Day of the Girl....

Today is the International Day of the Girl movement to speak out against gender bias and advocate for girls' rights everywhere. I think this is a pretty important movement, especially since I have a daughter.
Growing up I played with hot wheels and barbies, my parents never said that is a girl toy or that is a boy toy, but I do remember experimenting, whether it was trying to make perfume, mixing colors, or working with my sister on creating our own version of Reese's peanut butter cups (lesson learned cocoa powder is bitter). I loved trying to craft new things, but I don't ever remember being encouraged into fields such as science or math by any adult in my life. I will admit, I've never had a love affair with math, but I have always secretly loved science. And I remember the first time my 9th grade science teacher said I should pursue a more challenging science class as we were completing our class lists for the next year, I was dumbfounded, "me?" He thought it was an easy subject for me and thought I should pursue science and challenge myself. It was the first time I had ever heard an adult say something like that to me and I will admit I didn't listen to him. I was unsure of myself and I was afraid of failure. I loved science, but I was afraid that if I took a more challenging course I wouldn't get it, end up failing, and look like a "dummy," so I took what was expected, where I knew I would understand it and pass. Science and writing have always been big passions of mine and it is not that I think my life would have turned out differently had I chosen to pursue that path, but I wish I had more encouragement that was an acceptable field to pursue. As a parent to a boy and a girl, who are close in age, it is easy to tell both my kids that they can do anything they want. The hubs and I are always looking at cool science things to show the kids from making our paper to making a rubber egg because science is fun and both the kids love learning about it. The key I think is telling my kids that if they are interested in something, then they need to seek out all the resources and information they can, learn, learn, learn about what you love because once you have that knowledge, no one can take it away from you. It is yours to do with what you want.

The other reasons why this day is important is because of the following (from Day of the Girl's website):

• Illiteracy - by 2015, females will make up 64% of the world’s (adult) population who cannot read

• Force marriage - One in seven girls in developing countries is married off before age 15
• Violence – In the US more than half (54%) of all rapes of females happen before age 18. One in 5 high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner. Worldwide children as young as age 11 are forced to work as prostitutes, some estimates have as many as 1.2 million children being trafficked every year.
• Body image – More than half (54%) of 3rd-5th grade girls worry about their appearance and 37% worry about their weight. More than half (57%) of music videos feature a female portrayed exclusively as a decorative, sexual object.

I will admit I had body image issues and I experienced violence in a relationship as did my sister. All through middle school and high school, I had issues with my looks, not skinny enough, not pretty enough, blah, blah, blah....and as I got older and more comfortable with myself, those things were not as important, but I did go for a period of time where I didn't eat, unless I was with my parents and/or make myself throw up. It was not to the point where it became a problem like some of the other girls in school, but I did it and there was really no reason I should have. I was not overweight growing up, but when I looked in the mirror I saw something different.
So every day, I tell my children how wonderful they are, how smart they are, how funny they are, how kind they are, and how beautiful they are....my kids are used to hearing this all the time that I think they have tuned it out, but I tell them because I want them to know they don't need to change anything, they were created to be just as they are. And only time will tell when my daughter enters into that middle school/high school age, if she is proud of who she is or is not, but I hope I am giving her skills that she learns to walk with her head tall because of who she is as an individual.
There was an incident a few years back when someone wanted to take a photo of her and she made a silly face, this person said, "don't do that you don't look pretty," but before I could say anything, the hubby stepped in and said, "she is pretty no matter what face she is making, don't ever say that again." I was shocked because our daughter was four years old and yes I understand you don't want her poking her tongue out, but sometimes the silly faces are the best photos captured, but I was relieved my hubs stepped in.

And don't get me wrong, there have been wonderful strides for women as a whole. We have choices and most importantly, we have a voice, but I think the biggest challenge we face is changing the perception of what "beauty" is....I think until the mainstream media industry, entertainment industry, and advertisers work on this, young girls and young women will continue to struggle with body image and what these girls perceive as beautiful. 

"Being strong means rejoicing in who you are, complete with imperfections." - Margaret Woodhouse

Presidential Debate: Is there a right choice?

Last night began the first presidential debate for this year's election and we like many other Americans watched it. I went into the debate hoping one of the two candidates would "tell or show" me why I should choose that candidate for president, but neither of them did.
I saw misrepresentation, fluff and in some instances all out avoidance of the question asked. And I suppose if I preferred one candidate over the other, I wouldn't care so much, but I don't have a preference. I don't like either of the options we have, so I watched and listened hoping I would be swayed one way or the other. Yet, after watching it, I am left disappointed because frankly, Obama has had four years and in my eyes has not proved he is ready for another four. Romney is no better, some of the things outlined in his plan, although sound great, lack substance and so really, is it something that can be accomplished or another promise made with no commitment to fulfill it?
Since I turned 18, I have voted in every election, but I am seriously thinking of not voting this year, which is sad.There is no real difference, underneath the political party they hold, nothing will really change, yet Americans will be told that we have to choose this over that, but nothing real changes and all the while this country continues to slide. 
I'll watch the next debates and I will continue to read their proposed plans, but thus far, nothing is different expect how each of these candidates are being presented.