In support of International Women's Day (March 8, 2012):

In support of International Women's Day (March 8, 2012):

How can we, as a culture and as members of the global community, involve, educate, and inspire girls in a positive way? (http://www.genderacrossborders.com/blogforiwd/)

In order to answer this important question, we need to first define for ourselves what ‘positive way’ means? I hope that we can all agree that at the minimum, 'positive way' implies growth of the person. While there are various ways in which a girl child can be inspired, I think, the most important way is by creating examples and role models. Children learn more from what is not directly taught to them, but what meets the eye, than from their text books and in classrooms. I have most observed this with my own daughter. And it is thus, that I have suddenly become more aware of my own identity as a woman and as a person, than before. My interactions with my surroundings, my treatment of others--men and women included, and their treatment of me, is indelibly imprinting stories into my daughter's character. And this tells me that while I will never fully be in control of the person she will be (nor do I want to be), I can so beautifully influence the person she becomes by being the best person I myself can be.

And this all means that whatever I am doing right now, I better have a good reason behind it, for she is watching, she is listening, she is growing. And this translates to each of us being aware of those little pairs of eyes in our own houses, families and neighborhoods, and noting for ourselves, that mis-treatment of anyone is NEVER allowed. Men and women are different, but not unequal.