Girls Rights Week: Share The Bill of Rights With Your Daughter

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There may be no ERA, but at least there's a Girls' Bill of Rights.   The nonprofit group Girls Inc has drafted these.  Would your daughter add more?

Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.

Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success.

Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies.

Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world.

Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.

Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes.

Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.

Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success.

Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies.

Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world.

Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.In addition to drafting up those awesome guidlines, the women behind the girls have some suggestions about how grownups can help:

Ten things you can do as a business or community leader to support girls' rights

1. Introduce girls to career options at your organization or company.

2. Introduce girls to financial concepts your organization or company deals with on a daily basis. (e.g. stocks, accounting, equity)

3. Engage your professional colleagues in discussion about the Girls Inc. Girls' Bill of Rights and Tips for Talking to Girls and how to help spread the concepts.

4. Introduce girls to top women leaders in your organization or company.

5. Find out if your organization or company supports programs that empower girls; if not, advocate for it.

6. Advocate for equitable opportunities for girls and sports in your school systems and in city-sponsored programs. Is there an adequate number of sports teams for girls? Do girls have equal access to the playing fields and quality sports equipment?

7. Advocate for gender-awareness training for teachers in the school system. Are equal numbers of girls and boys taking physics, computer science, home economics, and calculus courses? Are teachers encouraging girls to explore the sciences?

8. Advocate for a safe environment for girls in neighborhoods, schools, and after-school settings. Talk to girls about whether or not they experience harassment.

9. Advocate for comprehensive, accurate information about reproductive health and sexuality for girls. If necessary, change the policies that schools provide comprehensive sexuality education in grades K-12.

10. Advocate for fair and safe juvenile facilities that adequately meet the needs of girls. Does your juvenile justice system understand the different needs of girls and boys?

Here's what else you can do:
Take action: Support comprehensive sex education.
Take action: Preserve sports opportunities for girls.
Find resources: Check out more fact sheets about girls' rights.
Support our efforts: Donate to Girls Inc.