal enforcement and economic support to cultural shifts and community awareness, this essay contends that saving the girl child is not just a movement but a collective responsibility requiring sustained efforts to create a world where every girl is celebrated, empowered, and given equal opportunities to contribute to the progress of humanity.

In the final analysis, the Save Girl Child Essay initiative serves as a compelling call to reshape societal narratives. By challenging gender biases, advocating for education, and fostering cultural change, we can dismantle the deep-rooted norms that threaten the well-being of the girl child. As we collectively strive for legal enforcement, economic support, and community awareness, this movement becomes not just a call to action but a commitment to creating a world where every girl is cherished, protected, and afforded the opportunities she rightfully deserves.

Related Essays

Essay on Modern Indian Woman

Essay on Modern Indian Woman – 100, 500, 1000 Words, 10 Lines

Essay on Future of English in India

Essay on Future of English in India – 10 Lines, 500 & 1000 Words

Essay on Bhai Dooj

Essay on Bhai Dooj – 10 Lines, 100, 500, 1000 Words

Essay About Ooty

Essay About Ooty – 10 Lines, 500 & 1000 Words

Draupadi Murmu Essay

Draupadi Murmu Essay – 10 Lines, 100, 500, 1000 Words

Computer Essay

Computer Essay – Short Essay, 10 Lines, 500 & 1000 Words

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Essay on Women Empowerment for Students and Children

500+ words essay on women empowerment.

Women empowerment refers to making women powerful to make them capable of deciding for themselves. Women have suffered a lot through the years at the hands of men. In earlier centuries, they were treated as almost non-existent. As if all the rights belonged to men even something as basic as voting. As the times evolved, women realized their power. There on began the revolution for women empowerment.

Essay on Women Empowerment

As women were not allowed to make decisions for them, women empowerment came in like a breath of fresh air. It made them aware of their rights and how they must make their own place in society rather than depending on a man. It recognized the fact that things cannot simply work in someone’s favor because of their gender. However, we still have a long way to go when we talk about the reasons why we need it.

Need for Women Empowerment

Almost every country, no matter how progressive has a history of ill-treating women. In other words, women from all over the world have been rebellious to reach the status they have today. While the western countries are still making progress, third world countries like India still lack behind in Women Empowerment.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Moreover, the education and freedom scenario is very regressive here. Women are not allowed to pursue higher education, they are married off early. The men are still dominating women in some regions like it’s the woman’s duty to work for him endlessly. They do not let them go out or have freedom of any kind.

In addition, domestic violence is a major problem in India. The men beat up their wife and abuse them as they think women are their property. More so, because women are afraid to speak up. Similarly, the women who do actually work get paid less than their male counterparts. It is downright unfair and sexist to pay someone less for the same work because of their gender. Thus, we see how women empowerment is the need of the hour. We need to empower these women to speak up for themselves and never be a victim of injustice .

How to Empower Women?

There are various ways in how one can empower women. The individuals and government must both come together to make it happen. Education for girls must be made compulsory so that women can become illiterate to make a life for themselves.

Women must be given equal opportunities in every field, irrespective of gender. Moreover, they must also be given equal pay. We can empower women by abolishing child marriage. Various programs must be held where they can be taught skills to fend for themselves in case they face financial crisis .

Most importantly, the shame of divorce and abuse must be thrown out of the window. Many women stay in abusive relationships because of the fear of society. Parents must teach their daughters it is okay to come home divorced rather than in a coffin.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Travelling Essay
  • Picnic Essay
  • Our Country Essay
  • My Parents Essay
  • Essay on Favourite Personality
  • Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
  • Essay on Knowledge is Power
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on My Favourite Season
  • Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

essay on empowerment of girl child

5 Reasons Why Empowering Girls Matters

essay on empowerment of girl child

By Jenni Lee on October 7, 2015

On October 11, the United Nations and partners including the UN Foundation celebrate International Day of the Girl and the extraordinary power of girls in our world.

This year’s theme, “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030,” highlights the importance of girls to achieving the global goals for sustainable development. Simply put: To reach our global goals, we have to reach girls.

Here are five reasons why empowering adolescent girls matters to all of us.

1. It’s her right.

Fundamentally, this is a human rights issue. Discrimination has no place in the 21 st century, and every girl has the right to go to school, stay safe from violence, access health services, and fully participate in her community.

2. Empowered girls mean healthier families.

When girls are educated, healthy, and empowered, families are healthier. According to UNESCO, 2.1 million children under age 5 were saved between 1990 and 2009 because of improvements in girls’ education. And closing the gap in the unmet need for family planning for the 225 million girls and women who want to delay or avoid pregnancy but aren’t using modern contraception would reduce maternal deaths by 67% and newborn deaths by 77%.

3. Empowered girls are key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families around the world.

Research from the Brookings Institution has found that every additional year of school increases a girls’ eventual wages by an average of 12% – earnings she invests back into her family. Empowered, educated girls have healthier, better educated children and higher wages – helping to break the cycle of poverty.

4. Empowered girls strengthen economies.

According to a new Brookings report, “Increasing the number of women completing secondary education by just 1 percent could increase a country’s economic growth by 0.3 percent.” Additionally, a report just released by the McKinsey Global Institute found that if women’s level of participation in the labor market was the same as men’s it would add up to $28 trillion to annual global GDP in 2025.

5. Did we mention it’s the right thing to do?

Investing in girls is one of the smartest things we can do to promote a healthier, more prosperous world. More importantly, it’s the right thing to do. Every girl has the right to be in charge of her future and her fate, and we have the collective obligation to protect her rights and promote her wellbeing.

This is a key priority for the UN. To join our movement to support UN programs that empower adolescent girls, visit girlup.org/girlhero , and sign the pledge to stand with girls as we work to achieve the global goals.

Share on Mastodon

essay on empowerment of girl child

  • Girl Child: Education and Empowerment
  • On: January 24, 2021
  • By: Smile Foundation

Girl Child: Education and Empowerment

  • In The Spotlight

“When you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

Education of a girl goes beyond just enrolling her into school. Girls should have equal opportunities to complete their education. They should feel safe while in school. Girls should acquire adequate knowledge and skills to compete in the labor market. They should be enabled to learn life skills necessary to navigate and adapt to a world which is fast changing.  Women and girls should be empowered to make decisions about their own lives; and to contribute to their communities.

Importance of Education for Girls

Girl child education is a strategic development priority for any nation. When we educate girls we ensure that the community/nation is on a path of development. In fact women who are educated tend to be more informed about healthcare and nutrition. They have planned families and have fewer children, marry at a later age, and their children are usually healthier. Girls and women who are educated are more likely to participate in the formal labor market. In fact they also earn higher incomes. Empowered women can lift the family and society out of poverty.

Condition of Female Literacy

Progress in the field of education for adolescent girls has not kept pace with the realities they face today. According to a report by United Nations 1 in 4 girls in the world, aged 15-19 years is not employed. She is neither educated nor trained as compared to 1 in 10 boys of the same age. 47 million girls will be pushed into poverty as a result of the ongoing pandemic. 435 million women and girls will be living on less than $1.90 a day.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Education of Girls in India

The sex ratio in India is 940 females per 1000 males. It is still far from achieving its gender equality goals. The patriarchal influence on the society often deems a girl child as a ‘burden’. Gender inequality, gender stereotypes and being treated as the inferior sex is fairly common. Girls are denied a deserving education. They do not have access to quality healthcare, equal rights and employment. Girls and women and are often subjected to abuse inside and outside the house.

Interventions in Learning for Girls

A number of government initiatives in the recent years coupled with the work of grassroots organization in remote areas and urban slums has been able to change the scenario. According U-DISE data in 2018-19, the Gross Enrolment Ratio for girls at the primary stage is 101.78%. At the elementary stage it is 96.72%.

One of the most important interventions has been the provision of incentives for secondary education through the National Scheme of Incentives. Other major happenings have been the opening of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs). These vidyalays educate girls from the upper primary level up to the senior secondary level. Other major developments have been renovations of toilets in educational institutions as well as providing self-defense training to girls of Class VI to XII.

Girls face barriers to education as a result of poverty, cultural norms and practices, poor infrastructure, violence, and fragility every day. We should ensure to empower girls with education. In fact they should be taught other life skills to be self-reliant. At last every one of us should pledge and ensure that no girl is left behind in her journey of education.

To know more and support girl child education visit  https://www.smilefoundationindia.org/she-can-fly/

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More To Explore

What Happens When Girls are Stopped from Going to Schools?

What Happens When Girls are Stopped from Going to Schools?

It’s always a good idea to circle back to the basics when

Slum Children’s Education: A Quest for A Dignified Life

Slum Children’s Education: Quest for A Dignified Life

Education is a fundamental right that springs from a person’s very being.

What Can You Always Do More? CARE

What Can You Always Do More? CARE

Celebrated annually on June 7, World Caring Day, serves as a call

Skilling: Key to Reap India's Demographic Dividend in India

Skilling: Key to Reap India’s Demographic Dividend in India

India, home to the world’s largest youth population, stands at a critical

5 Community Giving Back Ideas for Your Summer Vacations

5 Community Giving Back Ideas for Your Summer Vacations

Summer vacations are a perfect time to unwind, explore new places, and

ARSH for Girls living in Remote Areas of India

ARSH for Girls living in Remote Areas of India

The topic of Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH) for girls living

BLOG SUBSCRIPTION

You may also recommend your friend’s e-mail for free newsletter subscription.

Byjus Logo

  • Uniquely BYJU'S
  • Student Stories
  • Parent Plus
  • The Learning Tree
  • Life at BYJU'S
  • Early Learn
  • BYJU'S in News
  • Social Initiatives
  • Did You Know?
  • Quiz Corner
  • Fun Activities
  • BYJU'S Xcel Masterclass
  • Visual Stories
  • Bulletin Board
  • Product Updates
  • Expert Opinion
  • Teacher Stories

Empowering the girl child for a better tomorrow

essay on empowerment of girl child

With a skewed gender ratio of 943 females per 1000 males (Census of India 2011), India is far from being called a developed country. While in many countries, a girl or boy child won’t negatively impact the parents, the birth of a girl child in India still remains a hiccup to many parents.

From the time she is born, the parents are ‘burdened’ until the point she is ‘married off’ to a ‘good family’. But in that process, they often forget that each of these girls has their own identity and are potential changemakers of tomorrow.

That being said, it would be a major improvement if we could’ve at least ensured that the “4.6 crore (45.8 million) females ‘missing’ in Indian demography in the year 2020” (UNFPA) could’ve seen the light of day.

Why is Girl Child Education Sacrificed?

essay on empowerment of girl child

When a girl is born, there are a series of other ‘problems’ that weigh down the Indian parent. UNICEF says that about 1 in 10 girls under the age of 20 have been forced to engage in sex or perform other sexual acts. This pushes parents to keep their girl children at home and compromise on their education.

Once they start menstruating, other health concerns set in. One in three schools around the world does not have basic sanitation, putting millions of children’s health at risk ( WaterAid Report, 2018 ), girls facing the brunt of it. In addition, almost 23 million girls in India drop out of school annually, because of a lack of menstrual hygiene management facilities ( Dasra , ‘Spot On’, 2014).

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only increased poverty but also put about 247 million children out of schools ( UNICEF 2020 ). The result of that is losing a safe space in school and seeing an increase in child labour. In fact, over 100 million girls are at risk of child marriage due to COVID-19 ( UNICEF 2020 ).

Among these crimes, one of the crucial ones, that is yet to be eliminated despite being illegal, is dowry. In fact, about 7000 dowry deaths were reported in the year 2020 ( Statista ).

essay on empowerment of girl child

Families that reel in poverty and are unable to educate their daughters are faced with the brunt of dowry demands by people who use the lack of education to torment these daughters.

One such person who faced the struggles of such a situation was Devendra Kumar, who as a boy was abandoned by his parents when he was 2, in the slums of Delhi. 

Devendra’s personal struggles pushed him towards finding a purpose in life. This purpose was fulfilled when he started the Ladli Foundation, an NGO focused on changing the lives of girl children in the country. With a shared vision, BYJU’S EFA joined hands with the Ladli Foundation to distribute over 1,00,000 licenses over 3 years.  

The Story of Ladli Foundation

While Devendra raised his sister by himself, both of their education was severely compromised. When the time came for Devendra’s sister to be married, many families asked for dowry, banking on the fact that she was not educated. 

“When a girl child is born, first, the parents think of how to get her married. In fact, they don’t save up for her education, but for her marriage. This is the reason for so many suicides and dowry deaths,” Devendra says.

Unable to tolerate this kind of injustice that happens with all those girls who are uneducated and are from poor families, he founded the NGO, Ladli Foundation.

The non-profit has been involved in various campaigns including Menstrual Hygiene Management, preventive healthcare camp, support to unmarried women, providing inclusive education to slum children, and drug de-addiction. These campaigns and activities cater to both girls and boys.

essay on empowerment of girl child

BYJU’S EFA has joined hands with the Ladli Foundation to distribute over 1,00,000 licenses over 3 years.

International Day of the Girl Child

On International Day of the Girl Child, Devendra shares that what we need to prioritise the most is healthcare and then, education. We as a society also need to put in the effort to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV).

Along with education, he further shares that we need to help them with vocational training and help them stand on their feet. That’s why Ladli also strongly believes in gender sensitisation and that it is key to change the overall standpoint of society.

While one section of rural India may not have access to modern-day digital facilities, there are a whole lot of girls who at least have smartphones. Devendra shares that the only thing they lack is access to good content through these devices.

“We saw that the girls had access to smartphones, but not to good educational facilities. That’s where our collaboration with BYJU’S EFA has helped,” says Devendra.

Joining Hands with BYJU’S Education for All

  BYJU’S Education for All hopes to reach out to the lakhs of girl children who are severely impacted by the pandemic. Through the Ladli Foundation, it hopes to reach this number and educate as many girl children as possible.

In phase 1 of the partnership, BYJU’S EFA has distributed over 327 licenses to the child beneficiaries, of which the gender ratio remains neutral and are in grades 6-10.

“With the help of BYJU’S EFA, we have started an e-Pathanshaala with BYJU’S, through which our volunteers and interns guide the students to use the platform,” says Devendra.

  While the partnership does have a goal of 1 lakh, Devendra strongly believes that this can go beyond and to help create a revolution.

Impacting the Lives of Girl Children

  The Ladli Foundation envisions a strong community of women who are gender-based violence survivors. It runs with the support of about 17 employees, 2300 volunteers, and over 1000 dynamic interns during their vacations, sourced from various universities.

BYJU’S Education for All hopes to reach out to the lakhs of girl children who are severely impacted by the pandemic. Through the Ladli Foundation, we hope to reach this number and educate as many girl children as possible and eliminate the gaps in creating inclusive education.

With the support of Ladli’s strong team, we strive to work together and give wings to as many girls as possible. This will truly push us and enable us to reach our dream of empowering more than 5 million children by 2025.

If you have a digital device that is not in use, you can be a part of this mission, too! Click here to know more about our BYJU’S Give initiative.

About the Author

Generic placeholder image

Anju Ann Mathew

Anju is a peace-lover, a video-game addict, and a childhood doodler who imagined that the scribbles were words. This storyteller enjoys a good read, some doodling, and learning new languages. One day, she hopes to write her own story someday, and hopefully in the French language, too! She never loses hope of making the world a better place to live in.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Innabat Yasmeen

November 18, 2021

Girl Empowerment

Girl empowerment

Beemari shruthi

November 5, 2021

Haritha Kukatla

October 20, 2021

Save the girl child

Save girl cild

Webasha Technologies

thanks for sharing this blog. thank you so much.

Mary george

October 11, 2021

Let your dreams come true

Top Stories

BYJUites Craft a Warm Christmas for Children in Need

Uplifting the LeadHERs of Tomorrow

Celebrating Differences!

essay on empowerment of girl child

Testimonials

essay on empowerment of girl child

Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!

essay on empowerment of girl child

V Shriya is a class eight student who has been using BYJU’S for a year now. She shares her experiences with using the app and how it has helped her in improving her academic performance.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Aanvi from class 9 has been with BYJU`S for just 6 months and hear what she has to say about her learning experience with the app.

Join 100+MN Registered BYJU'S Users

Book your free class now.

SUBSCRIBE FOR NEWSLETTER

Follow us on

Popular Articles

The Captable

Social Story

Enterprise Story

The Decrypting Story

Daily Newsletter

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Founder first

Announcement

Startup Sectors

Women in tech

Entertainment

Art & Culture

Travel & Leisure

Curtain Raiser

Wine and Food

ys-analytics

Empower the girl child. Empower the nation

author_logo

Thursday October 11, 2018 , 3 min Read

To ensure empowerment in the true sense, we have to build the scope and outreach for girls to make choices through better skills, capabilities, and self-esteem; help them develop equitable relations within the family, the community and other stakeholders in the society.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Girls or women mean half the humanity. Needless to say, no society can be considered truly developed if its women are not active participants and contributors. They are the key catalysts for socio-economic change. However, it is sad to see that despite advancements in other sectors, women still face numerous challenges in not being able to access rightful entitlements or gainful employment.

A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report found that more women have enrolled in higher education, from 7.5 percent in 2002-03 to 20 percent in 2012-13. According to an ILO paper on employment trends for women in India, about 85 per cent of rural and 59 per cent of urban women workers are illiterate or literate only up to primary level. It further states that just a small percentage of women have benefited from higher education.

A majority of women in India who are regularly employed are with the informal sector, undertaking domestic, household work, with no fixed, fair wages or facilities, limited social security benefits, no rights or entitlements and most importantly, no safety. This is perhaps the reason why many girls today are not being receptive to the idea of “working” or “being employed”.

According to a World Bank Report, India is ranked 121st out of 131 countries in Female Labour Force Participation (FLFP). It also has the lowest workforce participation rate of women among the BRICS nations at 29 percent. But if we look at agriculture, construction, manufacturing or other home-based occupations such as cottage industries making papads, baskets, pickles, bidi rolling, handloom and crafts, they provide employment to a large percentage of women and girls.

Their occupational share compared to men has increased due to the latter migrating to cities and taking up other forms of employment but these are low-paying and do not ensure growth. The economic boom of liberalisation in India has significantly bypassed many women as only some have made it to white collar jobs, while many drops out of school at early ages are unable to learn skills to earn dignified, economically viable livelihoods.

Providing quality education with skill development in a safe environment is still an unreached goal. Limitations on women’s mobility, lack of property ownership and enforcement of laws related to girls and women, unrecognised and unpaid work, unequal wages, multiple forms of violence against women, lack of many safe and secure options to work, all of these are key socio-cultural constraints preventing women from working.

There have to be enabling conditions with progressive policies and ensure these are implemented effectively. It is essential to adopt a lifecycle approach for girls, as the needs vary in each phase of their lives – right nutrition at birth and very young ages, quality early childhood education and care, capacity to address discrimination and help them recognise their rights.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)

  • Self-esteem
  • Social Issues
  • #WomenEmpowerment
  • empowerment

MOST VIEWED STORIES

Achieving Success Through Growth: Embrace Continuous Improvement

Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (June 11, 2024)

Startup news and updates: Daily roundup (June 11, 2024)

Ashwini Vaishnaw takes charge of IT ministry, promises focus on tech & manufacturing

Ashwini Vaishnaw takes charge of IT ministry, promises focus on tech & manufacturing

Apple reveals exciting updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and more at WWDC24

Apple reveals exciting updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and more at WWDC24

Experience 3D Calls: Nokia's Immersive Audio and Video Tech Revolution

Experience 3D Calls: Nokia's Immersive Audio and Video Tech Revolution

Logo

Essay on Girl Child

Students are often asked to write an essay on Girl Child in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Girl Child

Importance of girl child.

Girl children are precious. They are future mothers, leaders, and contributors to society. A girl child brings joy, love, and happiness in the family. They are equally important as boys.

Challenges Faced by Girl Child

The role of society.

Society plays a big role in shaping a girl child’s life. It’s our duty to protect, respect, and empower them. We should strive for gender equality and ensure they have a bright future.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Girl Child

The girl child: a beacon of hope and change, the power of education.

Education is a crucial tool for empowering the girl child. It is not merely about reading and writing; it’s about equipping her with knowledge, skills, and confidence to break the shackles of societal constraints. An educated girl child can contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of a nation.

Challenges Faced

Despite the potential, the path of a girl child is often strewn with obstacles. Gender bias, discrimination, and lack of access to education and healthcare are some of the challenges she faces. These challenges are not only detrimental to her but also to the overall progress of society.

Role of Society

Society plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the girl child. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every girl child is treated with respect and dignity, and is provided with equal opportunities. It’s high time we shed our prejudices and embrace the power of the girl child.

The Way Forward

The way forward lies in creating a conducive environment for the girl child to thrive. Providing quality education, ensuring her safety, and promoting gender equality are some of the steps in this direction. Let us remember, empowering the girl child is synonymous with empowering the nation.

500 Words Essay on Girl Child

The importance of the girl child, historical perspective.

Historically, societies worldwide have been predominantly patriarchal, where male dominance has often resulted in the neglect and marginalization of the girl child. This bias is reflected in various aspects, such as education, healthcare, and even basic human rights. However, the 21st century has seen a paradigm shift, with global efforts to rectify these deep-seated biases and empower the girl child.

Education: A Fundamental Right

Education is a fundamental right of every child. Yet, millions of girls worldwide are denied this right due to societal prejudices and economic constraints. Educating a girl child is not merely about imparting knowledge but also about equipping her with the skills and confidence to make informed decisions. An educated girl can contribute to her family, society, and nation’s economic development. This connection between a girl child’s education and societal development underscores the need for gender equality in educational opportunities.

Healthcare: A Key to Empowerment

Healthcare, particularly for the girl child, is another area requiring significant attention. Girls face unique health issues, especially during adolescence, and these need to be addressed with sensitivity and understanding. Adequate healthcare can ensure that girls grow into healthy women capable of contributing positively to society.

Legal Protection and Social Empowerment

The economic impact of empowering the girl child.

Empowering the girl child has far-reaching economic implications. A study by the World Bank suggests that every year of secondary education correlates with an 18% increase in a girl’s future earning potential. Thus, investing in a girl child’s education and health can significantly contribute to economic growth.

Conclusion: The Way Forward

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

essay on empowerment of girl child

United Nations Sustainable Development Logo

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore also half of its potential. But gender inequality persists everywhere and stagnates social progress. On average, women in the labor market still earn 23 percent less than men globally and women spend about three times as many hours in unpaid domestic and care work as men.

Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office, all remain huge barriers. All these areas of inequality have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: there has been a surge in reports of sexual violence, women have taken on more care work due to school closures, and 70% of health and social workers globally are women.

At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.

Political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to achieving Goal 5 Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets and institutions.

How much progress have we made?

International commitments to advance gender equality have brought about improvements in some areas: child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) have declined in recent years, and women’s representation in the political arena is higher than ever before. But the promise of a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality, and where all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed, remains unfulfilled. In fact, that goal is probably even more distant than before, since women and girls are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are they any other gender-related challenges?

Yes. Worldwide, nearly half of married women lack decision-making power over their sexual and reproductive health and rights. 35 per cent of women between 15-49 years of age have experienced physical and/ or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.1 in 3 girls aged 15-19 have experienced some form of female genital mutilation/cutting in the 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East, where the harmful practice is most common with a high risk of prolonged bleeding, infection (including HIV), childbirth complications, infertility and death.

This type of violence doesn’t just harm individual women and girls; it also undermines their overall quality of life and hinders their active involvement in society.

Why should gender equality matter to me?

Regardless of where you live in, gender equality is a fundamental human right. Advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and boys.

What can we do?

If you are a girl, you can stay in school, help empower your female classmates to do the same and fight for your right to access sexual and reproductive health services. If you are a woman, you can address unconscious biases and implicit associations that form an unintended and often an invisible barrier to equal opportunity.

If you are a man or a boy, you can work alongside women and girls to achieve gender equality and embrace healthy, respectful relationships.

You can fund education campaigns to curb cultural practices like female genital mutilation and change harmful laws that limit the rights of women and girls and prevent them from achieving their full potential.

The Spotlight Initiative is an EU/UN partnership, and a global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls – the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Facts and figures

Goal 5 targets.

  • With only seven years remaining, a mere 15.4 per cent of Goal 5 indicators with data are “on track”, 61.5 per cent are at a moderate distance and 23.1 per cent are far or very far off track from 2030 targets.
  • In many areas, progress has been too slow. At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.
  • Political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to achieving Goal 5. Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets and institutions.
  • Around 2.4 billion women of working age are not afforded equal economic opportunity. Nearly 2.4 Billion Women Globally Don’t Have Same Economic Rights as Men  
  • 178 countries maintain legal barriers that prevent women’s full economic participation. Nearly 2.4 Billion Women Globally Don’t Have Same Economic Rights as Men
  • In 2019, one in five women, aged 20-24 years, were married before the age of 18. Girls | UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children

Source: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023

5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

5.4 Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate

5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decisionmaking in political, economic and public life

5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences

5.A  Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws

5.B Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women

5.C Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels

He for She campaign

United Secretary-General Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women

Every Woman Every Child Initiative

Spotlight Initiative

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UN Population Fund: Gender equality

UN Population Fund: Female genital mutilation

UN Population Fund: Child marriage

UN Population Fund: Engaging men & boys

UN Population Fund: Gender-based violence

World Health Organization (WHO)

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Gender Statistics

Fast Facts: Gender Equality

essay on empowerment of girl child

Infographic: Gender Equality

essay on empowerment of girl child

The Initiative is so named as it brings focused attention to this issue, moving it into the spotlight and placing it at the centre of efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

An initial investment in the order of EUR 500 million will be made, with the EU as the main contributor. Other donors and partners will be invited to join the Initiative to broaden its reach and scope. The modality for the delivery will be a UN multi- stakeholder trust fund, administered by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, with the support of core agencies UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women, and overseen by the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General.

Related news

Press release| the world is failing girls and women, according to new un report.

Yinuo 2023-09-06T19:30:02-04:00 07 Sep 2023 |

The world is failing girls and women, according to new UN report New figure points to the need of an additional $360 billion in investment per year to achieve genderequality and women’s empowerment by 2030. [...]

Liberia, Mexico, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone to tackle barriers to the deployment of women in peace operations with the support of the UN Elsie Initiative Fund 

Vesna Blazhevska 2021-04-28T13:20:09-04:00 28 Apr 2021 |

PRESS RELEASE 28 APRIL 2021 MEDIA ENQUIRIES [email protected] Liberia, Mexico, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone to tackle barriers to the deployment of women in peace operations with the support of the UN Elsie Initiative [...]

Women’s job market participation stagnating at less than 50% for the past 25 years, finds UN report

Vesna Blazhevska 2020-10-20T15:06:56-04:00 20 Oct 2020 |

New York, 20 October – Less than 50% of working-age women are in the labour market, a figure that has barely changed over the last quarter of a century, according to a new UN report launched today. Unpaid domestic and care work falls disproportionately on women, restraining their economic potential as the COVID-19 pandemic additionally affects women’s jobs and livelihoods, the report warns.

Related videos

World oceans day event highlights immediate action to protect oceans.

UN World Oceans Day, celebrated on Friday at UN Headquarters in New York, focused on “opening minds, igniting senses, and inspiring possibilities” to protect marine life worldwide.  Read Full Story on UN News

Media advisory | Rethinking Disability Inclusion: A Global Call to Action

Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rethinking Disability Inclusion: A Global Call to Action Follow LIVE on UN Web TV At a time when the world is [...]

World heading towards new temperature records, UN weather watchdog warns

At least one of the years between now and 2028 will very likely set a new temperature record, breaking through the crucial 1.5°C temperature limit, the UN weather agency, WMO, said on Wednesday.  Read Full [...]

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

Global Citizen

Thanks for signing up as a global citizen. In order to create your account we need you to provide your email address. You can check out our Privacy Policy to see how we safeguard and use the information you provide us with. If your Facebook account does not have an attached e-mail address, you'll need to add that before you can sign up.

This account has been deactivated.

Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to re-activate your account.

Children in Nigeria are vulnerable to a wide range of abuses and harmful traditional practices. In 2014, a national survey found that 6 out of 10 children reported having suffered one or more forms of violence before reaching 18 years of age, and 70 % of these experienced multiple incidents of violence. 

Nigeria also has the highest number of out-of-school children globally and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that if a child misses school for even a short time there is a low chance, only about 25%, that the child will ever return.

Despite this dire situation, girls are still harder hit by these issues than boys. In Northeast Nigeria, only 41% of eligible girls receive a primary education, and the country also has the largest number of child brides in Africa : 23 million girls and women were married as children.

Girls also have to deal with a prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) — Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of women and girls (19.9 million) who have undergone FGM worldwide.

To promote girls’ rights and highlight gender inequalities, in Nigeria and all over the world, the United Nations holds the annual International Day of the Girl Child on Oct. 11. 

In honour of this global event, Global Citizen spoke to Beedof Abireh, founder and executive director of Girlspace Charity, a nonprofit organisation in Nigeria that works with young, at-risk girls living in slums, camps for people who are internally-displaced, and rural communities to access quality education, on why it is important to empower the Nigerian girl child.

What are the issues facing the girl child in Nigerian society?

There are a lot of issues faced by the girl child in Nigeria today. Early child marriage, which is predominant in the north and middle parts of the country, and many parents are not willing to send young girls to school due to religious beliefs, poverty, or irresponsibility. 

Another issue making rounds all over the country right now is gender-based violence and rape — which is very prevalent across the country because there are no stringent laws or enforcement of existing laws by stakeholders and law enforcement agencies. 

These are issues that constantly militate against the welfare and well-being of many indigent girls in Nigeria. 

I am currently data mapping Abaji Area Council in Abuja, and one of the prominent reasons for gender-based violence captured from respondents in our questionnaires is poverty and lack of awareness. This is why the government and stakeholders must act quickly and consider this an emergency.

How is Girlspace Charity tackling these issues?

Over three years, we have been able to reach about 647 young girls from IDP [internally-displaced people] camps and rural communities across Abuja through advocacy and sensitisation. We support these girls to amplify their voices by speaking to their parents on the need to allow them access to education, because we know these young girls should not be deprived of access to education. 

School girls walk on the streets in Yola, Nigeria, Feb. 25, 2019. School girls walk on the streets in Yola, Nigeria, Feb. 25, 2019. Image: Sunday Alamba/AP

We started our project "School Without Borders" in June 2019 and it has created a lot of positive knock-on effects within the communities we reached. We've done a lot of work to change the cultural mindset within these communities to ensure that parents see the need for their young girls to be educated. 

Furthermore, we saw the challenges posed by COVID-19 during the lockdown where disadvantaged children, especially young girls, couldn't access education through virtual learning platforms because their parents can't afford food, much less computers and data. 

To deal with this challenge, we have finalised plans to train young girls on computer appreciation, coding, programming, digital photography, software development, and design. We have also created a curriculum that will help them learn from scratch and hopefully in the next three years we will be raising a new generation of digital entrepreneurs in Nigeria and Africa.

Why is it important to tackle these issues?

It is important to tackle these issues because any country that does not think of empowering its young girls and giving women access to education cannot be a truly great nation. 

If young girls and women are empowered, they help to improve the quality of society. We realise the importance of this mission and that's why we're doing our best to contribute our quota.

What are the biggest obstacles to Girlspace Charity’s work?

As social development workers we face lots of obstacles every day while doing our work. We face the challenge of parents not allowing their girls to learn; community chiefs and rulers extorting money from us before we are allowed access to do our work in their communities; lack of space, halls, and classrooms as learning centres; and lack of finance to pay stipends to our passionate volunteers. 

But the biggest of our obstacles is not having any funding partners to fund the work that we do, because over time we have realised that such development work in rural communities is capital intensive and we cannot do it alone. 

How has COVID-19 impacted the work that you’re doing?

COVID-19 is one of the biggest threats to our work considering that the group or demographic of the people we work with are rural and marginalised, which means the lockdown practically cut them off from learning for a long time. 

Truthfully, the global pandemic has been a major setback and we are rising up to the challenge by helping them to access digital literacy skills which we think will help them keep up to the global standard of learning.

In what ways do you think anybody can make the world safer and more empowering for girls?

Everyone must be proactive in advocating for the education of young girls regardless of background or religion. 

We must all call on the government to enact legislation that helps girls rise above issues like gender-based violence, and every community must provide safe spaces for girls. 

Everyone has a human responsibility to oppose violence against women and girls, and ensure every girl is given equal access to opportunities. Above all, young girls must be taught to build confidence and take on the world that wants to limit them so much.

What message do you have for the girls all over the country who don't have access to opportunities?

My message to every girl child around the world, including Nigeria, is that there is hope for you out there but you must discover yourself first and stand up for what you believe is right. 

Education is the strongest tool you have to succeed so embrace it and always seek knowledge. Life will always happen to you but your destiny is in your hands so go for it!

Demand Equity

Ask an Expert: Why Is It Important to Empower the Nigerian Girl Child?

Oct. 9, 2020

Speech: “Together we will unleash girls’ power in all its dimensions”

Date: Thursday, 12 October 2017

Dear colleagues, distinguished participants and dear friends,

Good morning and happy International Day of the Girl.

Thank you for all of your commitment, enthusiasm and determination to make a difference for girls and thank you to all the girls who are here and beyond listening to us and working with us.

Thank you especially to UNICEF for once again hosting today’s event to commemorate the International Day of the Girl, which UN Women is pleased to co-sponsor.

UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri speaks at the official commemoration of International Day of the Girl Child. Photo: UN Women/Jodie Mann

Let me say that too often adolescent girls face intersecting disadvantages because of their age, gender, ethnic background, sexual identity, religion affiliation, income, disability among other compounded factors. We have seen pictures, evoked images of girls in different situations that live with disadvantage, even without crisis. The perception and reality of vulnerability arising out of these multiple intersectionalities really creates that context of discrimination and differentiated impact of crisis.

During conflict or humanitarian situations, natural disasters or climate change, these factors exacerbate and disproportionately and differentially affect young women and girls due to neglect of their human rights and the intersecting forms gender-inequality and discrimination that they endure. So this is how we shine the light on this particular situation of girls in emergencies. As was mentioned, it is often forgotten that women and girls are not only helpless victims, they are sources of power, power to cope, power to prevent, power to reduce risk, power for resilience and transformation and to build back better after crisis. That is the power that we want to invoke and tap into.

We must be outraged about the disadvantages that girls still experience. But here has been some progress. Humanitarian actors and governments are much more aware today about addressing crises and resilience building with a gender lens and with a girls lens. But, we still have miles to go.

  • Imagine that to date, women and children account for more than 75 per cent of the refugees and displaced persons at risk from war, famine, persecution and natural disasters.
  • Every 10 minutes, somewhere in the world, an adolescent girl dies because of violence.
  • Up to one-third of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced and they are victims of sexual violence. Currently at least 133 million girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation.
  • Imagine, that more than 700 million women alive today were married below the age of 18 – and more than one in three (some 250 million) were married before 15. And we saw that in crisis, all of this is worse.
  • Child marriage is four times higher among Syrian refugees than before the crisis. Evidence shows that 2,400 interviewed married refugee Syrian women in Lebanon, aged 20 to 24 years old, 47 per cent were child brides.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provided us with 17 development goals, but also SDG 5, which is about “Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls”, in all circumstances, including in crisis and humanitarian situations. This is a big win and a commitment of the international community and we must all work to see that it is realized, most of all in crisis situations. 

The 2030 Agenda has pledged to leave no one behind. This means that in our development efforts, girls must be a priority. The world should ensure girls are granted all the opportunities they deserve as they mature into adulthood. I would also like to mention something that has not been touched upon, which also plays out in crisis. The whole culture of ‘boy preference’ and ‘girl aversion’ has to be changed, where an equal valuing of girls is something that we must inculcate in all contexts.

Enabling girls to avoid child marriage and unwanted pregnancy, protect them against HIV transmission, and acquiring the education and skills they need to realize their potential, is a key priority toward 2030 and also a priority in crisis. Sometimes we forget that these are essential elements to be taken forward in crisis situations. 

Gender equality and empowering all women and girls is something that we seek to advance and if we fail to address girls’ differentiated needs and aspirations too, a generation will be lost and with it, our hope for sustainable development, prosperity, peace and security.

It is therefore critical to EmPOWER Girls: Before, during and after emergencies

One thing all emergencies have in common is that they create a new set of circumstances, which girls have to learn to navigate, but we, as adults around them, have to be in the forefront of prioritizing their needs and helping them navigate:

From one day to the next they may face the loss of their homes, friends and family members. They may suddenly be living in a shelter or have no shelter at all. They may not have access to basic services and amenities or be sure where their next meal is coming from. They may be fleeing the only place they have ever called home.

Furthermore, from the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh in which 90 per cent of the 140,000 people who lost their lives were women; to the 276 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria in 2014, to the women representing the single-highest adversely affected group by the earthquake in Nepal, we know that resilience building and recovery have a girl’s face. Not only they because they are the most in need of urgent help and in higher risk of violence in the aftermath of the crisis situations, but also because of the critical role young women and girls play in preventing, preparing for, and recovering from natural and human made hazards.

So how do we reach these girls? How can we protect them? How can we inspire them? And how can we ensure they are not left behind?

From today’s presentations we learned that resilience building and planning cannot be sustainable if we do not involve girls’ voices in the planning itself. We cannot be successful unless girls are empowered to actively participate in the solutions; girl-driven solutions. Let them decide how best to address their most urgent and future needs. Let their voices be heard.

Not only can girls inspire innovative and creative solutions, but they can guide and contribute to future policies, research, programming and media campaigns.

During this year’s 16 Days of Activism, we will be working with UNICEF and we will be launching U-Report’s Ending Violence Against Girls Information Centre, which will connect young users directly to the information and tools they want, to be advocates for change in their own communities.

We also need to create safe spaces in which these girls can feel empowered . UN Women has the Safe Cities Programme. UN Women’s Safe Haven centres, for example, provide a space to women and girls to express themselves without fear of judgment and harm.

Empowering girls must also form the core of any protection and humanitarian service provision and resilience building . That is why UN Women is combining what we call the LEAP that is Leadership, Empowerment, Access and Protection, which is about gender-responsive humanitarian response. And our LEAPS strategy, which is about empowering young women–their leadership and economic empowerment. So, we have three flagship programmes to support women and girls in the context of humanitarian crisis.

While education is key to the future of adolescent girls, in conflict and humanitarian zones girls are 90 per cent more likely to be out of school when compared to girls in other, conflict-humanitarian free, countries.

We know that an extra year of primary school for girls increases their eventual wages by 10 to 20 per cent, and that an extra year of secondary school increases them by 15 to 25 per cent.

Universal secondary education would cut child mortality in half. In Sub-Saharan Africa, maternal mortality could fall by 70 per cent.

We know also that when a girl sees herself as a leader or a mentor, it creates a positive force for change in her life.

As we end this morning’s commemoration, I have the pleasure of introducing the #FreedomForGirls film, which is currently available on Google’s homepage in over 50 countries. I invite everyone to share this powerful and inspiring film far and wide, to use the #FreedomForGirls hashtag to tell us what freedom really means to you, and to think about creative solutions for empowering girls in crisis settings, so that we can create a better future for us all.

Dear young people, leaders and champions,

In good times and in crisis—but specially in crisis and emergencies, all stakeholders and actors have a duty to care to make humanitarian response and resilience building work for, include and empower girls and young women.

On this International day of the Girl which zooms in on their rights before, during and after emergencies and crisis, let us take the following pledge:

Together we will protect girls' human rights in all circumstances;

Together we will foster girls’ capabilities in every field at all times;

Together we will make girl's voices heard in decision making;

Together we will promote and harness girl's leadership;

Together we will unleash girls’ power in all its dimensions;

Together we will ensure that girls’ full potential is realized, generation after generation.

Planet 5050 by 2030, there is where we all want to go. The SDGs are our today but it is also about our collective tomorrow and gender equality is our destination.

I thank you!

  • ‘One Woman’ – The UN Women song
  • UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous
  • Kirsi Madi, Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships
  • Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results
  • Guiding documents
  • Report wrongdoing
  • Programme implementation
  • Career opportunities
  • Application and recruitment process
  • Meet our people
  • Internship programme
  • Procurement principles
  • Gender-responsive procurement
  • Doing business with UN Women
  • How to become a UN Women vendor
  • Contract templates and general conditions of contract
  • Vendor protest procedure
  • Facts and Figures
  • Global norms and standards
  • Women’s movements
  • Parliaments and local governance
  • Constitutions and legal reform
  • Preguntas frecuentes
  • Global Norms and Standards
  • Macroeconomic policies and social protection
  • Sustainable Development and Climate Change
  • Rural women
  • Employment and migration
  • Facts and figures
  • Creating safe public spaces
  • Spotlight Initiative
  • Essential services
  • Focusing on prevention
  • Research and data
  • Other areas of work
  • UNiTE campaign
  • Conflict prevention and resolution
  • Building and sustaining peace
  • Young women in peace and security
  • Rule of law: Justice and security
  • Women, peace, and security in the work of the UN Security Council
  • Preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism
  • Planning and monitoring
  • Humanitarian coordination
  • Crisis response and recovery
  • Disaster risk reduction
  • Inclusive National Planning
  • Public Sector Reform
  • Tracking Investments
  • Strengthening young women's leadership
  • Economic empowerment and skills development for young women
  • Action on ending violence against young women and girls
  • Engaging boys and young men in gender equality
  • Leadership and Participation
  • National Planning
  • Violence against Women
  • Access to Justice
  • Regional and country offices
  • Regional and Country Offices
  • Liaison offices
  • 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  • UN Women Global Innovation Coalition for Change
  • Commission on the Status of Women
  • Economic and Social Council
  • General Assembly
  • Security Council
  • High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development
  • Human Rights Council
  • Climate change and the environment
  • Other Intergovernmental Processes
  • World Conferences on Women
  • Global Coordination
  • Regional and country coordination
  • Promoting UN accountability
  • Gender Mainstreaming
  • Coordination resources
  • System-wide strategy
  • Focal Point for Women and Gender Focal Points
  • Entity-specific implementation plans on gender parity
  • Laws and policies
  • Strategies and tools
  • Reports and monitoring
  • Training Centre services
  • Publications
  • Government partners
  • National mechanisms
  • Civil Society Advisory Groups
  • Benefits of partnering with UN Women
  • Business and philanthropic partners
  • Goodwill Ambassadors
  • National Committees
  • UN Women Media Compact
  • UN Women Alumni Association
  • Editorial series
  • Media contacts
  • Annual report
  • Progress of the world’s women
  • SDG monitoring report
  • World survey on the role of women in development
  • Reprint permissions
  • Secretariat
  • 2023 sessions and other meetings
  • 2022 sessions and other meetings
  • 2021 sessions and other meetings
  • 2020 sessions and other meetings
  • 2019 sessions and other meetings
  • 2018 sessions and other meetings
  • 2017 sessions and other meetings
  • 2016 sessions and other meetings
  • 2015 sessions and other meetings
  • Compendiums of decisions
  • Reports of sessions
  • Key Documents
  • Brief history
  • CSW snapshot
  • Preparations
  • Official Documents
  • Official Meetings
  • Side Events
  • Session Outcomes
  • CSW65 (2021)
  • CSW64 / Beijing+25 (2020)
  • CSW63 (2019)
  • CSW62 (2018)
  • CSW61 (2017)
  • Member States
  • Eligibility
  • Registration
  • Opportunities for NGOs to address the Commission
  • Communications procedure
  • Grant making
  • Accompaniment and growth
  • Results and impact
  • Knowledge and learning
  • Social innovation
  • UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women
  • About Generation Equality
  • Generation Equality Forum
  • Action packs
  • International
  • Today’s Paper
  • T20 World Cup
  • Express Shorts
  • Mini Crossword
  • Premium Stories
  • Health & Wellness

Educate and empower: Because when you educate a girl, you educate a nation

It is said when you educate a girl child, you educate an entire family. Let us all work together for the educational empowerment of all our girls and work towards making a New India.

essay on empowerment of girl child

Since times immemorial, women in India have been regarded with the utmost respect and accorded prestige. For a nation to progress, it is essential to empower women. I am glad that India has been blessed with women pioneers who have broken the shackles of gender stereotypes in every field.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the launch of the expanded Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (March 8, 2018): “Daughters are not a burden but the pride of the whole family. We realise the power of our daughters when we see a woman fighter pilot. The country feels proud whenever our daughters bag gold medals, or for that matter any medal, in the Olympics.”

essay on empowerment of girl child

As a father of three daughters, I understand the struggle our daughters face in fighting gender stereotypes and biases. But with their determination they are able to sail on the ship of success. I feel proud to cheer my daughters’ triumphs towards equality. Arushi, my eldest daughter, has defied all odds and is now an Indian classical dancer, entrepreneur and film producer. I couldn’t have been more proud when Shreyasi continued the military tradition of Uttarakhand and joined the Army Medical Corps. Vidushi, the youngest of the three, wants to bring a change in society and is a gold medalist in law.

Allied to the march towards equality with our sisters and daughters of the country, let us understand the theme of Women’s Day: “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights.” The year 2020 has been earmarked as a crucial year by UN Women to assess progress made globally to achieve gender equality and human rights for all women and girls since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action.

On this occasion, it is important for me to reflect on how successful the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) under the leadership of PM Modi has been in providing equal opportunities. It is heartening that due to the Swachh Bharat Mission, 14,67,679 schools now have a functioning girls toilet, an increase of 4.17 percentage points in comparison to 2013-14. The impact of the mission has resulted in an increase in enrolment of girls by 25 percentage points in 2018-19 from 2013 -14.

Festive offer

In her budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman applauded the results of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: “Gross enrolment ratio of girls across all levels of education is now higher than boys. At the elementary level it is 94.32 per cent as against 89.28 per cent for boys, at the secondary level it is 81.32 per cent as compared to 78 per cent and at the higher secondary level girls have achieved a level of 59.7 per cent compared to only 57.54 per cent.”

Also read | On govt’s Women’s Day plan, PM’s social media accounts for inspirational stories  

To increase equality of access and opportunity for girls, the MHRD has sanctioned 5,930 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, which are residential schools for girls and have an enrolment of 6.18 lakh girls. An incentive amount of Rs 8.56 crore to the 28,547 beneficiaries has been sanctioned under the National Scheme of Incentives to Girls for Secondary Education. The scheme provides Rs 3,000 which is deposited in the name of eligible unmarried girls below 16 years of age and entitles them to withdraw it along with interest on reaching 18 years of age and after passing Class X.

Apart from an increase in the gross enrollment rate of the girl child in schools, the educational outcomes and achievements have also improved. I must also express my happiness and pride that girls have performed better than boys in the CBSE Class XII examinations in 2018 -19.

To increase the participation of women in STEM education, supernumerary seats have been created in the IITs and NITs. As a result, the number of girls in NITs has grown from 14.11 per cent in 201718 to 17.53 per cent in 2019-20 and in IITs from 8 per cent of the total student body in 2016 to 18 per cent in 2019-20 for B.Tech programmes.

In conjunction with the celebration of progress obtained by India in improving gender equality in the education system, there is a need for a much larger collective effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating “gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations”.

This article first appeared in the print edition on March 4, 2020 under the title ‘Educate and empower’. The writer is Union minister of Human Resource Development.

Click here for real-time updates on the Lok Sabha Election Results 2024

Modi also gave up the PM’s prerogative to choose his ministers, something that is the first casualty in a coalition government.

Can PM Modi turn a coalition to his advantage? Subscriber Only

Trouble was brewing for quite some time in several centralised exam systems, but this summer the lid has blown off in the test for the medical entrance. (PTI Photo)

MCQ-based examination isn't the right way to spot doctors Subscriber Only

UPSC Key | Agnipath Scheme, Neighbourhood first policy, Constitutionalism, and more

UPSC Key | Agnipath scheme, neighbourhood first policy, constitutionalism, and Subscriber Only

PCOS, diabetes

How PCOS, ignorance of red flags landed this 29-year-old with Subscriber Only

A journey through nine skylines of Bharat

Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik | Skylines of Bharat Subscriber Only

modi oath,modi cabinet 2024,modi cabinet,modi 3.0,modi swearing in,modi 3.0 cabinet,modi new cabinet, modi sarkar,

On agriculture front, an agenda for the new government Subscriber Only

For the new government, difficult policy choices facing the country should take precedence over a well-rehearsed identity politics

What we lose when we focus on identity politics Subscriber Only

IDEA

‘Heatwaves will now become more frequent, durable and intense’ Subscriber Only

Lok Sabha election results, Lok Sabha election real winner, democracy in LS elections 2024, INDIA alliance, Election Commission, EVMs, Narendra Modi, NDA govt, indian express news

Tavleen Singh writes: We deserve better leaders Subscriber Only

  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

40 Years Ago

June 11, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Killings In Punjab

In his first public remarks on the outcome of the elections in which the BJP fell short of a majority in Lok Sabha, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said Monday that a true sevak (one who serves the people) does not have “ahankar” (arrogance) and works without causing any hurt to others. Referring to the bitter poll campaign, he said “decorum was not maintained”.

Indianexpress

EXPRESS OPINION

Governing in coalition will introduce multiple centres of power, pushing against the centralisation of decision-making in the Prime Minister’s Office. (PTI)

Best of Express

Varanasi: Students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) stage a protest over the alleged irregularities in NEET 2024 results, in Varanasi, Saturday, June 8, 2024. (PTI Photo)(PTI06_08_2024_000151A)

More Explained

Powers of the Speaker

Jun 11: Latest News

  • 01 Porsche crash case | ‘Strong possibility’ that parents destroyed original sample of blood: Cops to court
  • 02 Oxford University to return stolen 500-year-old bronze idol to India
  • 03 Apple WWDC 2024: From Lock Apps to redesigned Control Centre, new features coming to iOS 18
  • 04 JEE Advanced Result 2024: Students ‘caught in a surprise’ as cutoff raised by 23 marks
  • 05 ‘Bhatakta atma’ will haunt Prime Minister Modi forever, says Sharad Pawar
  • Elections 2024
  • Political Pulse
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Review
  • Newsletters
  • Web Stories

essay on empowerment of girl child

  • Visual Story

The Hindu Logo

  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style

essay on empowerment of girl child

To enjoy additional benefits

CONNECT WITH US

Whatsapp

Empowering the girl child

The world celebrated another international day of the girl child on october 11. even as women have made significant advancements in various fields and contributed to social development, discrimination based on gender continues to be a sad reality. how do students view this.

Published - October 22, 2017 04:37 pm IST

Abhya Sharma

II year, BA, MA- Clinical psychology, Amity University, NOIDA

In my opinion, when we educate a girl, we are not just educating her, but also the children that she will be a mother to, who in turn will educate their families.

Our nation can never progress until both the genders are provided with adequate education and opportunities.

We must target the mindset of the society so that they really understand the importance of treating men and women equally. Only then will we see concrete and long-lasting changes.

II year, Bachelor of Arts, Jai Hind College, Mumbai

Discrimination based on sex is so deeply rooted in our society that no amount of movements or resources could change this mentality. The only way anything could possibly change is by constantly teaching and being a model to the kids for generations that there is no real difference between male and female and this equality needs to start from home in all aspects.

Shivani Singh

II year, EEE, BITS Pilani

With gender inequality, girls feel slighted; that makes them question themselves, their ideas and opinions. It becomes ingrained in their heads that men know what’s best. It comes to a point where they can’t think and decide for themselves, creating a weak personality. Environment and education help girls gain some much-needed perspective. Educated women often have better analytical thinking abilities and contribute more actively to the society.

Vishika Ranawat

I year, All India Institute of Hotel Management, Chandigarh

The fact that we still have to think of girl empowerment as a separate issue, highlights the plight of girls in today’s world. Equal gender and education rights still look like a far-fetched idea. This is because of the internalised notion that girls are ‘ paraya dhan’ and therefore have to be disposed of for marriage, making it a bad investment for their parents. So, the first step should be to create awareness about the importance of empowerment of the girl child.

Related Topics

education / The Hindu Education Plus

Top News Today

  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products

Terms & conditions   |   Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

ipl-logo

Girl Child Empowerment

Empowering the Girl Child initiative of India : Beti Bachao Beti Padhao The term ‘Empowerment of women refers to the process of providing equal rights, opportunities, responsibilities and power positions to women so that they are able to play a role on par with men in society’. In a society which is developed and prosperous, Gender equality and empowerment of women are crucial factors. A new born female is least welcome in the family though in India the tradition is to respect women from the early ages. Though the girls excel in the different fields of education, yet tradition, custom, and practices of society tends to place greater value on sons than on daughters and rather daughters are often viewed as an economic burden on the parents. …show more content…

This paper strives to look upon the various issues covered under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Save the girl child, Educate the girl child) scheme and the …show more content…

A country cannot grow and flourish socially unless it gives equal opportunities to all its members. However, the inequalities in the society based on gender are prevalent in many societies of the world. Gender discrimination refers to the practice whereby one sex is given preferential treatment over the others (David Jary & July Jary)2. The practice of giving social importance to the biological differences between men and women is there everywhere. In some societies, these differences are very much pronounced while in others, they are given less importance. In the Indian society also, gender play a very important role from time immemorial. The gradual progress of a human from womb to tomb is influenced greatly by gender biasness in India. Gender is such an important variable in Indian society, that it has the capability of making the life of a person heaven or hell. It is usually seen that discriminations begins with the fact that a girl is unwanted and therefore eliminated even before she can emerge into the world (Chaterjee 1987). A new born female is least welcome in the family though in India the tradition is to respect women from the early ages. Though the girls excel in the different fields of education, yet tradition, custom, and practices of society tends to place greater value on sons than on daughters and rather daughters are often viewed

Girl Rising Sociology

In Girl Rising (2013), reveals how gender discrimination negatively affects the future of many women and continues to be prominent in society through forced marriages, extreme poverty, and/or labor obstacle. Girl Rising (2013) reveals heartrending stories of nine girls from different countries to show how these girls overcome great obstacles to obtain an education and change their fate. Each of these girls was paired with a writer from their own country to help tell Soka story. Young girls that were faced extreme poverty, forced marriage, and forced labor (Robbin, 2013). Each story is written by a writer from the girl’s native country and is narrated by renowned actresses such as Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Salma Hayek, and Meryl Streep

Evolution The Guy Code By Deborah Tannen Analysis

This is the same idea of Tannen’s essay. The relationship of the mother and daughter and the words that were used affected the thoughts about themselves. They wanted approval just like men want approval from other men. Even though this is an issue today, some men are now choosing to break the traditions even though the are seen as an outcast of the

Ogimah Ikwe Native American Women Analysis

In a culture where women are traditionally the lifeblood, female role models shape young girls into great

Rhetorical Analysis Of Judith Sargent Murray's Essay

The first issue Murray takes on is the notion that women are intellectually inferior to men. She argues that, “we can only reason from what we know, and if opportunity of acquiring knowledge hath been denied us, the inferiority of our sex cannot fairly be deduced from thence” (133), effectively blaming the imbalance of education for perceived differences in intellect. Using this line of reasoning, she furthers the idea by comparing the intellect of 2 year old children as an intuitive example. From that age forward, “the one is taught to aspire, and the other is early confined and limited. As their years increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother is led by the hand through all the flowery paths of science” (133).

Gender Inequality Essay

In other words, should male and female be treated in the same way? Before evaluating the gender inequality, we should first aware the situation of gender inequality nowadays. Taking the most familiar environment---China as an example, in the northern

Gender Roles In Jamaicaaica Kincaid's Girl, By Jamaica Kincaid

It is also through Kincaid 's use of her setting, constructive atmosphere, and one sentence structure that some readers can better understand the mother 's belief of how productivity will lead to a respected life. After reading "Girl" readers are now made more aware of the direct relation between domestic knowledge and strict gender roles being forced onto

Thesis On Women Empowerment

CHAPTER ONE 1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY The concept of women empowerment seems to have been used in the 1980s by third world feminists ‘to address the issue of gender differences that exist in the control and distribution of resources’ (Datta & Kornberg, 2002). There is however lack of consensus on its major characteristics. According to Datta and Kornberg (2002), women empowerment refers to ‘strategies that women use to increase their control of resources and generate decision making capacity’. Other authors like Batliwala (1994) however have a wider definition.

Compare Boys And Girls And Alma Watson's Speech

It is in one's power to decide whether or not to conform to society. Indeed both texts include many similarities and differences such as the stereotypical roles set on each gender, their search for individuality and their desired privileges. While approaching adulthood, many people encounter obstacles which lead their understanding to a fact that gender stereotypes do not only occur for women but, for men as well. The narrator in Boys and Girls discovers the societies’ views and expectations of her.

Marxism And Gender Inequality

This social stratification and division of roles have formed the ideology of gender inequality especially in class based and hierarchical societies. For Instance,

Analysis Of Fatherless America By David Blankenhorn

There is no male role model to show a son how to treat a woman or be a father. There is no male role model to show a daughter how she should be treated by a man. Because of the abscense, the children are left to learn by trial and error. The author wants us to understand this is a bigger problem than we all think.

Thesis On Gender Equality

Aubrey Rose A, Barangot English 27B Title Gender Equality: An Established Human Right Thesis Gender Equality and Stereotypes Inroduction The gender equality has been accepted and acknowledged as human rights’ principles since the adoption of charter of United Nations in 1945. Most of the international agreements such as ‘the Millennium Development Goals (2000)’ and ‘the World Conference on Human Rights (1993) have highlighted and stressed the grave need for nations to take appropriate actions against such discriminatory practices. To give clarity to this research, the researcher uses the following definitions: “Everyone has a fundamental right to live free of violence.

Persuasive Essay On Gender Equality

In our advanced 21st century, it is hard to imagine our society as anything short of perfect. After all, we have come a long way from our seafaring ancestors. However, the reality is that despite how we may sometimes avoid seeing it, our society is anything but perfect. A very prevalent issue today is that despite laws being set in place to enforce the equal treatment of men and women, women all over the world today still face poor treatment and discrimination. Because of how deep and long this problem has run, revising discriminatory laws may not abolish discrimination and legislating laws that endorse gender equality may not necessarily create equality.

Social Construction Of Gender Inequality

Gender Inequality Gender inequality is a characteristic of social structure according to which different social groups (in this case men and women) have certain differences resulting in unequal opportunities. Gender inequality is associated with social construction of masculinity and femininity as oppositional categories with unequal social value (Ferree, 1999). One of the main problems in gender theory is the problem of dominance. Together with race and class gender is a hierarchical structure that could to provide both opportunities and oppression (Ferree, 1999). Gender inequality can exist in different forms, depending on culture, region, religion and other factors.

Essay On Gender Equality

Gender equity faces obstacles like the lack of education for both boys and girls, and the challenges of deviating from societal stereotypes and norms. Nevertheless, if actors from the private and public sector come together, public policy can be created to strengthen women’s lives and rights. Why Gender Equality is Important A Social Justice Issue Women cannot escape poverty, be adroit, nor become autonomous, if they do not have a good-paying job. This is difficult to attain without higher education, in a society who dismisses their employment applications and that teaches women they are submissive and physically, cognitively, and psychologically inferior to men.

Essay On Gender Inequality In India

Introduction In India, discriminatory attitude towards men and women have existed for generations and thus it affect the lives of both genders. Although the constitution of India has granted men and women equal rights, but gender gap still remains. Female discrimination violates human rights. These are mostly seen in family land sharing among sisters and brothers.

More about Girl Child Empowerment

Related topics.

  • Gender role
  • Women's rights

essay on empowerment of girl child

  • High contrast
  • Press Centre

Search UNICEF

Girls' education, gender equality in education benefits every child..

A girl stoops over her lap, writing diligently in a pad of paper, and surrounded by colourful books.

  • Girls' education
  • Available in:

Investing in girls’ education transforms communities, countries and the entire world. Girls who receive an education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families.

Girls’ education strengthens economies and reduces inequality. It contributes to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals – including boys and men – the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

But education for girls is about more than access to school. It’s also about girls feeling safe in classrooms and supported in the subjects and careers they choose to pursue – including those in which they are often under-represented.

When we invest in girls’ secondary education

  • The lifetime earnings of girls dramatically increase
  • National growth rates rise
  • Child marriage rates decline
  • Child mortality rates fall
  • Maternal mortality rates fall
  • Child stunting drops

Why are girls out of school?

Despite evidence demonstrating how central girls’ education is to development, gender disparities in education persist.

Around the world, 129 million girls are out of school, including 32 million of primary school age, 30 million of lower-secondary school age, and 67 million of upper-secondary school age. In countries affected by conflict, girls are more than twice as likely to be out of school than girls living in non-affected countries.

Worldwide, 129 million girls are out of school.

Only 49 per cent of countries have achieved gender parity in primary education. At the secondary level, the gap widens: 42 per cent of countries have achieved gender parity in lower secondary education, and 24 per cent in upper secondary education.

The reasons are many. Barriers to girls’ education – like poverty, child marriage and gender-based violence – vary among countries and communities. Poor families often favour boys when investing in education.

In some places, schools do not meet the safety, hygiene or sanitation needs of girls. In others, teaching practices are not gender-responsive and result in gender gaps in learning and skills development.

A young girl stands in front of a chalkboard facing her class to explain a math equation.

Gender equality in education

Gender-equitable education systems empower girls and boys and promote the development of life skills – like self-management, communication, negotiation and critical thinking – that young people need to succeed. They close skills gaps that perpetuate pay gaps, and build prosperity for entire countries.

Gender-equitable education systems can contribute to reductions in school-related gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and female genital mutilation .

Gender-equitable education systems help keep both girls and boys in school, building prosperity for entire countries.

An education free of negative gender norms has direct benefits for boys, too. In many countries, norms around masculinity can fuel disengagement from school, child labour, gang violence and recruitment into armed groups. The need or desire to earn an income also causes boys to drop out of secondary school, as many of them believe the curriculum is not relevant to work opportunities.

UNICEF’s work to promote girls’ education

UNICEF works with communities, Governments and partners to remove barriers to girls’ education and promote gender equality in education – even in the most challenging settings.

Because investing in girls’ secondary education is one of the most transformative development strategies, we prioritize efforts that enable all girls to complete secondary education and develop the knowledge and skills they need for life and work.

This will only be achieved when the most disadvantaged girls are supported to enter and complete pre-primary and primary education. Our work:

  • Tackles discriminatory gender norms and harmful practices that deny girls access to school and quality learning.
  • Supports Governments to ensure that budgets are gender-responsive and that national education plans and policies prioritize gender equality.
  • Helps schools and Governments use assessment data to eliminate gender gaps in learning.
  • Promotes social protection measures, including cash transfers, to improve girls’ transition to and retention in secondary school.
  • Focuses teacher training and professional development on gender-responsive pedagogies.
  • Removes gender stereotypes from learning materials.
  • Addresses other obstacles, like distance-related barriers to education, re-entry policies for young mothers, and menstrual hygiene management in schools.

More from UNICEF

Antigua and Barbuda. Children study

1 in 3 adolescent girls from the poorest households has never been to school

Rifa Moni, 18, shows a video clip to her friend.

Let’s shape tech to be transformative

Gender-responsive digital pedagogies: A guide for educators

UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, talks to school girls

Stories of suffering and hope: Afghanistan and Pakistan

Catherine Russell reflects on her first field visit as UNICEF's Executive Director

Three Malian girls pose outside the food distribution center in Mbera camp.

Where are the girls and why it matters as schools reopen?

School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic risk reversing the massive gains to girls’ education

Advancing Girls' Education and Gender Equality through Digital Learning

This brief note highlights how UNICEF will advance inclusive and transformative digital technology to enhance girls’ learning and skills development for work and life.

Reimagining Girls' Education: Solutions to Keep Girls Learning in Emergencies

This resource presents an empirical overview of what works to support learning outcomes for girls in emergencies.

e-Toolkit on Gender Equality in Education

This course aims to strengthen the capacity of UNICEF's education staff globally in gender equality applied to education programming.

Fixing the Broken Promise of Education for All

This report draws on national studies to examine why millions of children continue to be denied the fundamental right to primary education.

GirlForce: Skills, Education and Training for Girls Now

This report discusses persistent barriers girls face in the transition from education to the workforce, and how gender gaps in employment outcomes persist despite girls’ gains in education.

UNICEF Gender Action Plan (2022-2025)

This plan specifies how UNICEF will promote gender equality across the organization’s work, in alignment with the UNICEF Strategic Plan.

Global Partnership for Education

This partnership site provides data and programming results for the only global fund solely dedicated to education in developing countries.

United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative

UNGEI promotes girls’ education and gender equality through policy advocacy and support to Governments and other development actors.

Hamburger menu

  • Free Essays
  • Citation Generator

Preview

Empowerment Of Girl Child Is Empowering

essay on empowerment of girl child

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

Gender pay gap research paper.

Now that our societies are modernized, women gain more rights through the process of democratic. Social stratification is less extreme in modern societies, meaning women…

Women In The 1920's

"Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation,” said by Abigail Adams, First Lady and advocate of women’s rights (Abigail Adams Quotes). In the past hundred years, women have accomplished more than anyone could imagine - from joining men in the work force to building multi-million dollar fashion industries.…

Being Educated Young Girls Essay

Two thirds of the world's uneducated and illiterate young individuals are girls (“The Challenge”). This fact should be unacceptable for our world. Educating young girls gives not only them a chance to succeed, and prosper, it gives them a voice. In countries around the world, it is believed that women are to take care of the home and mother their children instead of making a living outside of the household. Being educated allows for a chance to achieve a healthy lifestyle for an entire family. Not only can the education of the female population around the world benefit their countries economically, it can ensure the health and well-being of the younger generations, as well as lower the infant mortality rate significantly.…

Women and Glbt

Throughout time, women have always been seen as the weaker sex of the human race. Not only have they been considered weaker, but also intellectually inferior to men. Women were considered to be better suited for roles inside the home as a wife and a mother. They have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities. In the 20th century, women won the right to vote and also increased their educational and job opportunities. With these opportunities, women have merged onto the workforce and political stages.…

Gender Roles: Fundamentally Flawed

Traditional gender roles give men all social and political power. The world is changing and so must these roles. Women are becoming more educated, more successful and should not be held back any longer because of unfair gender roles. There is data proving that women are graduating from…

Women's Role In A Thousand Splendid Suns

To develop a society fast you need women beside men. “A state that does not educate and train women is like a man who only trains his right arm.” Jostein Gaarder. It is a shame for human being that we…

Women's Rights In Ancient History

Even in modern times, the woman is still often looked upon as in inferior class. They often do not enjoy the same benefits, political influence or power as their male counterparts. In the Western nations, women enjoy increasing respect, equality and affluence. Women have acquired a role more on par with males through a long struggle for independence and equality. Society no longer expects women to be ruled by men because they themselves are incapable. They may choose their own paths, become educated, support themselves financially, and choose their partners…

Simone De Beauvoir

The lack of female power is a vicious cycle, and can be seen as such through the medium of politics and government. There is no question that women were (and still are) very heavily underrepresented in politics, which means that the male population holds most of the power in government. In order for more women to become politicians, it is first necessary that they go to university and receive a higher education. The issue here lies in the fact that the school system is controlled heavily by the majority male government, many of whom will push the traditional patriarchal family values as they are benefited by them. Beauvoir dictates that this “tradition is reinforced by the child’s whole education: the present incorporates the past, and in the past all history was made by males.” (Beauvoir, 10) With the patriarchy controlling the education of young women, less women will be encouraged to strive for intellectual greatness and will instead probably follow in the footsteps of their ancestors and maintain a traditional familial role. This role is not only perpetuated in the classroom for women, but generally it is also perpetuated in the home life of a child. If a young woman sees that her mother does not have a job, but instead that her only responsibility is to take care of the family, she is thus more likely to adopt these…

Compare and contrast Essay

Without proper education women were not able to find suitable jobs. Even if they were allowed to study, there were some jobs which women could not pursue. Such jobs were always dominated by men. Women were only seen as an object of beauty, which was the only thing which kept men interested in them. The female gender was always given inferior status to males. Now women are equal freedom and rights as men. In different communities and cultures, the status of women developed and reached a high position. Women have come a long way since their times of suppression and male-dominance, to oppress their thoughts and talents.…

How Have Women's Rights Changed

Being a woman means a lot more than being a men's probity, Woman we're not created to be looked as a helpless maid . Women were created to fight and conquer the world dealing with whatever was thrown at them. Although women may not of had the right to vote before WWI they were still expected to cook, clean and even take care of the children without taking any credit they were just expected to do it without questioning. However Women's rights have changed extremely after WWI, They got the right to vote and was able to take care of themselves without the need of needing men. All woman became much more independent. Some people may argue women's rights were changed for the better, others say it was changed for the worse. But I do Believe that woman's…

Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication Of The Rights Of Women Analysis

In the society like Pakistan and India, where dowry system is very prominent, they see their daughter as burden and even the girls think that early marriage will lower the dowry and have better life to their families (Dayal, 2015). This kind of mindset confined to preserve culture and tradition, restrict girls from their right to education. In India and in many countries, it is believed that women only leave the house of their parents when they get married to the men whom they refer as husband. The mindset of people living in that kind of society is that no matter how educated women are, they will have to remain as wife under her husband, following their culture and families value. This not only restricts women to enroll in education but also restricts women who are pursuing their higher education like MBA (Sheikh, 2007). Another kind of mindset in the people is the superior and inferior complex where male is superior to his opposite sex. For an instance, Pakistani Society is a male-dominated society where women are taught from a very early age to be tolerance and acceptance under the domination of their opposite sex (Ovais, 2014). This kind of mindset, no matter how educated they are, it is passed down from generation which can be hard to erase or…

Fearless Feminism Essay

No matter in which country, the whole society was controlled by men, which was not changed until the last hundred years. From the beginning of the 20th century, numerous campaigns were launched aimed at winning over the equal rights for women. Since then, women status has improved much. In the modern world, the fact that women are playing a more and more important role in society has been accepted by most of the people. Now women tend to go out of kitchen and contribute their strength to their career. Actually, they do really very well or even better than men in arts, services, management and many other industries. Giving attention to both family and career, women in the modern world are under much more pressure than before. However, most of them consider it worthwhile.…

Empowerment Of Women In The 1920's

Even though women have caused change through their hard work, there is much more that must be done. Women continue to be oppressed by males whom feel superior to women. Men who have not changed their archaic views of women continue to suppress the rights of women. Women will continue to hold more power for progression of time has shown that it is inevitable. The change that women have done is immense. Not only did they single handedly change the social norms of society they molded the path for future generations of women. To have a voice in their mother country to be treated as human beings with dignity and…

What Is Social Justice?

In 2013, around 31 million girls of primary school age and 32 million girls of lower secondary school age were not attending school or receiving any form of education (“Empowering Women”). Millions of girls around the world constantly suffer from unjust discrimination due to poverty, pregnancy, school-based violence, child marriage and discriminatory gender norms which deem them unable and unauthorized to receive a quality education (Unicef). Many studies show that educated women are less likely to marry against their will at a young age, less likely to die in childbirth, more likely to have healthy babies, and are more likely to send their children to school (Unicef). In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women recognized that women's literacy is key to authorizing women's contribution to decision making in society and cultivating the well-being of families (“Empowering Women”). In countries in the Middle East and Africa, it is the law for women to gain consent from a male relative before completing tasks such as seeking employment, requesting a loan, or starting a business (“Empowering Women”). This results in the tendency of families to make a son’s education a priority (“Empowering Women”). Why must society…

Empowerment of the Girl Child

if it had the same ratio of women to men as in other regions of the world…

Related Topics

  • History of education

Shreveport man accused of having sexual conversations with underage girl online

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A 50-year-old man in Shreveport is facing charges after allegedly having a sexual conversation with an underage girl online.

Police say Cody Naquin, 50, is charged with computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile. He was arrested Sunday, June 9 around 1 a.m. Police say Naquin contacted the underage victim through a chatting platform online and engaged in sexual conversations.

Copyright 2024 KSLA. All rights reserved.

Police are investigating after a man was found shot Sunday, June 9, 2024 near the intersection...

Blood trail leads police to possible scene of shooting; 1 injured

Jermaine Owens, 40, has been sentenced to life in prison as a habitual offender.

Domestic abuser in Caddo Parish sentenced to life in prison as habitual offender

The Silver Alert for Selma Lollie, 70, was canceled by Louisiana State Police Sunday, June 9,...

Silver Alert for missing 70-year-old Monroe man canceled; family says he has died

Shreveport Police responded to reports of a shooting on Miriam Lane just after 11:30 a.m. on...

Man reportedly shoots girlfriend’s father after altercation on Miriam Lane

Shreveport man tries to set himself, officers on fire, latest news.

One person is dead and two more are injured as a result of a three-vehicle wreck June 10,...

Crash on Hwy. 1 kills one person, injures two

Shooting reported at Hollywood Avenue at Jewella Avenue

Shooting reported at Jewella at Hollywood

Kenmiccael Ray is one of three people reportedly involved in the May 2022 murder.

Murder trial of Landry Anglin to begin

Shreveport police responded to reports of a shooting just after 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10.

Man shot on Miriam Lane after alleged assault

How a family gathering turned deadly in Marshall, Texas

How a family gathering turned deadly in Marshall, Texas

IMAGES

  1. essay on empowering the girl child is the best way to empower the

    essay on empowerment of girl child

  2. Save Girl Child Essay for Students and Children

    essay on empowerment of girl child

  3. Essay on Empowerment of Girl Child

    essay on empowerment of girl child

  4. (PDF) Empowerment of women and children

    essay on empowerment of girl child

  5. Women Empowerment Essay for Students & Children

    essay on empowerment of girl child

  6. National Girl Child Day 2023: 10 Quotes That Will Empower You

    essay on empowerment of girl child

VIDEO

  1. essay on women empowerment in english/10 lines on women empowerment in english/mahila sasahktikaran

  2. IMP Essay

  3. An Essay on WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

  4. Her VOICE Program

  5. Women Empowerment

  6. Promote Women Empowerment & Environment

COMMENTS

  1. Save Girl Child Essay

    Save Girl Child Essay in 10 Lines in English. Addressing the critical issue of gender imbalance, this essay advocates for saving the girl child by examining societal challenges, emphasizing empowerment, and proposing solutions in a succinct 10-line exploration.. The "Save Girl Child" initiative is a crucial social cause advocating for gender equality.

  2. International Day of the Girl Child

    The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls' rights. On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the ...

  3. Essay on Women Empowerment for Students and Children

    Women empowerment refers to making women powerful to make them capable of deciding for themselves. Women have suffered a lot through the years at the hands of men. In earlier centuries, they were treated as almost non-existent. As if all the rights belonged to men even something as basic as voting. As the times evolved, women realized their power.

  4. 5 Reasons Why Empowering Girls Matters

    Empowered, educated girls have healthier, better educated children and higher wages - helping to break the cycle of poverty. 4. Empowered girls strengthen economies. According to a new Brookings report, "Increasing the number of women completing secondary education by just 1 percent could increase a country's economic growth by 0.3 ...

  5. Empowering the Girl Child, Improving Global Health

    The health of women, families, communities, and global society are dependent upon the education, empowerment, and well-being of young girls. No nation can achieve its full potential when half of the population is marginalized and disempowered (Gates, 2014).The adequate nutrition, education, safety, and personal development of girls affect more than the health of the individual child.

  6. Empowering the Girl Child: Unlocking the Path to a Brighter ...

    Introduction: In a world where every child deserves an equal chance to thrive and succeed, empowering the girl child becomes a crucial mission. Investing in their education, health, and well-being ...

  7. Girl Child: Education and Empowerment

    Girl Child: Education and Empowerment. "When you educate a woman, you educate a nation.". Education of a girl goes beyond just enrolling her into school. Girls should have equal opportunities to complete their education. They should feel safe while in school. Girls should acquire adequate knowledge and skills to compete in the labor market.

  8. Value of Girl Child

    04 July 2018. One-third of all children in the world live in South Asia with unequal opportunities. Girls, in particular, face gender-specific barriers, biases, and are vulnerable to multiple levels of discrimination due to pervasive norms and harmful practices. These, in turn, determine the value of the girl child in society.

  9. Essay on Empowering the Girl Child Is Empowering the Nation

    Conclusion. Empowering the girl child is indeed empowering the nation. It is a sustainable and effective way to achieve social, economic, and political development. By investing in girls' education, health, and rights, we can unleash their potential and transform our societies. The empowerment of the girl child is not just a matter of justice ...

  10. Empowering the girl child for a better tomorrow

    Empowering the girl child for a better tomorrow. With a skewed gender ratio of 943 females per 1000 males (Census of India 2011), India is far from being called a developed country. While in many countries, a girl or boy child won't negatively impact the parents, the birth of a girl child in India still remains a hiccup to many parents.

  11. Empower the girl child. Empower the nation

    Thursday October 11, 2018 , 3 min Read. To ensure empowerment in the true sense, we have to build the scope and outreach for girls to make choices through better skills, capabilities, and self ...

  12. PDF Girl child empowerment: A challenge for all

    Nicole Bidegain Ponte. * The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United Nations In the next lines I propose to integrate the agenda ...

  13. Girls empowerment

    The advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of girls and women are central to UNICEF's mandate to ensure every child is protected, healthy, and educated. Recognising the need for accelerated action so we do not leave girls behind, in 2022, UNICEF developed a new vision for programming with and for adolescent girls: the Adolescent ...

  14. Essay on Girl Child

    The Power of Education. Education is a crucial tool for empowering the girl child. It is not merely about reading and writing; it's about equipping her with knowledge, skills, and confidence to break the shackles of societal constraints. An educated girl child can contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of a nation.

  15. (PDF) Girl Child- Educate to Empower

    The female literacy rate has also increased from 8.86% in 1951 to. 65.46% in 2011. It is noticed that the female literacy rate during the period 1991-2001 increased. by 14.87% whereas male ...

  16. The Importance of Empowering and Educating Girl Child in India

    Date of Acceptance: 04-01-2024. Date of Publication: 08-01-2024. ABSTRACT. This research paper aims to comprehend the value of girls' education in India for their empowerment. Indian society is ...

  17. United Nations: Gender equality and women's empowerment

    Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world ...

  18. Ask an Expert: Why Is It Important to Empower the Nigerian Girl Child?

    The International Day of the Girl Child is marked every year on Oct. 11, to recognise girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. Achieving the empowerment of women and girls is integral to each of the UN's 17 Global Goals, but particularly Goal 5 for gender equality. Join us to take action to support girls' rights ...

  19. Speech: "Together we will unleash girls' power in all its dimensions"

    Together we will unleash girls' power in all its dimensions; Together we will ensure that girls' full potential is realized, generation after generation. Planet 5050 by 2030, there is where we all want to go. The SDGs are our today but it is also about our collective tomorrow and gender equality is our destination.

  20. Educate and empower: Because when you educate a girl, you educate a

    It is said when you educate a girl child, you educate an entire family. Let us all work together for the educational empowerment of all our girls and work towards making a New India. This article first appeared in the print edition on March 4, 2020 under the title 'Educate and empower'. The writer is Union minister of Human Resource ...

  21. Empowering the girl child

    The fact that we still have to think of girl empowerment as a separate issue, highlights the plight of girls in today's world. Equal gender and education rights still look like a far-fetched idea.

  22. Girl Child Empowerment

    Girl Child Empowerment. The term 'Empowerment of women refers to the process of providing equal rights, opportunities, responsibilities and power positions to women so that they are able to play a role on par with men in society'. In a society which is developed and prosperous, Gender equality and empowerment of women are crucial factors.

  23. Girls' education

    Barriers to girls' education - like poverty, child marriage and gender-based violence - vary among countries and communities. Poor families often favour boys when investing in education. In some places, schools do not meet the safety, hygiene or sanitation needs of girls. In others, teaching practices are not gender-responsive and result ...

  24. Empowerment Of Girl Child Is Empowering

    In countries in the Middle East and Africa, it is the law for women to gain consent from a male relative before completing tasks such as seeking employment, requesting a loan, or starting a business ("Empowering Women"). This results in the tendency of families to make a son's education a priority ("Empowering Women").

  25. Shreveport man accused of soliciting minor for sex online

    SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - A 50-year-old man in Shreveport is facing charges after allegedly having a sexual conversation with an underage girl online. Police say Cody Naquin, 50, is charged with computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile. He was arrested Sunday, June 9 around 1 a.m. Police say Naquin contacted ...