At nine, a boy plays cricket with his friends. At nine, a girl is responsible for her looking after her younger brother.At nineteen, a boy spends his first salary on the best mobile phone he can afford. At nineteen, a girl is saving up to buy her first cooking stove.
At twenty-nine, a boy is seeking to escape from his family responsibilities. At twenty-nine, a girl is fighting to ensure her children go to school.
However you may try to deny it, boys and girls are different. And to empower a girl is the only way to enable change.
A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.
Do also check out my Topical Tuesday post on the same topic at Burrowers, Books & Balderdash.
Do also check out my Topical Tuesday post on the same topic at Burrowers, Books & Balderdash.
20 comments:
very strong drabble today.
Great drabble! Just imagine how different this world could be if we empowered our young girls and women to accomplish their dreams.
Rayna - It seems that every culture has different expectations for boys and girls. Different researchers have different explanations for why this is so, but everyone seems to agree that it is so. Your Drabble is a reminder that the only way to change cultural expectations and the assumptions that underlie them is to realise those assumptions are there and re-think them.
there was a time when this was the case everywhere. But things are changing, yes? Didn't you have a slightly different experience? Is there a small ray of hope? :o) <3 U~
I agree, a very strong statement this one. Teenage brides used to be common in our country, but not anymore as more women take up careers. They may well turn out to be excellent wives and mothers too.
Have you seen The Girl Effect? If not, you must watch it as it confirms what you say:
http://www.careinternational.org.uk/news-and-press/latest-news-features/1551-empower-a-girl-before-she-is-12-and-impact-the-world
Yes! That is absolutely right!
You are so on target about this! No matter how you want to look at it, there are different expectations for boys than girls all around the world- women's lot continues to be a slow uphill struggle and in some countries, like India, it is very slow indeed! But even in the States we see those differences for the girls... in first generation Hispanic cultures the women are often not allowed to learn English thus cannot function without their men outside the home. When the lot for women is changed then we will see a shift in how the world operates-- but that will take some courage!
I won´t try to deny it. But as a Scandinavian I know that it is possible to change it. It may be necessary to attack poverty first, however, and solve other problems later. I think it takes a certain level of stability in a society before you have the resources to move on to other problems. That doesn´t mean you shouldn´t try, however, and I hope a blog like yours can also change some people´s minds!
Amen, sister.
I think it's so true and I see the same thing happen in Mexico. I had a friend tell me today that some husbands wont let their wives get medical exams (like breast checks) because they don't want other people touching them there and if they do, often the husbands will beat their wives.
CD
It's tragic that humanity still devalues the worth of women, even in 'enlightened' cultures.
very well said..
Society is slowing changing; Cultures and traditions also influence our choices~ I enjoyed this drabble, reflecting on my age and what occurred~
Sounds like the men need a little lesson from the women on responsibility. Yes, empower the women but I hope they don't turn into those men.
Good words, Rayna! By calling attention to and responding to such disparities, I believe we can create currents of change.
Changing possibilities for girls and women a huge part of the answer to so many real problems in the world.
Amen and amen!!! Empowering girls is the best way to enact change in the world. Change for the better!!!!
Hugs
SueAnn
There is still discrepancy between the genders.
Although there has been some change more is needed.
@ Summer- thank you.
@ kmckendry- it would be a world where everyone can achieve their full potential
@ Margot- totally. In the more backward parts of the developing world, the contrast between gender expectations is very strong. Maybe that is one reason tehy are so backward.
@ Leigh - I do not qualify, and neither do you. But where the chasm exists, development is slower
@ Grandpa- in my country, there are empowered women and non-empowered women. and the difference in the level of prosperity is almost stark
@ Karen- as they are changing in India too. But not fast enough for impatient me.
@ Fiona - yes, yes, and yes. Both of them are fantastic videos, aren't they?
@ Debra- it is, isn't it?
@ Danette- interesting point, and one that I have been wondering too. I do think a community's prosperity is in some way related to their attitude towards women.
@ Dorte- I am sure it will change, if enough people work hard enough to make it change. Girls are waiting to be let free, and when they are, they will fly
@ Pk Hrezo - :-)
@ Clarissa- that is so sad, isn't it?
@ Laura- to varying degrees, I guess
@ Anu- thank you
@ Ellen- I was lucky, none of it happened to me, but is everyone as lucky?
@ Jane- that is always a danger, isn't it?
@ Faith- I do hope so.
@ Al- it is, isn't it?
@ slommler- and I hope it happens in the next few years
@ Wanda- and such a pity it is too.
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