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• Save Girl Child Essay

Essay on Save Girl Child

In the vast tapestry of human existence, one thread that has often been neglected is the significance of saving the girl child. Our world is replete with challenges, but amidst them, the cause of saving girl children stands out as a beacon of hope and progress. In this essay, we will delve into the reasons why saving the girl child is crucial, explore the challenges they face, and propose actionable solutions to ensure a brighter and more equitable future for all.

1. The Girl Child - A Precious Asset:

The birth of a girl child should be celebrated with as much joy and enthusiasm as that of a boy. Girls, like boys, are an essential part of the human mosaic, contributing their unique strengths and abilities to society. Yet, across the globe, the birth of a girl child is often met with sorrow, discrimination, and, in extreme cases, abandonment.

Societies need to recognize that girls are not liabilities but assets. The potential within every girl is boundless, and by neglecting or mistreating them, we squander opportunities for progress, innovation, and social harmony.

2. Challenges Faced by the Girl Child:

Despite progress in various spheres, the girl child continues to face multifaceted challenges. These challenges, deeply rooted in cultural, social, and economic contexts, hinder their development and well-being.

Gender Discrimination: From a young age, girls are subjected to discriminatory practices that limit their access to education, healthcare, and opportunities. Stereotypes and biases perpetuate harmful norms, reinforcing the idea that girls are inferior or less capable than boys.

Lack of Educational Opportunities: One of the primary avenues for empowerment is education, yet many girls are denied this fundamental right. Poverty, cultural norms, and lack of infrastructure contribute to the gender gap in education. Ensuring equal access to education for girls is not only a matter of justice but also a key driver for societal progress.

Child Marriage: Another pressing issue that jeopardizes the well-being of the girl child is child marriage. Forced into early marriages, girls are robbed of their childhood, education, and opportunities for personal growth. Early marriage often leads to early pregnancies, putting both the young mothers and their infants at higher risk of health complications. By combating child marriage, we pave the way for a healthier and more equitable future.

Health Disparities: The health of the girl child is often neglected due to gender-based discrimination. From infancy to adolescence, girls may face disparities in nutrition, healthcare, and sanitation. Ensuring access to proper healthcare, nutrition, and sanitation facilities is not only a matter of basic human rights but also a crucial step in safeguarding the well-being of the girl child.

3. The Economic Impact of Empowering Girls:

Investing in the well-being and education of girls is not merely a matter of morality; it is a smart economic strategy. The empowerment of girls leads to a ripple effect that benefits entire communities and societies.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Educated and empowered girls are more likely to break the cycle of poverty. They contribute to their families' income, invest in their children's education, and become catalysts for positive change within their communities.

Economic Productivity: When girls are given equal opportunities, they contribute significantly to the workforce, boosting economic productivity. The untapped potential of millions of girls around the world represents an opportunity for global economic growth.

4. Solutions and Interventions:

To save the girl child and ensure their well-being, a multi-faceted approach is needed, encompassing changes in societal attitudes, policy reforms, and grassroots initiatives.

Education for All: Governments and communities must work together to ensure that every girl has access to quality education. Initiatives that address barriers such as financial constraints, cultural norms, and lack of infrastructure are crucial to closing the gender gap in education.

Empowering Communities: Cultural change is a gradual process, but empowering communities to challenge harmful norms is vital. Grassroots initiatives, community awareness programs, and collaborations with local leaders can help challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality.

Legal Reforms: Stringent legal measures are essential to combat gender-based discrimination and violence. Governments must enact and enforce laws that protect the rights of the girl child, including legislation against child marriage, female genital mutilation, and other harmful practices.

Healthcare Access: Ensuring access to quality healthcare for girls is paramount. This includes reproductive health services, nutritional support, and awareness programs to address issues such as maternal mortality and gender-specific health concerns.

Saving the girl child is not just a moral imperative but a strategic investment in a better, more equitable future. By addressing the challenges faced by girls and implementing comprehensive solutions, we pave the way for a world where every girl can realize her full potential.

As a global community, we must collectively commit to breaking the shackles of gender discrimination and providing girls with the tools they need to thrive. Only by saving the girl child can we ensure a future where every individual, regardless of gender, contributes meaningfully to the tapestry of human progress. It is time to recognize the value of the girl child and embrace a future where equality is not just a lofty ideal but a lived reality for all.

FAQs on Save Girl Child Essay

1. How many paragraphs are important to write an essay?

The number of paragraphs in an essay depends on how the writer is distributing the content. If the essay is formal, less information and fewer paragraphs with precise information will work. To write an excellent academic essay, the writer needs at least four to five paragraphs. To write and present them handsomely, the writer must plan the positioning of information. Then after having a proper mental or rough layout, the writer must start with a compelling and eye-catchy first introductory paragraph. Introduction paragraphs can fluctuate between two to four, not more than that. Then comes the main body of the essay. These can be as many as a writer wants until he/she repeats the same data again and again. The body can include very detailed information, facts, and explanations to opinions. Then the writer has to write the last two to three paragraphs for the conclusion. This can be one too Conclusion will decide how much the reader will take from the essay. The conclusion should summarize all the information for the reader.

2. How to start an Essay?

The introduction of any written piece matters a lot because it just has a few blinks of time to win the reader's interest and their time. That's why a mind-blowing introduction can get you full marks, admission, or whatever you are trying to convey. To give your essay a good start, firstly you should note down, in what format you are choosing to write. That means you should priorly know how you are going to divide information in the essay. Then comes the very important first sentence of the essay. Most of the people who'll come across your essay will read the title and first sentence. The first sentence should have a shocking or exciting element that makes it stand and gives more curiosity to the reader. The person should also keep in mind that the information in the first paragraph should relate to the body and not end up like a clickbait advertisement. Writing the introduction is important for any article or essay and should be kept in mind. 

3. What steps has the government taken to save girls in India?

Some of the schemes for supporting girl children by the government are-

Balika Samriddhi Yojana - Balika Samriddhi Yojana is a scheme started by the central government to support girls in financially weak sections of society. This scheme guarantees the admissions and retention of girls into primary and secondary schools.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana - Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a scheme that promotes the welfare of girls. The scheme facilitates parents to support and create funds for her education and marriage expenses.

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao - Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is the scheme that promotes education within girl children, as the name translates to 'Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl child. The scheme believes in women empowerment that leads to the building of an ecosystem for the same. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao assists girls' safety before and after they are born. 

4. Why are girls important in society?

No article can tell you how important girls are in our society and what roles they play. But, here are very few of many reasons why girls are important in society- 

Caretaker - Women play the role of birth giver and the caretaker in society. Women hold up the family and give unconditional love to their kids.

Educators - Women are the educators of society. As the famous quote says, teach a girl and she'll make sure every member is educated. Women are excellent teachers and thus we have seen over the years many female teachers changing the lives of students.

Workforce - Women are intelligent and have taken over the share of good jobs and responsibilities over the world. Especially in the urban and rural workforce, the role of women has grown very much in recent times and has resulted in massive development all over the world.

5. How to save girls in India?

Girls are very important in any country but in recent years female homicide and the easily available illegal abortion practices have made it easier for parents to identify and kill the girl child. It's the responsibility of every individual in society to take up the challenge of spreading awareness and bringing an end to this sin. Following are some ways how one can help in saving the girl child

Creating a safe environment for all women.

Spreading awareness and altering mindsets to ensure that communities and households welcome and celebrate daughters.

Giving proper education to more and more people.

Give recognition and celebrate women in the world.

Ensure fair and equal wages and no harassment environment for women.

Supporting women's resistance to violence and assisting them in raising their voices.

Ensuring that all women have access to the property.

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• UN Observances

  Women and girls can lead us to a fairer future...let us amplify girls’ voices, and recommit to working together to build a world where every girl can lead and thrive." UN Secretary-General António Guterres  

Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being

This year, at a time when we are seeing a range of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes; there is an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential.

Responding to girls’ calls for change, the global community must move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the action needed to make that change. When we pay attention, we see that, already, many girls are championing solutions and change in their communities. Together with our government and civil society partners, UNICEF envisions a world where girls have space to shape government policy and spending to inform the rules and norms by which businesses should operate, and to direct the priorities for new research and innovations. These examples should not be novelties, but the norm.

Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being

09:30 am, oct 11, 2023.

Organized by UNICEF and Plan International, the 2023 event aims to unite adolescent girls with advocates for their rights, including UN leaders, NGOs, businesses, and governments. The event showcases a world where girls actively influence government policies, business practices, and research priorities. This vision needs global commitment and specific funding to become the standard. We hope you will be able to join us and organize a viewing party wherever you are, with and for girls.

In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing the rights of not only women but girls. 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 International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

Vanessa Nakate on how the climate crisis impacts girls

Vanessa Nakate, 25, is a Ugandan climate change activist and founder of the Africa-based Rise Up Movement. Nakate speaks out on the climate crisis and its intersection with gender and race, especially in how it disproportionately affects women and girls in Africa.

Did you know?

• Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today.
• Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online.
• Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age.
• Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new HIV infections among adolescents.
• Nearly 1 in 4 married/partnered adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.
• Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A New Era For Girls

Today’s more than 1.1 billion girls are poised to take on the future. Every day, girls are breaking boundaries and barriers, tackling issues like child marriage, education inequality, violence, climate justice, and inequitable access to healthcare. Girls are proving they are unstoppable.

Publication: A New Era for Girls; Taking stock of 25 years of progress .

Key Documents

• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
• Convention on The Rights of Child
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
• Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: Beijing+5 Political Declaration and Outcome
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Publications

• Adolescent Girls Programme Strategy, 2022 - 2025
• Global Annual Results Report 2022: Gender equality
• Bridging the Gender Digital Divide
• Legislating and enforcing the minimum age of marriage: A comparative study of experiences and lessons learned in ending the legalization of child marriage
• Gender-Transformative Accelerator
• UNICEF: International Day of the Girl Child
• UN Women: International Day of the Girl Child
• UNESCO: International Day of the Girl Child
• UN Secretary-General's Campaign UNiTE to End Violence Against Women
• The Spotlight Initiative
• World Bank: Girls' Education 
• UN Women Special Focus compilation on the Girl Child
• United Nations Girls' Education Initiative
• International Labour Organization: Gender and child labour in agriculture
• UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage
• UN Global Issues: Gender equality
• SDG-5: Gender equality

Related Observances

• International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
• International Day of Women and Girls in Science
• International Women's Day
• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
• World Day Against Child Labour
• International Youth Day
• International Literacy Day
• World Children’s Day
• UN Decade for Women

Global Issues: Gender Equality

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth.

Skills4Girls : Girl-centered solutions for unlocking the potential of adolescent girls

There are more than 600 million adolescent girls in the world today — equipped with the right resources and opportunities, they will be the largest cohort of female leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs and change-makers the world has ever seen. Learn more .

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

What is a girl? What is girlhood? The answers to these questions are not as straightforward as they might first appear. The word girl appeared in the Middle Age more than 700 years ago. At that time it was written as “gyrle,” meaning a child or a young person of either sex. Since then, the word has taken many forms such as “girle,” “gerle,” and “gurl.” During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the word girl started to refer specifically to a female child, or a young, unmarried woman. From the 1640s, “girl” could also mean “sweetheart.” Stemmed from the word “girl,” girlhood as a word appeared later in the mid-eighteenth century. Since the beginning, it was coined with the reference to the state of being a girl or the childhood of a girl. 

Then, what exactly is the state of being a girl? How do we define it? Definitions of girlhood change and vary widely than ever in nowadays society. We often think of age as the key determinant of girlhood, but even this is more complicated than one might think. When does girlhood end? Does it end with adolescence? When one turns eighteen? Does girlhood extend even until one is in their mid-twenties? Part of what makes defining girlhood so challenging is that age is not the only factor that defines girlhood. It is also a social and cultural construct, meaning that different societies often construct their own unique meaning of girlhood. 

In this exhibit, we worked with girl studies scholars and self-identified girls/women to explore various historical and modern definitions of girlhood. We also look at case studies, particularly from Asia, that are both stereotypically and subversively girl. We  chose to let contributors speak for themselves – our text is minimal and limited to introducing each section.

As you explore, ask yourself: Do you agree with how someone else defines “girl” or “girlhood?” What about your own experiences is similar to or different from experiences found throughout our museum? If you had to be interviewed like this, what would you say?

Education Guide

Use this education guide to interact with the exhibit, gain a deeper understanding of diverse girlhoods, and think about the meaning of gender identities today.  Activities in this guide are aligned to U.S. and/or U.K. educational standards. They are designed to be used by students and teachers as school lessons or enrichment opportunities.

Historically “Girl”

Different conceptions of girlhood have been constructed and changed over time and across cultures. In many cases, definitions of girlhood reflect the shifting political and cultural needs of societies. For example, at the end of the nineteenth century, Egyptian girlhood was often defined by other milestones, like first menstruation or marriage, not just a girl’s age. In early twentieth-century Europe the period of girlhood became longer, as more girls had more access to education. Even now, it becomes more difficult to draw a sharp distinction between girlhood and adulthood, in large part because girls are involved in seemingly adult experiences across the globe, from labor to sex work.

Since each culture has their own definition of girlhood, it is impossible to lump all kinds of girlhood into one definition. We highlighted key examples of both historical and contemporary definitions of girlhood across different time periods and regions for our audience to explore. As illustrated by these diverse definitions, it is clear that, in the midst of social pressures and constraints, girls are constantly developing their own culture to challenge and redefine the concept of girlhood and empower themselves. 

Ancient Greece

Confucian china.

Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD)

Compared with other later dynasties in China, Han girls were relatively free in public life. Girls were welcome to engage in industries such as business, medicine, divination, and performance. Girls from royal families also could be conferred a rank of nobility. For example, Emperor Guangwu once conferred his three granddaughters as “Little State Sovereigns”. However, the Han Dynasty also witnessed that Confucianism affected the cultural construct of girlhood when Confucian moral values, which ​demanded girls to be chaste and obedient, gradually became the mainstream of society.

Ever since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty who chose Confucianism as the mainstream philosophy of China, Confucianism-led education began to invade the construct of girlhood. The right to public education became no longer available to girls, and they could only receive family education. Confucianism advocates the idea that women as homemakers are inferior to men who are breadwinner. Therefore, the goal of female education was to instruct a girl to put her heart and soul into supporting the intellectual and professional development of their male relatives-their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons.

In Western Han Dynasty, Lie Nu Zhuan, a collective biography of female historical figures, introduced girl readers to six types of virtues. Being loving, thoughtful, and chaste were among the most important virtues that girls were expected to possess. Another classic reading for girls was Nv Jie, written by Ban Zhao, a female scholar in the Eastern Han Dynasty. She believed that women should give priority to assisting their husbands. Girlhood became a site to instill the ideology of proper female behaviors, and these values ​​reincarnated into countless moral books and stories for girls of future generations.

Girl Apprentices

Medieval and Early Modern Europe

Girls started working as apprentices at craft workshops at the age of 10 or 11 in many medieval European towns. Especially for girls from poor families, it was typical to leave their parents and home at such an early age to look for employment. When a girl left home for work, she was also breaking the parental control that she had in the domestic space as a young girl. Loosened adult control and increased income often introduced the girl into the transition from girlhood to her adulthood.

However, girl apprentices rarely acquired complete economic independence, or fully transitioned to adulthood in reality. They remained with a special role in the world of work: girl apprentices were seen as labor with ability to learn and provide, meanwhile they were also treated as children who required adult control. For example, in Ireland, girls working in mills and factories usually got a small portion of their wage. The rest of their wage would be directly paid to their families.

Enslaved Girls

16th to 19th century Americas and Europe

In the American South in the decades before the Civil War, there were around one million enslaved girls under the age of 16. Their girlhood was a unique construction where race, age, and gender under slavery had an intertwined influnced on their everyday lives.

In her autobiography, The History of Mary Prince , British abolitionist Mary Prince talked about the hardships that she, as a young enslaved girl, suffered and the brutalities of enslavement. Enslaved girls received harsh punishments similar to those carried out to adults. If they made a mistake when working in cotton or tobacco plantations, they could be whipped brutally. Another mistreatment they frequently faced was sexual exploitation. These abuses, like Mary Prince said, were both physically and emotionally tormenting.

Escaping slavery was of course very difficult, and compared to enslaved boys, enslaved girls had even fewer opportunities to attain freedom. Instead, they learned to fake illness or work slowly to show their resistance. Stories and games also became a way for young people to resist their enslavement. Younger enslaved girls sometimes transformed old games by adding transgressive messages into them. For example, a jumping rope song from enslaved girls went, “My old mistress promised me/Before she dies she would set me free/Now she’s dead and gone to hell/I hope the devil will burn her well.”

Pre-19th century

Before the nineteenth century, girls in India, similar to girls in other parts of the world, were expected to learn and take on housework at an early age. Home school was a popular choice, and the learning content often centered mostly on domestic tasks rather than vocational skills. The definitive moment that marked the end of girlhood was not landing a job or finishing schooling. Rather, most of the time it was marriage that ended girlhood. 

Although the beginning of girls’ puberty was the ostensible milestone of girls’ eligibility to enter into marriage, child marriage was a common phenomenon before 16th century. Rig Veda , the oldest and most important of Hindu holy texts, was cited in a number of nineteenth-century texts. These texts documented that child marriage occurred and intensified with scriptural exhortations’ endorsement of pre-puberty marriage. 

In the 20th century, increased female legal age for marriage successfully expanded the length of girlhood in India. In 2006, the government of India prohibited child marriage. Girls in India are having more control over their own bodies and lives. The rate of child marriage plummeted since then,  but child marriage still exist – there are more underage brides (under 18 years old) in India than any other countries in the world.

Student Girls

18th and 19th century Europe

Should young girls learn to read? This question would generate little controversy today, but it provoked strong debates and negative reactions in Europe before the 18 th and 19 th centuries.

Young girls had access to books in many European countries in the 18th century, especially in the Netherlands, Germany, and England. While some “literary ladies,” or women authors of pedagogical books, and other educationalists encouraged young girls to read and develop their own intellectual interests, this “female curiosity” was regarded as dangerous by many authors in the 19 th century. Even for girls who wanted to read, the options were not very abundant: most books available for girl readers were advice books. 

Instead of reading and developing their intellectual interests, girls were instead encouraged to learn domestic skills. Young girls in middle- and upper-class families usually had the chance to study various academic subjects with tutors and governesses, but this education was simply meant to prepare girls for marriage.  The goal of education was to create the ideal girl who, according to the authors of advice books, would be a delightful and informed companion for her husband. 

Black Girls in Jim Crow South

Late 19th and 20th century

What was it like to grow up as a Southern Black girl under Jim Crow laws that legalized racial segregations in the Southern United States? Witnessing state-sponsored racism and white supremacy, Black girls came to develop and understand their identity under several interwinted forces: gender, race, place, and justice. 

Southern Black girls in this period were seen constantly negotiating two main influences. One was the racialized violence from Jim Crow South. Black girls often found themselves unable to protect their bodies from the violence of white men. At the same time, Black girls were told to be pure, virtuous, and dignified as a way to gain respectability. Black girls’ constant negotiation was revealed in their girlhood. For example, they were not expected to show rebelliousness as an adolescent girl. Instead, they had to learn to be respectable, protect their puriness, and defend themselves against racial violence. Growing up in Jim Crow South, many black girls were motivated to fight for their rights to their own bodies and agency. 

Girls and White Slavery

Pre-World War I in Europe and North America

In the Victorian and Edwardian period, important keywords of girlhood were purity and self-sacrifice. Girlhood was frequently associated with the color white and flowers like lilies and snowdrops. However, the development of suffrage movements in the 20th century (check out our “young suffragettes” exhibition to learn more!) challenged traditional ideas of girls as innocent and angelic. 

Guardians of this “pure, innocent girlhood”, often together with anti-suffragists, insisted on illustrating girlhood as a period where young girls needed male’s protection. They alleged that girls were at the risk of falling prey of white slavers who would force them into prostitution, human trafficking, and sexual salvery. This public anxiety on girls’ safety spread in the UK, Europe, and North America. Girls were often told to be alert to the dangers of being kidnapped by white slavers. 

For feminists, this idea of white slavery deprived young women of their agency. Feminists’ anger over the sexual oppression behind white slavery stories and a desire to remedy it was one factor motivating women to obtain vote. The Western concept of girlhood in this period was thus full of contradictions and shaped different political interests and claims.  Scholars’ studies have shown that most of these stories about white slavery were rumors, but the image of girls as sexual victims endures even to the present day. 

“It” Girl

Early 20th Century

Since the 1980s, “It” girl has been perceived as an attractive girl who flaunts her sex allure and strongly associated with celebrity, fame, and beauty. The earlier definition of an “It” girl in the early 20 th century was different. “It” girl then referred to a girl who achieved popularity and fame, but without advertising her sexuality.

The first and original “It Girl” was one of the most successful and popular silent film stars, Clara Bow. With her big eyes and babyface, Clara quickly won the love of America. For the audience, what was more engaging than her physical beauty on the screen was her non-traditional personality. She was cheerful, breezy, confident and lively. Her hit changed the previous perception of girls and girlhood: the public became not only more accustomed to modern young women having active career development outside home, but also comfortable with the increased diversity of girls’ sexual expressions. Meanwhile, early debates on girls’ acquiring sexual knowledge were also going to start.

Flappers & Ms. Modern

Between the period of the First and Second World Wars, girlhood became a site where social debates on young women’s appearance, habits, and sexualities took place. “Miss Modern”, a girl who was determined to cast  aside conventional ideas of femininity, went on the stage.

While cutting hair was seen as incredibly offensive to the established values about girlhood and femininity in the Victorian and Edwardian era, Miss Modern enthusiastically took short hair into fashion trends. They also generously brought cheap cosmetics and giddy clothes back to their home. They consumed cigarettes, music, and alcohol. They went dancing, singing, also biking and camping. They were also called flappers. Their habits – especially seeking sexual pleasure – somehow fed the imagination of the public. In turn, they were portrayed as man-hungry girls with “easy virtue”.

Through the 1920s, girl workers also occupied a large amount of newspaper coverage when they entered into new professions such as aviators and engineers. Young women, by challenging the male-dominant hierarchy in both the job market and traditional girlhood image, started to jauntily rewrite the definition of girlhood and femininity by themselves. Birth control and contraception aides became more available during the two World Wars. Easier access to them benefited girls to make decisions on their own body. Miss Modern’s girlhood might be perceived as wild, rebel, or even dangerous by some, but she was also able to keep sensible and practical.

Good-Time Girls

In the mid-1930s, “good-time girls” came into the public sight. They were described as similar girls with the earlier Miss Modern. Both good-time girls and Miss Modern were fond of cheap cosmetics, perfume and fashionable clothes. They watched a lot of Hollywood movies and often dreamed about fame and luxury. 

If Miss Modern’s pursuit for economic and personality independence somehow earned them a reputation, good-time girls became almost like a folk devil in the eyes of the public, who criticized young women for their pleasure seeking and consumption. It was a period when liberal attitudes toward female sexuality suffered backlash. The portrayals of good-time girls, often frivolous and cunning girls preying on soldiers for favors, uneased the society so much that criticism of young girls’ sexuality increased and lasted. 

From the mid-1930s, the moral panic over good-time girls and girlhood in Europe and North America continued into the post-war period. Girls’ appearance, makeup, clothing, and sexualities were carefully vetted by the public again and again. However, girls also proved that the real situation could be very different from the public imagination that they were victims of “being loose or seduced”: some of them actively sought a chance to transition the romantic experience to livelihood; some genuinely relished the lifestyle of partying.

Patriotic Girls in Arab Nationalism

circa 1900-1950, Arab countries

At the beginning of the 20th century, Arab nationalism rose with the goals of eliminating the influence of the West in the Arab world. Because Arab nationalism identified women as the “bearers of the nation”, anti-colonial movements gradually became a platform that provided girls with a potential new way of publicly expressing themselves, even though this way was limited and not free.

In traditional Islamic societies, girls only took on a reproductive role as care-takers in a family. But anti-colonial movements recognized girls as home-front warriors. In other words, girlhood somewhat broke away from the traditional hideout from public gaze, and it gained increased meaning and social value with girls in anti-colonial movements. In Iraq, the youth movement al-Futuwwa saw girls as future patriotic mothers and caregivers. Using al-Futuwwa as a public platform, more and more girls participated in national, political discussion and made their voice heard. In Egypt, the political participation of women from all walks of life had affected the changes in Egypt’s political situation to a certain extent. By participating in demonstrations, strikes and even assassinations, Egyptian girls supported the Egyptian nationalist party, the Wafd Party, and the country’s independence movement.

As the society started to support their political role, Arab girls, too, shouldered national responsibility in this time period. After having achieved independence, Arab girls would step into the next period of their journey: fighting for their rights as citizens and developing the new Islamic feminism.

College Girls

20th century

As time goes, girls have gained increased access to education. Apprenticeship and home education become less and less popular options. Instead, public schools and colleges welcomed more and more girls. With new ideas on girls’ education, girlhood also became a distinctive, separate period between childhood and adulthood with increased social publicity.

One of education’s functions in separating childhood and adulthood was extending girlhood. Although girls would still be supervised by house wardens and academic supervisors, their time spent in school, especially in colleges, has significantly prolonged the girlhood before stepping into adulthood. For many girls, the abundant academic resources that colleges offered equipped them knowledge to prepare better before stepping into the adult world. For some, entering into colleges meant delayed marital age, which, in turn, implied more independent girlhood time on their own. For example, for Dutch Afrikaner South African girls in the early 20th century, being a “college girl” promised having a carefree time to get aways with “adult responsibilities” and go for glowing college adventures.

Beatlemania

1950s and 1960s

In the 1960s, mainstream voices in the English society hoped to protect the sexual purity of young people. They constantly advocated a happy life after marriage, implying that girls should shun away from sex before getting married. However, girls at this time were far different from Victorian girls. They grew up with easy access to public secondary education. A lot of them had jobs and were financially independent. As new girls, they were also consumers with strong spending power. They were eager to break free from the shackles of society on youth’s and women’s sexuality.

During this period, pop, rock and jazz music won countless girls’ love, together with many conservatives’ aversion. While girls sought pleasure and empowerment from modern music, the latter saw them allures of leading girls to go off the rails. The Beatles took this tension to a new stage: so many girls were obsessed with this band that many of them spent money and publicly confessed to them. This intense fan frenzy, which was also called beatlemania, was actually an unprecedented open expression of desire from female groups. When society contemptuously, or aggrievedly, called these beat girls as fangirls with no brains, did it ever cross their mind that beatlemania could be an outcry from the girls who challenged societal oppression on teenage girls’ sexuality?

Nütongzhi

1960s to 1990s, Taiwan

Nütongzhi (Chinese: 女同志) is a Taiwanese term referring to lesbians. Nütongzhi were generally divided into “T” and “P”. Interestingly, this categorization of T/P was started by Taiwanese gar bar owners. Before 1985 when the first lesbian bar in Taiwan opened, gay bars were the only place where Nütongzhi could hang out with their partner without being judged for their sexual orientations. 

“T” refers to those girls who came to gay bars with short hairs and tomboyish outfits. They often have classic masculine personality traits, such as assertive and competitive. “T”’s partner, who usually seem more feminine than T, is called P or Po (Chinese: 婆, meaning wife). Before 1990s when feminism and gay movement evolved in Taiwan, T and P played a very important role to define a girl in Nütongzhi community. Apart from T and P, some Nütongzhi prefer calling themselves Bu Fen (Chinese: 不分, meaning not applicable), to claim that they identify themselves as neither T nor P. Bu Fen rejected to label themselves and fall into the traps of gender stereotypes. 

With the widespread spread of the Internet and the increasing appearance of other identity names such as transgender and bisexuality, the self-recognition of the younger generation of lesbians has become increasingly diverse. This means that they will experience more and more complex progress when establishing self-identity. Growing up, they constantly try to learn, conform to, or even deviate from diverse identity categories such as T, P, Bu Fen, Nütongzhi, etc.

How far is too far for feminism to go? When Miss Modern and flappers came on stage in the 1920s and 30s, moral panic surfaced with a blizzard of criticism that girls had gone too far. So did it happen when girls broke down more and more gender stereotypes in the 1970s. So did it happen again when girl power rose up and ladettes dominated newspaper headlines in the 1990s. 

Who were ladettes? They had many labels: noisy, confident, boyish. They drank too much. They took their clothes off without scruple. They enjoyed traditionally masculine sports. In a word, they were the girl version of “traditional” men who boozed, boasted, and sometimes behaved vulgarly. The conservatives criticized them that they strayed too far no matter from the traditional ideal of woman or from a new, independent woman. 

But has feminism, or ladettes, gone too far? Ladettes only demonstrated the flipped-over version of the old, binary gender norms where active boys lead, quiet girls follow. When girls behave completely like a lad, this became a whole new story about girlhood. Girls were making their own decisions, taking up space that was traditionally solely preserved for men, and demanding more and more true equality.

Early 2000s

Tween is a blend of between and teen , but exclusively refers to teenage girls. The age range of tween is blurry, with the common reference to 8-13 years. As an age category, tween emphasizes on the time period between a girl’s childhood and puberty. She is too old for toys and games, but too young for boys and sex. 

It’s rather easy to detect that tweenhood becomes a new idealized period of girlhood: tweens are described as (mostly) white, beautiful, and innocent. They should not be sexualized and commodified. This idealization seems like a social projection of the idea that young girls are fragile and constantly need protection. On the other hand, tweens are also a specific group of girls that corporates and consumerism often market at. Clothes, magazines, dolls often brand themselves as tween’s perfect choice to catch up with fashion trends. Such marketing reflects that tweens, as young girls, constitute consumers with spending power who make their own purchase choices. Having such a contradictory status, tween girls continue to navigate their identity under the influence of social ethos, feminism, and consumer culture.

Migrant Girls

20th and 21st century

With the advent of modern society and technological progress, migration, whether it happens voluntarily or involuntarily, has become more possible and more frequent than ever. Consequently, the group of migrated girls are growing and receiving increased attention. However, it’s impossible to generalize their experience: race, class, even familial control, so many factors can profoundly shape a migrated girl’s girlhood. If anything, the keyword of their experience might be identity negotiation. 

Many migrated girls found that the migration was such a radical change to their life that their original identity became incompatible with the new environment after moving. In order to “fit in”, or at least get used to the new life, negotiating between the old and new identities became a common theme of their girlhood. Some migrated girls negotiated “street” and “decent” cultures in a dynamic, vibrant setting. Some tried to understand the difference between a new culture and their own. For example, immigrant girls and refugee girls in Western countries are often educated based on ideas of ideal Wesetern girlhood. Representations of girlhood of their culture, or simply representation of a migrated girlhood, are not abundant.

Harajuku Girls in “Cool Japan”

2002 to Present

Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched their concept of “Cool Japan” in 2002, aiming to brand and export Japanese soft cultural superpower. The Cool Japan project focused specifically on youth culture where girl culture was an integral part. Typical girls in Cool Japan flyers and campaigns are easy to recognize: school girls, girls with kimono, etc. These images overlap a lot with popular girl characters in otaku culture. They conformed to conventional femininity norms with acceptive girl sexiness. 

“Harajuku style” is one of the most well-known styles that became an epitome of “Cool Japan”. Girls in Harajuku style mix traditional Japanese clothing with Western attire to create a unique, dazzling, colorful outfit. With traditional Japanese clothes, girls seem to conform to and maintain a traditional image of girlhood. But by mixing totally different styles of clothing, Harajuku style girls signal that their contempt for mainstream fashion – they dress whatever they wish and declare their self-expression and enjoy girl culture without being judged.

Indigenous Girls in the West

21st Century

Colonial practices have affected Indigneous girls for centuries–and continue to influence  their lives today. In residential schools,  white settlers tried to impose white, European, and Christian gender roles on Indigenous communities. They also imposed binary notions, such as white/others and “civilized” and /”primitive” on Indigenous society. 

Today their lives are shaped by things, such as treaty rights, colonial gender policies, and cultural and territorial decolonization. For example, in Canada, Indigenous girls suffered long-term discriminatory treatments, including the Indian Act and residential schools, and these issues are finally receiving some attention. However, compared with settler girls who frequently appear in the public eye, Indigenous girls and their experiences are not often discussed. In face of systemic racialized colonialism, Indigenous girls were constantly seen as “others” who are excluded from the Western notions of girlhood girlhood. Nowadays, Indigenous girls also have to fight against romanticization or representations that portray them as drunk, passive, or foreign. After centuries of colonization, oppression, and forced assimilation, many Indigenous girls struggle to reconnect with values and cultural practices of Indigenous communities. Their rejection of being victimized or misrepresented shapes Indigenous girlhood today.

Gender: Social Construct, Dyke March in Dolores Park. Photo by Steve Rhodes via Flickr.

“girl” as a social construct.

Who decides what a “girl” is? Generally speaking, society. But society’s definitions have varied, as we’ve already seen. So why do definitions change over time?

The social construction of gender theory is a way to research and frame these definitions. The theory emerges from social constructivism, a school of thought which proposes that everything people “know” or see as “reality” is partially, if not entirely, socially situated. This means that our definitions are based on the beliefs and reactions of those around us – people in our society. 

According to Lumen Learning , “A social constructionist view of gender looks beyond categories and examines the intersections of multiple identities and the blurring of the boundaries between essentialist categories. This is especially true with regards to categories of male and female, which are viewed typically as binary and opposite. Social constructionism seeks to blur the binary and muddle these two categories, which are so frequently presumed to be essential.”

Exploring this, we interviewed girl studies scholars about how they define and study girlhood. Click the toggles below to reveal their answers.

How would you define ‘girlhood’? Do you have any anecdotes which you believe summarize girlhood?

Linda Arnell: The word or category of ‘girl’ has various meanings, but is often related to a child of a specific gender and age, and most commonly as a term defining adolescent females. However, I also understand it as a social (western) construction, and the way in which the term girl is given meaning is also intertwined with notions of ability, ethnicity, sexuality, and class, etc. When conducting research, my perspective on the category of girl includes everyone who identifies as such, regardless of the sex assigned at birth, even though I often include an age limit related to ideas of childhood, adolescence, youth, or what it means to be a child or to be young.   The word or category of ‘girl’ has various meanings, but is often related to a child of a specific gender and age, and most commonly as a term defining adolescent females. However, I also understand it as a social (western) construction, and the way in which the term girl is given meaning is also intertwined with notions of ability, ethnicity, sexuality, and class, etc. When conducting research, my perspective on the category of girl includes everyone who identifies as such, regardless of the sex assigned at birth, even though I often include an age limit related to ideas of childhood, adolescence, youth, or what it means to be a child or to be young.

Anastasia Todd: In my work on disabled girlhood, I mostly define girlhood in terms of what it is not. Girlhood is not a “common-sense” ahistorical, static, biological “life-stage.” But rather, it is a shifting category of analysis that is constituted through and by systems and relations of power. Another way I like to think of girlhood (as I do disability) is as an assemblage, not just as an attribute of a body. Notwithstanding the academic definition, I think girlhood means many different things to many different girls. Reflecting on my own girlhood, which was very privileged in many ways, I mostly think back to feelings of anxiety, joy, discovery, desire, belonging, and exclusion. My newest streaming television obsession has been the show PEN15, which I believe does an excellent job capturing and relaying some of my own affective experiences of girlhood, as a millennial growing up in the United States.

Anghara N. Valdivia: This is a huge question. So much history and theory. At its core “girlhood” is a privilege, as very few people in the world have the luxury of living through a “girlhood.” It is a gendered category that is also age specific—somewhere after infancy through the end of adolescence. Clearly patriarchal cultures use the term “girl” to refer to a wide range of ages—sometimes even middle age or elderly women. Ideally, girlhood encompasses solidarity, mutuality, creativity, and learning to have agency in the world as a gendered, aged, racialized and classed subject. There are multiple and competing girlhoods.

Ann Smith: For me girlhood is the state of being a girl, cisgender, self-identified, trans non/binary, lesbian, queer etc.  Typically, girls are aged 18 and under.

Sneha Krishnan: Girlhood is fluid – while sociologists might define it as a time ‘before’ adulthood, ‘girl’ subjectivities have been used by women and children in various ways to play with time. Between 2012 and 2013 I did ethnographic research at a hostel – boarding house – for girls in Southern India. The young woman who lived in this hostel were all university students, roughly between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two. In legal terms they were ‘adults’. But they all called themselves ‘girls’. As I learned, being ‘girls’ allowed them to keep one foot in a child world of playfulness and fantasy: the things they did in their ‘girlhood’ didn’t really count, I was told. Nothing was serious. So ‘girlhood’ was a way of inhabiting what Saidiya Hartman has called ‘waywardness’ – openness to radical possibilities beyond the narrow horizons dictated by social circumstance.

Jennifer Helgren:   I think it is important to separate girl and girlhood, child and childhood, boy and boyhood. Girl refers to actual girl children whereas girlhood refers to the constellation of ideas that describe the expectations, norms, and attributes associated with female children in a given society. We must recognize as a girl any child who identifies as a girl even when their family and community do not accord them this recognition.  My own research has focused heavily on girls’ organizations. I see these mainstream, popular, and, in many ways, prescriptive organizations as crucial to forming modern concepts of girlhood. Their leaders develop programs that speak to the culture’s beliefs about what girls are like. Girls responded with varying degrees of receptivity, which, in turn, shaped the trajectory of the organizations.

Louise Jackson: I define ‘girlhood’ as a shared identity, culture and sense of community that is created by girls themselves – although of course it has also been created for them by others (including by adults). As a historian (of gender, youth and childhood) I love reading The Girl’s Own Paper – published in the UK from 1880 right through to 1956 – and looking for girls’ own voices. Its readers were encouraged to send in essays, letters and other contributions on topics that mattered to them. In 1882 Bertha Mary Jenkinson, aged 14 year and 7 months, was so concerned about a previous article, which described higher education as wasted on girls, that she wrote a spirited letter to the editor. She argued: ‘a woman’s education must go on all her life exactly the same as a man’s .… Unless a woman is educated she certainly cannot be his equal or companion’. Equal access to education for girls remains crucial in the world today.

Marnina Gonick: My definition of girlhood would be to resist any singular definition. Definitions can be  dangerous, because to define is to create borders around an idea. As a result, there are always exclusions. I think girlhood should be seen as an expansive category with porous boundaries. Instead of defining girlhood as a biological or temporal feature, I think it is necessary to understand it as a cultural and social phenomenon that is constantly in flux. We need to use an intersectional analysis, that is one that takes into account how gender and age intersect with other social markers such as race, class, nationality, ability, sexuality etc. Girlhood is an “idea” that has material effects on how childhood is understood and lived, how gender is created and experienced and how identities are fashioned. Each of these (childhood, gender and identity) are a relationship to the “idea” of girl, which is never fully achievable.

Mary Celeste Kearney:   I define “girlhood” in several ways: 1) as the subjective experiences of those who identify as “girls”; 2) as the period in life one identifies as “girl”; and 3) as the discursive construct used by social institutions and individuals to categorize those deemed young and female/feminine, which is commonly performed and reconstructed by those who identify as “girl.”  I tend to define “girl” via demographic categories and based on the combination of gender, age, and status of financial dependency—so, those people who identify as female/feminine and young who are still financially dependent on their parents or guardians.  Typically, this means female/feminine youth between the ages of 0-18, whether cisgender or trans. That said, historically “girl” has also been used to refer to young women older than 18, and it still is.  Indeed, the term “girl” is often used among women of all ages when they are in women-only groups, as well as by many gay and bisexual men in relation to the feminine members of their groups. The fluid use of “girl” across these various social groups points to lack of one essential meaning as well as its relationship to the social construction of identity.  As I wrote in my 2009 article, “Coalescing,” which focuses on the development of girlhood studies as an academic field: “[T]here are many ways to be a girl, and these forms depend on not only the material bodies performing girlhood, but also the specific social and historical contexts in which those bodies are located” (19).

How do you think globalization has affected how we define girlhood?

Linda Arnell: Firstly, I think that girls around the world, with the help of technology and the internet, have had the opportunity to share their experiences, opinions, and life situations with others in other parts of the world. We can also see how girls’ voices and activism have had a global impact in ways that have not been possible before, but, at the same time, girls are also affected by the negative consequences of globalization in various ways. Furthermore, I think that the effects of globalization have influenced girlhood scholars to broaden their perspectives and to look beyond their own context and understandings of girlhood. I hope that globalization, in this sense, will contribute with dialogues and knowledge that transgress national borders.

Anastasia Todd: Being attuned to globalization helps to decenter white, Western girlhood as the universal frame for studying “girlhood.” An engagement with transnational feminism allows us to think more thoroughly about how neoliberal capitalism has structured the realities of girls across the world in different and similar ways.

Angharad N. Valdivia: This is a weird question. Clearly the study of girlhood has to be specific. We cannot generalize from the US/Anglo situation to the rest of the world. Hopefully all girlhood scholars acknowledge this. Contemporarily there are such visible girls on the world arena—Malala, Greta, etc.—that we need to understand how it is that their visibility is being constructed. We also need to acknowledge that certain girls are rendered more visible than others. For example, many indigenous girls have been speaking for years about environmental degradation, yet Greta captures the global imagination. Issues of class, race and nation are important. “Globalization” means different things to different people. If we define it as the contemporary flow of people, culture, and goods across nations, we have to acknowledge uneven power distributions, enduring colonial vestiges, etc.

Ann Smith: It has broadened our understanding of what constitutes girlhood in different countries and cultures.

Sneha Krishnan: I think it would be a mistake to see the present moment of globalisation as exceptional. As above, I think the ways in which it defines girlhood (as racialised, as vulnerable, and within other geopolitical stories about modernity, civilisation and rescue) all have a much deeper history in the story of imperialism. So I think historic globalisation – in this I’m referring to imperialism that began in the late 15th century – has profoundly shaped and indeed created the conditions under which ‘girlhood’ as a category makes sense.

Jennifer Helgren: Globalization has brought increased attention and resources to girls’ education and to microeconomic projects for young women around the world. We see that, for example, in the Girl Effect—an independent nonprofit launched in September 2015 by Nike Foundation, in collaboration with the NoVo Foundation, United Nations Foundation, and others. Its goal is to end poverty globally by funding girls’ education, health, and other opportunities. It is based on a belief that girls’ successes lift their countries out of poverty. The unstated reverse, however, puts an incredible burden on girls–girls who have sex or marry early mires their countries in ongoing distress and hardship. So new attention is going to girlhood but some of our normative framings of girls as either ideal citizens and saviors or as delinquents who undermine through their sexual choices remain stuck in place.

Louise Jackson: It’s crucial to think in a global (as well as longitudinal) context and to recognise that what it means to be a girl is both geographically and historically specific. Access to rights has been structured through ideas about age as well as gender, and the age at which one is deemed to be a girl or woman depends on the contours of where and when. There is no universal experience of ‘girlhood’ given that race, ethnicity, and access to resources profoundly shape life-chances and the sharing of identity.

Marnina Gonick: I think there are two contradictory movements involved in the relationship between globalization and girlhood. On the one hand, globalization has allowed us to see how the concept of girlhood varies in different social and geographic locations. This gives weight to the idea of girlhood as something that is socially constructed in alignment with economic, cultural and regional factors. On the other hand, globalization has also brought a homogenizing factor to notions of girlhood.  With the circulation of American popular culture, through TV, movies and music there is an increasingly narrowing of discourses around girlhood which puts limitations on how the concept is understood and lived.

Mary Celeste Kearney:  Great question and one all girls’ studies scholars should think more about. I know I do!  The concept of girlhood has long been tied to capitalism, as girls are understood as a lucrative consumer market. Originally that was because girls grow into women, and the assumption was that all women become mothers who make purchases on behalf of their own families. So if advertisers and manufacturers could solidify girls’ brand loyalties early on, those companies would have assured consumers for life. Yet since the mid 1930s, in the United States at least, there’s been a recognition that girls want to consume products made just for them and their needs, and so the girl consumer market was born. This has happened at different times in different countries, but the United States has been a major player in globalization as a result of its power in the world and capitalist values, as well as its production and distribution of media.  Globalization has led to a more universal sense of girlhood, although it is one that has been based on the most privileged girls in the U.S. and other Western societies. (Check out the history of the Barbie doll made for different countries.) It remains to be seen how much other countries can resist the West’s—and more specifically, the United States’—definition of girlhood by producing their own girl-centered media and other forms of culture.  Japan comes to mind as a nation with a very strong girl culture that has impacted not only other Asian countries, but also those in the West (think of Hello Kitty, manga, anime, etc.).

Would you describe girlhood as a construct (social or other)? Please explain.

Linda Arnell: Yes, one way to understand girlhood is to approach it as a social and/or cultural construction, intertwined with notions, not only of gender and age, but also aspects like ability, ethnicity, sexuality, and class, etc. But for me it is also important to understand girlhood as a lived experience, thus affecting the lives of girls every day.

Anastasia Todd: I think that girlhood is both a construct as well as a material-affective reality. Girlhood has meant many different things in many different historical, political, social, and geographic contexts. This doesn’t mean that girlhood is not “real” per se, it just means that the way we conceptualize girlhood changes. By thinking about how girlhood is constructed, it calls attention to the fact that there is not just one universal experience of girlhood. It is important that we think intersectionally and transnationally about girlhood. Not all girls are figured as innocent or in need of protection, for example. Certain girls, by virtue of their race, class, ability, citizenship, etc. experience the world in vastly different ways than the white, Western girl that populates many of our imaginaries as “the Girl.”

Angharad N. Valdivia: Of course it’s a social construction—as is gender and this is gendered category. Nonetheless it bears actual political consequences, resource allocations, and explanatory power.

Ann Smith: In some contexts girlhood is a socially controlling construct. For example, in some cultures girlhood ends only with marriage regardless of the age of the girl or woman concerned. Thinking of an adult woman as a girl leads to treating her as a child.

Sneha Krishnan:   Yes – girlhood is a historical and social construct. Like other categories of gendered subjectivity, it is performative: in that it is produced by the repeated ‘doing’ of girlhood in the clothes girls wear, in how they hold their bodies, and how they talk, and walk and what they do with their time. All societies didn’t always have a concept of ‘girlhood’ or if they did, its meanings have varied very widely over time. For instance, in the early 20th century, the legal age of consent for married women in most parts of the world was somewhere in their mid-teens at the latest. This would be considered very young these days. Similarly, for instance, black and white girls were not attributed with the same attributes of innocence and fragility in the US in the late 19th century.  Black girls were widely seen as lacking the capacity to feel – as insensate – and hence incapable of reform and self-development. On the contrary, white girls were seen as pure and innocent: figures at the heart of national culture and the fantasy of the American family.

Jennifer Helgren: Girlhood is both a biological phenomenon and a social construct. As a historian, I see girlhood taking on different meanings at different periods. That is what a social construct does. Moreover, girlhood among different ethnic, racial, and class groups has had different associations and meanings. Therefore, girlhood is a social construct that intersects with various other identities.

Louise Jackson: Yes. ‘Girlhood’ – what it means to be a girl – is shaped through culture.

Marnina Gonick: Yes, as my answers above indicate – I think girlhood is a construct with real material effects. This idea comes from a broader field of study of the theoretical body of work that suggests that all identities are created within social contexts that shape the meanings of these identities.

Mary Celeste Kearney: Yes, that’s what I was getting to in my definitions of “girl” and “girlhood” in the prior question.

To what extent is the definition of girlhood constructed through inclusivity and plurality?

Linda Arnell:  To achieve plurality and inclusivity when defining girlhood, today’s notions of the category ‘girl’ need to be discussed, and may be also reconstructed and broadened in various ways. I hope that girlhood scholars will take the opportunity to be part of this, to advocate for greater inclusion, and discuss and question notions of, for example, femininity and age that constrain and limit people from living their lives on equal terms. I also hope for this change not only to be one of definition, but also one of social change, questioning the social, political, and power structures.

Lillemor, one of the girls participating in my research on girls’ violence, gives one example of how social norms, and notions of gender, affect the lives of girls:

Lillemor: I think it’s really sad, not because it should be okay for girls to fight, because it’s not okay to fight, but it’s stupid that it’s seen as something special, as if it’s not special if guys fight, because it’s like girls have to behave in a certain way, but guys can behave any way they want. Linda: And what’s in a certain way then? Lillemor: We shouldn’t fight, and we shouldn’t be loud, and we shouldn’t sleep around, and we shouldn’t do anything like that. Linda: How are you supposed to behave then? Lillemor: Yeah, we have to be nice and perform in school and we can’t fight. I don’t know, we should just be like this stereotypical girl, we’re not supposed to be seen or heard, and we’re not supposed to be violent, but nor should boys.

Anastasia Todd: I think for many people, girlhood is imagined in a very rigid and “common-sense” way. I would say scholars of girlhood are trying to push folks to reconsider girlhood as something that does not just signify “women in training” or is conceptualized strictly in terms of age (under 18). For many of us who do work on marginalized girlhoods, I think we attempt to conceptualize girlhood in an increasingly capacious way. In my own work, I try to attend to the materiality of the body as well as recognize how interlocking systems of oppression structure girls’ lives in asymmetrical ways.

Angharad N. Valdivia: It all depends. There is no one definition. Undoubtedly, like so many other constructs, and as is Liberal Feminism, the bulk of attention has been on white, middle class, cis-gendered girls from the Global North. However there is also great productivity in inclusive research.

Sneha Krishnan: ‘Girlhood’ has historically been a troubled category. And it has been a category riven with histories of race and class exclusion. But ‘girlhood’ has also been claimed by those on the margins of this category as a site from which to inhabit a radical politics of gender.

Jennifer Helgren: One of the expectations of mainstream educators in the twentieth-century United States was that the ideal girl citizen was tolerant and accepted inclusivity. The youth organizations that I study all offered up some version of this model, especially after World War II. Still, the clubs were set up through neighborhoods, schools, and churches, all of which were by custom or law segregated. Girls’ leaders sought to avoid controversy and played down their own political role by accepting local policies regarding segregation. This meant that they accepted the formation of groups, in most regions of the U.S., along segregated lines. At the same time, girls’ organizations regularly used a universalizing language to describe girlhood that obscured the realities of how white supremacy structured daily lives.

Louise Jackson:  As a normative goal or intervention in the world today, then yes – but we have to work hard to ensure this is always the case.  If you’re referring to ‘girlhood’ as a term that has been used to describe groups in the past (and thus as a label placed on girls by others), then we need to be attentive to the power dynamics at play. For example, preconceived assumptions about class and sexual status in nineteenth-century Britain were used to deny some girls the protection accorded to others.

Marnina Gonick: I think it depends on the context.  In some contexts there has been a lot of progress in expanding representations of girlhood.  While in others, the dominant version of white, middle class, heterosexual, cis gendered girlhood is still firmly implanted. I also see that progress is not linear. Where there are advancements there are also retreats. This is an issue that requires on-going work and effort.

Mary Celeste Kearney: That depends on who’s defining girlhood! Many white people, girls’ studies scholars, included have been remiss on not paying attention to the many categories of identity that intersect with gender with regard to both girls and girlhood. And girlhood studies has been dominated by white scholars for a long time, so we have not been as attentive to diversity, plurality, and inclusivity as we should have been.  Fortunately, more research by indigenous scholars, scholars of color, queer scholars, and disabled scholars is bringing light to the many different ways girlhood is constructed in relation to the various categories of identity that intersect with gender and age. And that work has challenged white scholars to engage in those issues as well.

Lolita dresses at New York Fashion Week 2016. Image via Vogue magazine.

Case study: lolita fashion.

Lolita fashion originated in 1970s Japan, influenced by the clothing of the late-Victorian period and having heavy elements of Rococo, Baroque, and Gothic styles. Some of the common elements consist of lace, bows, embroidery, corsets, and underskirts. Fantasy or “otherworldly” literature such as Alice in Wonderland also play a huge role in Lolita fashion. While many of its detractors say that Lolita has a direct link with the controversial 1950s novel of the same name (which details a young girl and older man’s relationship), the name itself does not have a direct link to the book and many modern Japanese are not familiar with it at all. Indeed, while Lolita subculture does emphasize kawaii  femininity and acting like a playful child, it is a genre rooted in the growing economy of Japanese society and many Japanese women participate in the subculture as more of a fashion statement.  Lolita dresses can be divided into three categories: sweet, gothic, and classic. A lot of the dresses express the aesthetic of femininity, cuteness, and refinement. Lolita culture became more widespread in Japan in the 1990s, becoming a worldwide phenomenon by the 2000s. It spread to neighboring countries like China and South Korea around 2000. In 2016, model and president of the Japan Lolita Association, Misako Aoki, appeared on stage presenting a Lolita dress during the New York Fashion Week. Increasingly, due to the internet and social media presence, Lolita “tea parties” and “dress rehearsals” are being held worldwide and attract a cult following. While Lolita dresses can be a type of “girl” expression, it is not the only reason why many Lolita enthusiasts wear them. Both men and women nowadays are using Lolita fashion to express themselves and enjoy the feeling the dresses bring to them.

Decora and Gothic Lolita Fashion

In this episode of Girlspeak , Dr. Megan C. Rose talks with guests Kurebayashi and Rei about decora and gothic Lolita fashion in Harajuku. From discussing the rise of these fashions as distinct Japanese social phenomena to building a cafe that appeals to decora and gothic Lolita audiences, our guests provide unique insights into these subcultures and how girls participate within them.

About Our Guests

  Dr. Megan C. Rose   is an Adjunct Associate Lectuerer in Sociology and Social Science and Policy at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Her research explores the value of creativity, cute theory, critical femininities and inclusion. She is currently investigating the experiences of kawaii and gothic alternative communities in Japan, as well as marginalised groups in the Australian Higher Education system. Megan is currently developing a new portfolio of postdoctoral research that involves collaboration and co-authorship with stakeholders in kawaii and gothic alternative communities, as well as a study of feminist activism that uses kawaii imagery to mobilize political actors.

Haruka Kurebayashi is an internationally known model and mentor for Decora-chan girls via her   blog ,   Instagram ,   Twitter , and   YouTube . Originally from Shizuoka prefecture, Kurebayashi launched her brand 90884 in 2013 and is a frequent model for fashion magazine KERA .

Rei Saionji   is a Tokyo native and explorer of Japanese culture and tradition. She is the author of 2 Hours Drive from Tokyo .

Case Study: Chinese Girl Groups

The Chinese music industry in the 2000s saw an increase of girl groups. One of the most prominent groups of the genre, S.H.E, formed in 2001 in Taiwan. They quickly gained popularity with the release of their first album, Girl’s Dorm.  In the next decade, they became an iconic girl group with a huge fanbase in Taiwan and mainland China. S.H.E consists of three singers: Selina Jen, Hebe Tian, and Ella Chen. Their personalities are distinct and many audiences find their mannerisms very natural. Their songs talk about different experiences and emotions that girls will face in their lifetime, as such the majority of their fans are girls because their songs are so relatable. A lot of their songs, such as “Are You Alright,” “Magical Journey,” and “Keep Smiling” talk about the friendships between females. Others, such as “Shero” and “A Girl Striving to be Independent” encourage girls to be strong and independent. Due to S.H.E.’s influence, many other girl groups formed around this time. For example, Twins is a Hong Kongese girl group created in 2001 consisting of Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi. Because many of their notable songs deal with school life, they became the representative for all female students dealing with certain issues.

S.H.E. is a Taiwan group formed by three girls with their first debuted album “Girls Dorm” 女生宿舍 in September 2001

Gender today.

For this exhibit, we chose a broad definition of “girl” that attempts to include both modern and historical definitions of childhood: “self-identifying females under the age of 21.” It is the same definition that Tiffany uses in her edited volume, A Girl Can Do: Recognizing and Representing Girlhood (Vernon Press, 2022) . Open the toggle below for her explanation.

Our Definition, Explained

First, the girl must self-identify as female – embracing historical and modern girls whose sex may not be naturally female. This opens doors to viewing “girl” as a self-defined category, in part influenced by cultures in which “girl” is applied to adult females who embrace the term as their own as well as emerging realizations of gender fluidity and multiplicity. […]

Complicating this gendered experience is our second factor: age. For this volume, I define girlhood as the period of life from birth to age 21, in order to prioritize the early life experiences of girl culture. This is a chronological category…. The use of chronological age is a modern phenomenon, emerging in seventeenth century Europe to define who bore political rights and who did not. […] Prior to the imposition of chronological age, the category was measured in milestones defined by cultural – not political – tradition. Such milestones are also flexible. […] The imposition of Western age norms has disrupted these cultural systems, imposing a chronological age system that seeks to show maturity – and imposes power imbalances by dictating that some people (women, people of color, colonized peoples) never mature. […]

For girls, their gender and youth combine into double discrimination (termed gendered ageism ) that is then compounded by other demographic categories into an intersectional system of oppression.

For this exhibit, we chose to look beyond academia and out into the real world. What do girls living the experience of girlhood today feel about their social category? What does being a girl mean in the 21st century? What makes girlhood unique, special, and memorable?

Special thanks to Genisus Holland and the Girls for A Change participants who took our survey and whose answers are featured below.

What does being a “girl” mean to you?

What is your favorite thing about being a “girl”?

What is something about being a “girl” that you wish more people knew about?

How would you say society views girlhood in your country?

Can you think of and describe a defining moment of your girlhood? Perhaps a time when you felt a strong connection to being a “girl” or when you felt distanced from the way society expects “girls” to be.

Exploring Girlhood as Curators

In this episode of GirlSpeak, Girl Museum’s curatorial and education interns Asha and Yuwen talk about their experiences in preparing for this exhibition and how they came to view “girls” and “girlhood” through their work with us.

This exhibition was curated by Yuwen Zhang, Asha Hall-Jones, and Tiffany R. Isselhardt with assistance from Josie Evans and Dr. Elizabeth Dillenburg. Graphic design by Janey Robideau. Special thanks to our contributors, who provided key insights on girlhood and its meanings.

Recommended Reading

The titles below are recommended by our curatorial team for their exemplary explorations of gender and girlhood. Click the picture to be taken to Bookshop.org, where you can buy the book while supporting indie bookstores and Girl Museum.

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Value of girl child, change for progress in south asia.

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.

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Substantial Rise in Acute Respiratory Infection

The number of ARI cases has increased by 16% compared to the same period last year, with children under the age of five making up 62%.

Celebrating Radio Excellence for Child Rights

Refrigerated trucks for vaccines handed over.

The trucks, which can carry four million vaccine doses each, will support the government’s efforts to strengthen its immunisation programme.

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.

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.

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Essay on Girl Education

Education is the backbone of development. Whether we talk about a nation’s development or personal development, everything is possible with education. It helps us to live a peaceful and prosperous life. Education is a basic need and one of the fundamental rights. Many people restrict girls from attaining education but this is a wrong practice. Education is equally important for every citizen of the country. Due to several reasons “Girl’s Education” is always a topic of concern for the nation.

Short and Long Girl Child Education Essay in English

Here, I’m providing short and long essays on Girl’s Education which will be helpful for students in all the classes. This essay will bring your attention to the importance of girls’ education in society.

Girl Child Education Essay 10 Lines (100 – 150 Words)

1) Girl education is necessary for balancing society and nation.

2) Education help girls to become self-independent.

3) Education helps to fight social issues like dowry, child marriage, etc.

4) An educated woman knows what is good and bad for her.

5) It helps to make good decisions and hence improves their quality of life.

6) Earlier people have a conservative mindset that doesn’t allow girls to go to school.

7) Poverty, security concerns, social issues, etc restrict girls from getting an education.

8) Many organization is helping to promote girls’ education.

9) The condition of girls’ education in India is now improving.

10) Educating a girl not only improves her life but also enhances the life of every person associated with her.

Short Essay on Girl’s Education (200 – 250 Words)

The root of every success and every achievement is education. A country can be developed only when its citizens are educated. Women contribute a majority of the population in every country. Hence, educating a girl is directly linked to the progress of the country. Educating a girl gives her the power to lead a peaceful life. It gives her confidence and strength to make better decisions. Education helps women to take proper care of their children.

Many reasons restrict girls from gaining an education. In rural areas, the percentage of educated women is comparatively low than the urban areas. The major reason is the absence of nearby schools. Girls have to walk several kilometers away from home to reach school. This raises the security concern for their parents. Poverty is another barrier in the path of girls’ education. Many people still think that girls are meant to remain in the house and do household chores. However, the figure for girls’ education is now changing.

In past, several reformers fought for the rights of women and their education. The government has also initiated several programs to improve the condition of girls’ education. As the result, the statistics show the improvement in girls’ education in India. In India, the literacy rate in the rural area is 73.5% while in urban it is 87.7%, according to the 2022 census. Women of India like Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi, Saina Nehwal, etc are making India proud.

Long Essay on Girl Education (500 – 600 Words)

Introduction

Educating a girl does not only contribute to the development of the country but also helps in developing an independent mindset among girls. The understanding of good and bad comes from education. It helps a girl in personal development; they can do their job better when educated. Society must understand the importance and need of educating girls.

Girl’s education challenges

Several hurdles restrict girls from getting an education. These barriers mostly arise in rural areas. The main barrier is people’s conservative mentality. They think that boys should study as they have to earn money in the future while girls should perform cooking and other household activities.

Another significant reason is poverty. Due to poverty, many families are unable to afford to educate their children. However, if they ever get a chance, they always prioritize boys over girls. The other reason is that of security. The increasing case of girls’ harassment and improper security assurance makes it risky to send them to school. The stereotype and social pressure restrict many families to educate their girls. Sometimes, religious cultures and beliefs also restrict girls’ education in society.

Importance of Girls’ education

Women are an equal contributor to the country; their illiteracy rate will highly affect the development of the nation. An educated woman is capable of supporting her family in bad times.

A girl can be a daughter, a wife, and a mother. Through education, a daughter can help her poor father in income, as a wife she can support her husband in every situation, and as a mother she will be capable to properly guide her children and teach them good etiquette.

It is well said that educating a boy means educating one person but educating a girl means educating the whole society. Education is necessary for all human beings irrespective of their caste, gender, or religion.

Girl’s education in India

India is a developing country that is doing well in several fields. But when we talk about literacy rates of women, India remains at the back. In India, girls are considered goddesses but they are not allowed to gain an education. However, this scenario is changing with time. Earlier, girls were confined between the walls of houses but now they are flying high in the sky. The changing mindset of people is now allowing girls to go to schools and attain education in India.

According to reports, in 2019 the share of women enrolled in courses was only 26 percent. However, this share increased to 36 percent in 2021. According to the 2022 census of India, the overall literacy rate is 77.7%. The male literacy rate is 84.7% whereas it is only 70.3% for women. In India, the state with the highest female literacy rate in Kerala while the lowest female literacy rate is seen in Bihar. Soon it is expected that the gap between male and female education will be filled in India.

The modern mindset supports girl education, unlike the traditional mentality. Earlier people think that girls are a burden; they are born only to perform household activities. They were not even allowed to go outside the door. But with time, when girls get a chance to show their capabilities, they proved that they are not less than boys in any field. This made many people think about the necessity of educating girls. Today, girls are making their parents proud by turning their dreams into reality. They showed that small support and opportunity can change the life of a girl and her family.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions on Girl’s Education

Ans. Thomas Babington Macaulay is famous as the father of Indian Education.

Ans. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana, CBSE Udaan Scheme, etc are some schemes initiated for girls’ education in India.

Ans. Many people fought for girls’ education like Savitri Bai Phule, Jyotirao Phule, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, etc.

Ans. On 11 November, India celebrates National Education Day on account of the birthday of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Ans. The man behind the inventor of exams was Henry Fischel.

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Essay on National Girl Child Day: 200 and 300 Words Samples

• Updated on  
• Jan 24, 2024

Essay on National Girl Child Day : The 24th of January is annually observed as National Girl Child Day in India. The Ministry of Women and Child Development of India initiated the National Girl Child Day on 24th January 2008. The objective of celebrating this day is to raise awareness about gender inequalities faced by girls in Indian society. With this objective, more and more girl children are provided with necessities like elementary school, a nutritious diet, and other necessities, all sponsored by the government of India. 

The Government of India will offer 5 scholarships to girl students to celebrate National Girl Child Day . These scholarships are the AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls, the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship, the Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child, the CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme, and the Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B). Since this is a social development topic, school students are often asked to write an essay on National Girl Child Day. We will provide you with some sample essays on this topic.

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

Essay on National Girl Child Day in 200 Words

National Girl Child Day is a Government of India initiative to promote education and necessities for young girls in India. This program functions under the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India. This year, the government will offer five scholarships to female students, which will cover their academic expenses and other educational fees. Various private organizations are also offering scholarships on this National Girl Child Day to reduce gender disparity and promote education among girls. 

India is a land of diversity and every culture has their values. To promote all the cultural values, the government of India wants female students to take center stage and promote their cultural identities to the entire nation and the world. However, a lot of female students come from backward areas and lack the financial resources required to cover their academic expenses. The government will provide five different types of scholarships to female students who will fulfill the required eligibility criteria for admission. 

Such social development programs will help in the overall development of the country. They help to eliminate poverty, promote education and gender equality, better healthcare facilities, social justice and inclusion, community empowerment, and environmental sustainability. As a conscious citizen, we must actively participate in such government schemes and promote them at all levels.

To improve your essay writing skills, here are the top 200+ English Essay Topics for school students.

Essay on National Girl Child Day in 300 Words

Every year, National Girl Child Day is celebrated on 24th January to promote awareness about gender inequalities faced by girl students. This day was observed for the first time in 2008 when the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched this scheme. Since then, this day has been annually observed at all levels in India. 

There are several objectives of the National Girl Child Day. It is celebrated to raise awareness among the masses about the gender and social inequalities faced by girls in our society. This day offers scholarships to female students to promote education about the education rights of female students. Apart from education for girls, it also promotes proper healthcare and nutrition for female students.

On National Girl Child Day, various public and private organizations and institutions organize public campaigns about ‘ Save the Girl Child’, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, etc. The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 to raise awareness about girl’s education, sex ratio, and gender equality.

In 2024, the Ministry of Women and Child Development will be offering five scholarships to female students at different academic levels. These scholarships are:

• AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls
• Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship
• Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child
• CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme
• Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B)

Under these scholarship schemes, female students will be offered financial assistance from different institutions, which will help them achieve their academic goals. Since it is a social development program, it will not only help women in academics but will inspire millions of other female students to pursue higher studies. 

With opportunities like the National Girl Child Day, women will have equal opportunities in education, employment, and decision-making. This will enhance India’s overall human development index. Such social development programs address gender-based discrimination and violence, promoting a more equitable society.

Also Read: Speech on Republic Day for Class 12th

Ans: The National Girl Child Day is annually celebrated on 24th January all over India. This day is celebrated to raise awareness about gender inequalities faced by girls in Indian society.

Ans: National Girl Child Day is a Government of India initiative to promote education and necessities for young girls in India. This program functions under the Ministry of Women and Child Development of India. This year, the government will offer five scholarships to female students, which will cover their academic expenses and other educational fees. Various private organizations are also offering scholarships on this National Girl Child Day to reduce gender disparity and promote education among girls. 

Ans: In 2024, the Ministry of Women and Child Development will be offering five scholarships to female students at different academic levels. These scholarships are: -AICTE Pragati Scholarship for Girls -Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship -Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child -CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme -Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B)

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With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Save the Girl Child – Essay

Category: Essays and Paragraphs , Social Issues in India On August 21, 2015 By Team Work

Save the Girl Child

“Save the Girl Child” is a social initiative in India to fight against the practice of female foeticide. The initiative also aims are protecting, safeguarding, supporting, and educating the girl child.

Our present Prime Minister has requested every section of the society to give whole-hearted support to the “ Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao “ abhiyan (initiative). ‘Beth Bachao’ means ‘save girl child’ and ‘Beth Padhao’ means ‘educate the girl child.’ 

Poor households, when faced with the choice, often choose to send their male children to school instead of their female children, instead saddling female children with back-breaking household chores.

Female foeticide is both a national problem and a social evil. It’s unbelievable that the urge for a boy-child makes them so cruel that they dare to kill the yet to be born. The child sex ratio (CSR), according to 2011 population census, was 943 female child for every 1000 male child. The Low CSR may lead to a dangerous situation. As such it is crucial to step in and save the female children.

Causes of female foeticide

Various scholars have suggested different possible causes for the problem of female foeticide.

1. Low position of women: Women have been subjected to injustice since ages. Some people feel that the birth of girl child may lower their status in the society. There is discrimination against the girl child and an extreme desire for boy-child among some sections of our society.

2. Extreme poverty : People who live in extreme poor condition often think that the girl child would cause more economic hardship to them. The social evil of dowry system further worsens the situation. Some people think that they will to have to arrange for huge dowry for her marriage.

3. Illiteracy : Illiteracy is the leading of all social evils. Illiterate people are ignorant people, and not able to judge their actions in the right perspective.

4. Dowry system: Dowry system refers to the custom of paying money and other valuables to the groom’s family at the time of marriage. This tradition was probably introduced to give financial assistance to the newly wed couple. However, often, it is seen that the greedy family members of the groom’s family demand huge amount of money at the time of marriage. Dowry is viewed as a huge burden by the parents of the girl-child. (Please note that dowry is prohibited by law in India. )

How to save girl child?

1. Women empowerment : The women need to be empowered. A woman has every right to give birth to a baby. The girl child is a blessing of God. Just give her a chance, and she will make you proud with her achievements.

2. Awareness: Every citizen of civilized society should be made aware of the fact that a girl child is as important as a boy child. If she gets the right opportunity, she can provide economic support to the family and help them to come out of poverty level.

3. Education: Education raises the consciousness of a person. The mental pattern in favor of society should be transformed. This is the time for historic changes in the society. Both girls and boys should ( Also read about women education here .)

4. Love, respect, and equality: Girls, just like their counterparts, deserves true freedom and equality. All children, girls and boys equally, deserve to be treated with love and respect. When we truly treat someone with love, we respect their autonomy and help them to achieve the very best that they can.

How to save girl child after her birth?

The girl child is not only unsafe inside her mother’s womb. Even after her birth, she has to face various hardships because of gender inequality. We must save the girl child after her birth as well. There is something that all of us can do to help girls all over the world.

• We all agree that girls’ education is very important . The girls should get a safe and comfortable environment at schools.
• The girl should get equal access to the educational resources of the school.
• There should be separate toilets for girl-children at schools.
• There is need for a shift in mental attitude in favor of equality between boys and girls.
• The belief that only a male-child can support the parents during the old age doesn’t hold true in today’s context. A girl can take care and support her family as well.
• The family members of the girl child should come forward to protect her rights, both within and outside her home.
• We can reach out to girls in our community and help them with their needs.
• The abuse and harassment of girl child should be dealt strictly. The guilty should be punished as per the law.
• Dowry stem should be effectively discouraged through media campaigns. Emphasis should be made to impart moral education to put an end to this evil system.
• Doctors and other medical professions should be encouraged to behave responsibly. They should never indulge in any mal-practices such as  prenatal sex determination.
• We can promote strong images of powerful, successful girls and women that will serve as role models and help to combat gender based cultural discrimination.
• We can also donate money to schemes that are designed to help girls, or volunteer with charitable organizations overseas.
• Proper counselling, nutritional, and medical facilities will help in creating a good atmosphere for development of the girl child.
• Educational programs and workshops focusing on gender equality.

The ‘save the child girl, educate the girl child’ initiative is actively supported by the Government, corporate groups, human rights activists and NGOS.

Under the initiative of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, several social organizations have come forward to build toilet at girl schools.

The corporate India, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),  is also earmarking funds for the welfare of school going girls.

Legal status of prenatal sex determination

According to the laws prevailing in India, the determination of prenatal sex during pregnancy is illegal and punishable by law.

It is unfortunate that people still misuse the ultrasonography (diagnostic sonography)  scan to determine the sex  of the unborn baby. There is a need for:

• Strict enforcement of laws relating to medical scanning.
• Impart moral teachings on doctors.
• Educate people that there is no difference between a girl and a boy child.

The girl child has suffered. This really has to stop. ‘Save Girl Child’ is the slogan that India needs to spread to each of its corners. We still, sadly, live in a very unequal world where girls and women are discriminated against according to their gender. Girls are at greater risk of gender based violence, and also from gendered threats such as female foeticide, forced marriage, lower pay due to gender based discrimination, child pregnancy, lower education levels due to the undervaluing of female education, and much more. As such, it is important to take care of girl children and to give them all of the opportunities that they need to succeed in life.

Finding various sources to spread this awareness, and respect for women and girls are the ways for this evil to go down. It is important for parents of a newborn to understand that every child is a blessing. We belong to the modern generation of humanity. We seek an environment where every human-being is considered free. We seek an environment where every unborn child is welcomed without any gender bias.

A girl child deserves a life of dignity just like anyone else and all efforts must be taken to wipe out the crimes that are threatening her existence. Giving her a good education and making her independent as she grows up is the way to give back her dignity. Every effort must be made to ‘Save the girl child’.

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Argumentative Essay On A Girl Is Better Than A Boy

In this argumentative essay, we will explore the question of whether a girl is better than a boy. It is important to approach this topic with an open mind, recognizing that both girls and boys have their own strengths and abilities. While it is not fair to make broad statements about an entire gender, we can certainly discuss some advantages that girls may have. However, it is crucial to remember that boys also possess exceptional qualities that deserve recognition and respect.

Table of Contents

The Greatness of Girls and Boys: Exploring Their Unique Qualities

Personality traits:.

Girls are often known for their caring, nurturing, and empathetic nature. These qualities can lead to stronger relationships and better understanding in various situations. When a friend is feeling down, a girl’s compassion can provide comfort and solace. However, this doesn’t mean that boys lack these qualities. Boys can also be caring and understanding, showing empathy when needed. It’s important not to pigeonhole anyone based solely on their gender.

Academic (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Performance:

In recent years, studies have shown that girls tend to perform better than boys in education. Factors like peer pressure, drug use, and adolescence can affect boys’ concentration and academic performance. Girls, on the other hand, often display dedication and focus in their studies. But let’s not forget that boys also have the potential to excel academically. By providing proper support and understanding their unique needs, boys can also achieve remarkable success in their educational journey.

Determination and Resilience:

Throughout history, girls have faced numerous challenges and discrimination. Yet, their determination and resilience have propelled them to achieve remarkable feats. Think about famous women like Malala Yousafzai, who stood up for girls’ right to education despite facing grave danger. This determination is an inspiring quality that girls possess. However, boys also demonstrate resilience and determination in various aspects of life. By acknowledging their struggles and triumphs, we can promote equality and encourage both genders to reach their full potential.

Independence:

Girls are just as capable of being independent and assertive as boys. With access to quality education and proper support, girls can excel in diverse fields and contribute significantly to society. Think of women who have become leaders in politics, business, and science. Yet, boys can also exhibit independence and strength. It’s important to break free from stereotypes that limit our understanding of gender roles and capabilities.

Counterarguments:

Some might argue that boys possess certain qualities that are advantageous. For instance, boys are often seen as physically stronger, which can be beneficial in certain situations. Additionally, boys can display strong leadership skills and a competitive spirit. It’s crucial to remember that each individual is unique, and qualities aren’t confined to gender lines.

Gender and Academic Performance:

Gender can impact academic performance due to various factors. Girls and boys might face different societal pressures that affect their focus on studies. Boys may feel pressured to conform to traditional masculinity, which can sometimes lead to a lack of interest in academics. Girls might encounter expectations that push them toward certain subjects, potentially neglecting other areas of interest. Recognizing these challenges and providing equal opportunities for growth is essential to fostering a supportive learning environment for all.

Stereotypes Associated with Girls and Boys:

Stereotypes often associate girls with traits like being sensitive, emotional, and nurturing, while boys are linked to qualities like being strong, assertive, and competitive. These stereotypes can limit individuals’ self-expression and hinder them from pursuing their passions. Breaking free from these biases is essential for allowing both girls and boys to explore their full range of interests and potential.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the question of whether a girl is better than a boy is complex and multifaceted. While girls may possess certain qualities that provide them advantages, it is essential to recognize that boys also have unique strengths. Rather than focusing on superiority, we should celebrate the diversity of talents and capabilities that both genders bring to the table. By fostering an environment of equality and support, we can ensure that every individual, regardless of gender, can thrive and contribute positively to society.

Hello! Welcome to my Blog StudyParagraphs.co. My name is Angelina. I am a college professor. I love reading writing for kids students. This blog is full with valuable knowledge for all class students. Thank you for reading my articles.

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Essay on Girl Education for Students and Children

500+ words essay on girl education.

If we look at the demographics, India is one of the most populated countries. However, the rate of girl education is quite low in the country. It is quite troubling to see the figures in a country where women are given the status of goddesses. The figures have significantly improved to an extent but there’s still a long way to go.

Women were not allowed to even step out of their houses in ancient India , but times are changing. Along with changing times, people’s thinking is also changing. They wish to educate their girls and see them succeed in life. However, this is not the case in rural India which makes for more than 60% of the population. We need to identify the factors responsible for such low rates of girl education to find some solutions.

Factors Contributing to Low Rate of Girl Education

There are various factors that make it impossible for girls to get an education in our country. Firstly, the poverty rate is alarming. Even though education is being made free, it still involves a substantial cost to send girls to school. Therefore, families who are struggling to make ends meet fail to pay the educational expenses of their children.

Secondly, in rural areas, there aren’t many schools. This creates a distance problem as they are located far from the villages. In some areas, students have to walk for three to four hours to reach their school. This is where the safety of the girls gets compromised so parents don’t see it fit to send them off so far.

Furthermore, the regressive thinking of the people makes it tougher for girls to get an education. Some people still believe girls are meant to stay in their houses and look after the kitchen. They do not like women to do any other tasks expect for household ones.

Other than that, social issues like child marriage and child labor also stop the girl from getting an education. Parents pull daughters out of school to marry them off at an early age. Also, when girls indulge in child labor, they do not get time to study.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of Girl Education

If we wish to see India progress and develop, we need to educate our girl child. They are indeed the future of our nation. Moreover, when they become educated, they will not have to be dependent on others for their livelihood.

One of the most important benefits of girl education is that the country’s future will be brighter and better. Similarly, our economy can grow faster if more and more women become financially strong thereby reducing poverty.

Furthermore, women who are educated can take proper care of their children. This will strengthen the future as lesser kids will die due to a lack of vaccination or a similar reason. Even for women, they will be less likely to become a patient of HIV/AIDS as they will be aware of the consequences.

Most importantly, educated women can result in a decrease in social issues like corruption, child marriage , domestic abuse and more. They will become more confident and handle their families better in all spheres. Thus we see how one educated woman can bring so much change in her life along with the others as well.

Some FAQs on Girl Education

Q.1 Why is girl education not encouraged in India?

A.1 India is still a developing country. It has too much poverty and regressive thinking. It is one of the main reasons why people don’t encourage girls to get an education.

Q.2 What are the advantages of educating girls?

A.2 When we educate girls, we educate a whole nation. As she teaches everyone around her. The education of girls will result in a better economy and a brighter future along with enhanced confidence of the girl.

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Save Girl Child Essay

Save girl child is an awareness campaign to save the girl child in India by ensuring their safety as well as to stop the crime against girl child especially female foeticide and gender inequality.

Long and Short Essay on Save Girl Child in English

Women are the most important section of the society and equally participate in the life existence on the earth. However, regular decrease in the sex ratio of female in India because of the crimes against women, it has created the fear of total finish of women. So, it is very necessary to save girl child in order to maintain the ratio of women in India. It has been a most important topic as a social awareness in the Indian society which youths of the country must know about. In order to enhance the writing skill and knowledge of the students, teachers assign them this topic to write only paragraph or complete essay in the classroom, during exam or any competition organized for the essay writing. Following essay on save girl child are especially written for the students. They can choose any save girl child essay according to their need and requirement:

Save Girl Child Essay 1 (100 words)

Girls are equally as important as boys in the society to maintain the social equilibrium. Few years ago, there was huge reduction in the number of women in comparison to the man. It was so because of the increasing crimes against women such as female foeticide, dowry deaths, rape, poverty, illiteracy, gender discrimination and many more. To equalize the number of women in the society, it is very necessary to aware people greatly about the save girl child. Government of India has taken some positive steps regarding save girl child such as protection of women from domestic violence act 2005, ban of female infanticide, immoral traffic (prevention) act, proper education, gender equality, etc.

Save Girl Child Essay 2 (150 words)

Save girl child topic has been the focus of attention of everyone all over the India in order to improve the overall social and economic status of women. Following are some initiatives launched by the central or state government regarding save girl child:

• In order to protect the girl child, a Ladli Scheme was launched and implemented by the Delhi & Haryana Government in 2008. The aim of this scheme was controlling female foeticide as well as improving status of girl child through education and equal gender rights.
• Sabla Scheme launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2011 aiming to empower adolescent girls through education.
• Dhanalakshmi Scheme was launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development aiming to provide cash transfer to the family of girl child after birth, registration, and immunization.
• Kishori Shakti Yojna was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development aiming to improve nutritional and health condition of adolescent girls.
• Sukanya Samridhi Yojana was launched to ensure equitable share to a girl child by the family.
• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (means save girl child and educate girl child) scheme was launched in 2015 for the welfare of women.

Save Girl Child Essay 3 (200 words)

Save girl child is a most important social awareness topic now-a-days regarding the saving of girl child all through the country. There are various effective measures following which girl child can be saved to a great extent. There is huge level of poverty in the society which is the big reason illiteracy and gender inequality in the Indian society. So, education is the vital element to reduce poverty and gender discrimination as well as improve the status of girl child and woman in the Indian society. According to the statistics, it is found that female literacy is decreasing continuously in Odisha where girl child do not have equal access to the education and other activities.

Education is deeply linked to the employment. Low education means low employment which leads to the poverty and gender inequality in the society. Education is the most effective step forward to improve women status as it makes them financially independent. Save girl child step is taken by the government to ensure the equal rights and opportunities for women in the society. Bollywood actor (Parineeti Chopra) has been an official brand ambassador of the recent scheme of PM for save girl child (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao).

Save Girl Child Essay 4 (250 words)

Introduction

The status of girls in the Indian society has been greatly debated for many years. Girls are generally believed to be involved in the cooking and playing with dolls while boys to be involved in the education and other physical activities from the ancient time. Such old beliefs of men have simulated them for violence against women which resulted in the continuous decrease in the number of girl child in the society. So, there is a big need to save girl child in order to equalize the ratio of both as well ensure the development of country.

Effective Steps regarding Save Girl Child

Following are the various effective steps to save girl child:

• The position of girl child in Indian society is backward since ages because of the extreme desire of parents for the boy-child. It has created gender inequality in the society and has been very necessary to remove by bringing gender equality.
• Extreme poverty in the society has created social evil against women as dowry system which worsens the situation of women. Parents generally think that girls are only to spend money that’s why they kill girl child before or after birth in many ways (female infanticide, dowry deaths, etc). Such issues need to be removed urgently in order to save girl child.
• Illiteracy is another issue which can be removed through proper education system for both genders.
• Empowering women is the most effective tool to save girl child.
• People should be aware through some effective campaigns regarding save the girl child.
• A girl child is unsafe inside as well as outside the mother’s womb. She has fear in many ways all through the life with the men whom she gives birth. She is ruled by the men whom she gives birth and it is totally the matter of laugh and shame for us. Education is the best tool to bring revolution of saving and respecting a girl child.
• A girl child should be given equal access and opportunities in every field.
• There should be safety and security arrangement for girls at all the public places.
• Family members of a girl child can be better target to make save the girl child campaign successful.

Save girl child is not taken by the people as topic only, it is a social awareness which should be taken very seriously. People should save girl child and respect girl child as they have power to create a whole world. They are equally needed for the growth and development of any country.

Save Girl Child Essay 5 (300 words)

Girls have been the victim of many crimes in India for years. The most fearful crime was female foeticide in which girls were killed in the womb of mother after sex determination through ultrasound. Save the girl child campaign has been launched by the government to end the gender-selective abortions of female fetus as well as other crimes against girl child.

Effects of Female Foeticide on Girl Child Ratio Reduction

Female foeticide was one of the most fearful acts through sex-selective abortion in the hospital. It was developed in India by the people’s more interest in the boy child than the female child. It has reduced the girl child sex ratio in India to a great extent. It was made possible in the country because of the Ultrasound technology. It took a form of giant demon because of the gender discrimination and inequality for girls in the society. A huge reduction in the female sex ratio was noticed after the national census of 1991. Then it was declared as a worsening problem of the society after the national census of 2001. However, reduction in female population was continued till 2011. Later, this practice was banned strictly by the government in order to control the ratio of female child. In Madhya Pradesh, the ratio was 932 girls/1000 boys in 2001 however reduced to 912/1000 in 2011. It means, it still continues somewhere and may be it reduced to 900/1000 by 2021.

Role of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao awareness Campaign

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is a scheme which means save the girl child and educate the girl child. This scheme was launched by the government of India on 22 nd of January in 2015 in order to generate awareness for girl child as well as improve the welfare of women. This campaign was launched by organizing some activities such as large rallies, wall paintings, television commercials, billboards, short animations, video films, essay writing, debates, etc in order to aware more people of the society. It also involved some famous celebrities for more awareness. This campaign is supported by the various government and non-government organizations in India. This scheme has played a great role in spreading awareness regarding save girl child all over the county as well as improving the status of girl child in the Indian society.

Each and every citizen of the India must follow all the rules and regulations made for saving the girl child as well as improving the position in the society. Girls should be considered as equal as boys by their parents and given same opportunities in all the working areas.

Save Girl Child Essay 6 (400 words)

The existence of human race on the earth is impossible without the equal participation of both, man and woman. Both are equally responsible for the existence of human race on the earth as well as growth and development of any country. However, there is no doubt in saying that a woman is more necessary than man as without her we cannot think about the continuation of human race as she gives birth to human. So, girl children are not killed, they should be saved, respected and given equal opportunities to go ahead. They are the source of root creation and help in shaping destiny of civilization. However, women have been the victim of female foeticide, rape, sexual harassment, dowry deaths, etc in her own shaped civilization. How shame is this!

Why to Save Girl Child

A girl child should be saved by people in the society for various reasons:

• They are not less capable than boys in any field and give their best.
• Female foeticide is illegal crime since 1961 and has been banned in order to stop sex-selective abortions. People should follow all the rules very strictly made to save girl child.
• Girls become more obedient than boys and have been proved less violent and arrogant.
• They have been proved much responsible for their family, job, society or country.
• They become much caring to their parents and devoted to their job.
• A woman can be a mother, wife, daughter, sister, etc. Every man should think that his wife is daughter of another man and his daughter would be a wife of another man in future. So, everyone must respect a woman in any form.
• A girl performs her both duties personal as well as professional very loyally which makes her extra special than boys.
• Girls are the ultimate reason of existence of human race.

Steps taken by Government to Save Girl Child

There are various steps taken by the Indian government regarding save the girl child and educate the girl child. The most recent initiative regarding this is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao which is very actively supported by the Government, NGOs, corporate groups, and human rights activists and NGOS. Various social organizations have helped the campaign by building toilet at girl schools. Crimes against girl child and women are big obstruction in the way of India’s growth and development. Female foeticide was one of the big issues however have been banned by the government by the stoppage of ultrasound for sex determination, scan tests, amniocentesis, etc in the hospitals. Government has taken this step to let people know that a girl child is not a sin in the society however; she is a nice gift by God.

A girl child should not be killed, hated or disrespected. She should be saved, loved and respected for the betterment of society and country. She is as equal participant in the development of country as boys.

Related Information:

Speech on Save Girl Child

Slogans on Save Girl Child

Essay on Female Foeticide

Essay on Women Empowerment

Essay on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

National Girl Child Day

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

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Essay on Importance of Girl Child Education

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Girl Child Education 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 Importance of Girl Child Education

Introduction.

Education is a fundamental right for every child, irrespective of gender. However, girl child education has not always received the attention it deserves.

Empowering Girls

Educating a girl child paves the way for empowered women. It helps them to become independent, make informed decisions, and contribute effectively to society.

Breaking Stereotypes

Education breaks the shackles of societal stereotypes. It gives girls the courage to challenge norms, become leaders, and realize their full potential.

Economic Growth

An educated girl contributes to the economy. She can work, earn, and help in the nation’s progress, thus reducing poverty.

In conclusion, girl child education is crucial for individual growth, societal development, and national progress.

250 Words Essay on Importance of Girl Child Education

Education is a fundamental human right, irrespective of gender. However, the importance of girl child education cannot be overstated. It is not merely about achieving gender equality but also about fostering societal growth and evolution.

Empowerment and Self-Reliance

Educating a girl child empowers her with knowledge and skills, fostering self-reliance. It allows her to make informed decisions, stand up for her rights, and break free from societal constraints. It nurtures self-confidence and independence, enabling her to contribute meaningfully to her family and society.

Education has a direct correlation with economic growth. An educated woman is more likely to participate in the labor force, thereby contributing to the economy. Additionally, studies have shown that women are more likely to invest their income back into their families and communities, further stimulating economic development.

Health and Wellbeing

Educated girls are more likely to understand and prioritize health and hygiene. They are better equipped to make health-related decisions for themselves and their families, resulting in lower mortality rates and improved overall health.

Social Progress

Educated women are catalysts for social change. They are more likely to champion social issues, challenge norms, and advocate for reforms. Moreover, they are more likely to educate their children, creating a virtuous cycle of learning and progress.

In essence, girl child education is a cornerstone of sustainable development. It is not just about gender parity in classrooms but about shaping a more equitable, prosperous, and progressive society. The benefits of educating a girl child extend far beyond the individual, impacting families, communities, and nations.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Girl Child Education

Education is a fundamental right of every child, and no society can truly progress without ensuring equal education opportunities for girls. The importance of girl child education cannot be overstated as it forms the cornerstone for a prosperous and equitable society.

The Societal Impact of Girl Child Education

Educating girls has a profound societal impact. It leads to decreased poverty, improved health outcomes, and reduced rates of child marriage and early childbearing. Education empowers girls with knowledge and skills that enable them to make informed decisions about their lives and contribute to their societies.

When girls are educated, they have a greater chance of securing better jobs, leading to economic growth. They are more likely to invest their income back into their families, creating a positive cycle of empowerment and prosperity.

Education and Health

Education also plays a crucial role in improving girls’ health and their future children’s health. Educated girls are more likely to understand the importance of nutrition and hygiene, resulting in lower child and maternal mortality rates. They are also more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, reducing the risks associated with early pregnancy.

Breaking the Cycle of Discrimination and Violence

Education is a powerful tool to combat discrimination and violence against girls. It fosters self-esteem and respect, helping girls stand up against harmful societal norms and practices. Educated girls are less likely to become victims of domestic violence or other forms of exploitation, and they are more likely to raise their voice against injustice.

Education as a Catalyst for Gender Equality

Girl child education is a catalyst for gender equality. It challenges patriarchal norms and stereotypes that limit girls’ potential. By providing girls with the same educational opportunities as boys, societies can nurture a generation of women who can lead, innovate, and influence at all levels of society.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Despite the undeniable benefits of girl child education, many barriers persist, including cultural norms, poverty, and lack of access to quality education. To overcome these challenges, concerted efforts are needed from governments, non-governmental organizations, communities, and individuals.

Promoting gender-responsive learning environments, providing scholarships to girls, and implementing policies that combat discrimination can all contribute to increasing girls’ access to education. Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of girl child education is crucial to changing attitudes and practices.

In conclusion, girl child education is not just a matter of gender equality, but also a fundamental factor for comprehensive societal progress. Ensuring that every girl has access to quality education is a responsibility that we all share. It is an investment that will pay dividends for generations to come, leading to a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable world.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Guest Essay

The Problem With Saying ‘Sex Assigned at Birth’

By Alex Byrne and Carole K. Hooven

Mr. Byrne is a philosopher and the author of “Trouble With Gender: Sex Facts, Gender Fictions.” Ms. Hooven is an evolutionary biologist and the author of “T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone That Dominates and Divides Us.”

As you may have noticed, “sex” is out, and “sex assigned at birth” is in. Instead of asking for a person’s sex, some medical and camp forms these days ask for “sex assigned at birth” or “assigned sex” (often in addition to gender identity). The American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association endorse this terminology; its use has also exploded in academic articles. The Cleveland Clinic’s online glossary of diseases and conditions tells us that the “inability to achieve or maintain an erection” is a symptom of sexual dysfunction, not in “males,” but in “people assigned male at birth.”

This trend began around a decade ago, part of an increasing emphasis in society on emotional comfort and insulation from offense — what some have called “ safetyism .” “Sex” is now often seen as a biased or insensitive word because it may fail to reflect how people identify themselves. One reason for the adoption of “assigned sex,” therefore, is that it supplies respectful euphemisms, softening what to some nonbinary and transgender people, among others, can feel like a harsh biological reality. Saying that someone was “assigned female at birth” is taken to be an indirect and more polite way of communicating that the person is biologically female. The terminology can also function to signal solidarity with trans and nonbinary people, as well as convey the radical idea that our traditional understanding of sex is outdated.

The shift to “sex assigned at birth” may be well intentioned, but it is not progress. We are not against politeness or expressions of solidarity, but “sex assigned at birth” can confuse people and creates doubt about a biological fact when there shouldn’t be any. Nor is the phrase called for because our traditional understanding of sex needs correcting — it doesn’t.

This matters because sex matters. Sex is a fundamental biological feature with significant consequences for our species, so there are costs to encouraging misconceptions about it.

Sex matters for health, safety and social policy and interacts in complicated ways with culture. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience harmful side effects from drugs, a problem that may be ameliorated by reducing drug doses for females. Males, meanwhile, are more likely to die from Covid-19 and cancer, and commit the vast majority of homicides and sexual assaults . We aren’t suggesting that “assigned sex” will increase the death toll. However, terminology about important matters should be as clear as possible.

More generally, the interaction between sex and human culture is crucial to understanding psychological and physical differences between boys and girls, men and women. We cannot have such understanding unless we know what sex is, which means having the linguistic tools necessary to discuss it. The Associated Press cautions journalists that describing women as “female” may be objectionable because “it can be seen as emphasizing biology,” but sometimes biology is highly relevant. The heated debate about transgender women participating in female sports is an example ; whatever view one takes on the matter, biologically driven athletic differences between the sexes are real.

When influential organizations and individuals promote “sex assigned at birth,” they are encouraging a culture in which citizens can be shamed for using words like “sex,” “male” and “female” that are familiar to everyone in society, as well as necessary to discuss the implications of sex. This is not the usual kind of censoriousness, which discourages the public endorsement of certain opinions. It is more subtle, repressing the very vocabulary needed to discuss the opinions in the first place.

A proponent of the new language may object, arguing that sex is not being avoided, but merely addressed and described with greater empathy. The introduction of euphemisms to ease uncomfortable associations with old words happens all the time — for instance “plus sized” as a replacement for “overweight.” Admittedly, the effects may be short-lived , because euphemisms themselves often become offensive, and indeed “larger-bodied” is now often preferred to “plus sized.” But what’s the harm? No one gets confused, and the euphemisms allow us to express extra sensitivity. Some see “sex assigned at birth” in the same positive light: It’s a way of talking about sex that is gender-affirming and inclusive .

The problem is that “sex assigned at birth”— unlike “larger-bodied”— is very misleading. Saying that someone was “assigned female at birth” suggests that the person’s sex is at best a matter of educated guesswork. “Assigned” can connote arbitrariness — as in “assigned classroom seating” — and so “sex assigned at birth” can also suggest that there is no objective reality behind “male” and “female,” no biological categories to which the words refer.

Contrary to what we might assume, avoiding “sex” doesn’t serve the cause of inclusivity: not speaking plainly about males and females is patronizing. We sometimes sugarcoat the biological facts for children, but competent adults deserve straight talk. Nor are circumlocutions needed to secure personal protections and rights, including transgender rights. In the Supreme Court’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision in 2020, which outlawed workplace discrimination against gay and transgender people, Justice Neil Gorsuch used “sex,” not “sex assigned at birth.”

A more radical proponent of “assigned sex” will object that the very idea of sex as a biological fact is suspect. According to this view — associated with the French philosopher Michel Foucault and, more recently, the American philosopher Judith Butler — sex is somehow a cultural production, the result of labeling babies male or female. “Sex assigned at birth” should therefore be preferred over “sex,” not because it is more polite, but because it is more accurate.

This position tacitly assumes that humans are exempt from the natural order. If only! Alas, we are animals. Sexed organisms were present on Earth at least a billion years ago, and males and females would have been around even if humans had never evolved. Sex is not in any sense the result of linguistic ceremonies in the delivery room or other cultural practices. Lonesome George, the long-lived Galápagos giant tortoise , was male. He was not assigned male at birth — or rather, in George’s case, at hatching. A baby abandoned at birth may not have been assigned male or female by anyone, yet the baby still has a sex. Despite the confusion sown by some scholars, we can be confident that the sex binary is not a human invention.

Another downside of “assigned sex” is that it biases the conversation away from established biological facts and infuses it with a sociopolitical agenda, which only serves to intensify social and political divisions. We need shared language that can help us clearly state opinions and develop the best policies on medical, social and legal issues. That shared language is the starting point for mutual understanding and democratic deliberation, even if strong disagreement remains.

What can be done? The ascendance of “sex assigned at birth” is not an example of unhurried and organic linguistic change. As recently as 2012 The New York Times reported on the new fashion for gender-reveal parties, “during which expectant parents share the moment they discover their baby’s sex.” In the intervening decade, sex has gone from being “discovered” to “assigned” because so many authorities insisted on the new usage. In the face of organic change, resistance is usually futile. Fortunately, a trend that is imposed top-down is often easier to reverse.

Admittedly, no one individual, or even a small group, can turn the lumbering ship of English around. But if professional organizations change their style guides and glossaries, we can expect that their members will largely follow suit. And organizations in turn respond to lobbying from their members. Journalists, medical professionals, academics and others have the collective power to restore language that more faithfully reflects reality. We will have to wait for them to do that.

Meanwhile, we can each apply Strunk and White’s famous advice in “The Elements of Style” to “sex assigned at birth”: omit needless words.

Alex Byrne is a professor of philosophy at M.I.T. and the author of “Trouble With Gender: Sex Facts, Gender Fictions.” Carole K. Hooven is an evolutionary biologist, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, an associate in the Harvard psychology department, and the author of “T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone That Dominates and Divides Us.”

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JoJo Siwa on Her Experience with Child Stardom: 'My Mom Has Kept Every Psychopath Out of My Life'

"I have been so lucky and I credit that to my mom," Siwa said on 'Call Her Daddy'

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

JoJo Siwa is opening up about her experience as a child star.

Speaking to Alex Cooper on Call Her Daddy Tuesday, the former Dance Moms star reflected on her experience in the industry as a young girl and credited her mom for keeping her on the right path.

"[With] everything that's recently come out with the Nickelodeon documentary ( Quiet on Set ) and just seeing child stars... there is more kids that have not had your experience," Cooper, 29, told Siwa, 20.

The "Karma" singer responded: "I'm lucky that my bad has not been bad. My bad has been a little bit of bullying on the internet."

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV was released last month and it offers a disturbing look behind some of the most iconic children's shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s like All That,  The  Amanda Show and  Zoey 101  . It notably featured former child actor  Drake Bell  speaking out about being sexually assaulted by a Nickelodeon dialogue coach.

"Compared to people with their parents, people with their creators, people with their financials, people with their bodies being around people they didn't want them to be around, I have been so lucky and I credit that to my mom," Siwa continued of mom Jessalynn Siwa . "My mom has kept every psychopath out of my life."

Kevin Winter/Getty

Elsewhere in the interview, Siwa revealed her mom recently thanked her for not leaving them "high and dry" when she turned 18 and could access her funds.

"My mom actually said something today to me that was really sweet,” Siwa said. "When you are a kid, 15 percent of every penny you make goes into a Coogan account [to protect her earnings]. My parents thought when I turned 18, I was gonna get my Coogan account money, take all of my money and have it all be mine."

Instead, Siwa made it clear that she had no intention of doing that.

“That’s always been a fear of theirs, always has been. Just because the opportunity of me leaving them high and dry was right there. People have done it before. Child stars have done it before, but I would never do that to my family.”

In 2021, Jessalyn and JoJo opened up about their close relationship to PEOPLE.

“ You were like my little sidekick  before we were doing work together and TV together,” Jessalynn shared at the time. “I could take you anywhere, you could go to lunch with me and my friends and you could hang, and then we would go to Target after. We were just friends."

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'I lost my 3-year-old': Ohio mom shares tip that brought her child back to safety

An Ohio mom who experienced the scariest day of her life after losing her daughter in a crowd has an important message to share with parents planning to venture out this spring and summer .

Krista Piper Grundey, 36, and her two kids were hanging out in the play space of a museum they frequent in March of last year when her 3-year-old daughter, Lily, went missing, she confirmed with USA TODAY Friday.

"I started calling her name," Grundey shares in a video that now has nearly 700k views. "Right after I started calling her name a little light bulb went off in my head."

Grundey remembered a TikTok she had seen a year or more prior to the incident of a mother who had lost her child in a grocery store.

"Instead of yelling out the kid's name, she yelled out the description of what her child was wearing, and she was able to find her kid way faster," Grundey shared.

So, Grundey began calling out her daughter's description right away. "Little girl, pink shirt, pink Minnie Mouse shirt," she screamed out into the crowd.

Soon she began to hear other moms repeating her daughter's description, joining the effort to locate her little girl. "Thank, God," she Grundey said of the moment she felt she had an army behind her.

Finally, a mom screamed, "Little girl, pink shirt, Minnie Mouse," pointing to Grundey's daughter.

Though Grundey's daughter, Lily, was only missing for maybe two minutes, she shared, she says it felt like an eternity, and truly believes she was able to locate her daughter because of the approach she chose.

"Hopefully this reaches other parents," Grundey said. "And to the moms who may be accusatory in saying, 'you weren't watching your kids'," Grundey says that isn't the case.

"I watch my kids diligently." It could happen to any of us, she says.

Moms weigh in with additional safety tips, support

Other moms in the video's comment section chimed in with how they keep their children safe in crowded spaces.

"I take a picture when we go to crowded places just in case I forget what she's wearing," one mom wrote.

"I try to dress kids in bright clothes when we go to big places," another shared.

Other viewers voiced how they've seen this tactic work themselves.

"This happened at the pumpkin patch last year. Hundreds of people and a mom was screaming about a girl with a blue bow & found her fast," one TikToker said.

Many pointed out how one of the most powerful moments in Grundey's clip was when the other mothers joined to locate her child.

"Aw the moms all coming together makes me wanna cry," one user wrote.

"As a mom if I hear someone yelling a name probably don’t think much of it but yelling a description is like a call to action to moms!" said another.

What else to do if your child goes missing

Yelling out your child's description is an immediate step to take if your child ever goes missing in a public place. Alongside that effort, parents should also:

• Contact staff, if applicable
• Call police, if the child isn't located immediately

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which is within the Justice Department, says that "law enforcement needs to direct the search effort in order to make sure that the search is performed properly."

If a child goes missing in a mall, for example, you don't want to spend an hour calling out their description and name without getting the cops involved.

"Because time is a critical factor in the search and recovery effort, equipment and staff should be requested at the beginning of the process," the OJJDP states.

Read the OJJDP's extensive guidelines for children who have been missing for under 24 hours here .

Mother, boyfriend arrested in 5-year-old's death. Police say girl appeared malnourished

A woman and her boyfriend were arrested Wednesday in the death of her 5-year-old daughter after the child was found unresponsive Tuesday in a home on the southwest side of Indianapolis.

IMPD officers reported that Kinsleigh Welty appeared to be malnourished, and she was taken to Riley Hospital for Children, where she was pronounced dead, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department post Wednesday evening on Facebook.

The girl's mother, Toni McClure, 29, has been preliminarily charged with murder and child neglect resulting in death, IMPD said. Ryan Smith, 27, was also preliminarily charged with child neglect resulting in death.

The Marion County Coroner's Office is still determining the exact cause of death.

Indiana Department of Child Services took custody of the other children in the home in the 6500 block of Denver Drive, according to the report. Police said they couldn't release information about their number, ages or conditions.

Chief Chris Bailey: 'Horrific and beyond comprehension'

“My heart breaks knowing what Kinsleigh went through in her short life and how she left this world," IMPD Police Chief Chris Bailey said in a statement.

"The circumstances of Kinsleigh’s death are horrific and beyond comprehension," he said. "No human being, let alone a child should be treated like she was. These alleged suspects, if convicted, should never step foot outside of a prison."

Kinsleigh's siblings "will need a lot of love and care in the coming days, months, and years,” Bailey said.

L.A. woman killed partner, possibly threw kids from a moving SUV before crashing it, police say

A Los Angeles woman fatally stabbed her partner and possibly threw her two children from a moving SUV on the freeway before she fatally crashed into a tree Monday morning, authorities said.

An 8-month-old girl died and her 9-year-old sister was injured in the violence, which began around 3:40 a.m., Los Angeles police said Tuesday.

The children’s mother, Danielle Johnson, 34, got in an argument with a man whom she lived with, Jaelen Chaney, and stabbed him with a knife, police said.

Johnson then took her two children in a Porsche SUV, and at 4:30 a.m. that car was seen driving on Interstate 405 "when the two children were expelled from the vehicle while it was moving,” police said in a statement .

Investigators believe the children fell or were thrown out of the moving vehicle, the California Highway Patrol said. The infant died, and the 9-year-old was taken to a hospital with what police said were moderate injuries.

Johnson then sped into a tree in Redondo Beach, a coastal city in the Los Angeles region, at more than 100 mph, police said. She did not survive the crash, which occurred around 5 a.m.

Investigators later found Chaney, 29, dead in the Woodland Hills home where they lived with Johnson's children, police said. The deadly incidents were later connected and determined to be a double murder and a suicide, police said.

“We really don’t know why this incident escalated to such violence,” Police Lt. Guy Golan said, according to NBC Los Angeles .

The highway patrol said it was broadcast a medical emergency at 4:29 a.m. about the injured children on the freeway, and authorities found the infant with major injuries. The Culver City Fire Department pronounced her dead at 4:44 a.m., the highway patrol said.

Redondo Beach is around 30 miles south of Woodland Hills, which is in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. The 405 Freeway is the main artery linking the western part of the valley to the Los Angeles basin.

The surviving child is in the care of Child Protective Services, NBC Los Angeles reported.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at  988lifeline.org . You can also visit  SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources  for additional support.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.