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Empowering Girls to Lead
We talk about the importance of empowering young girls to lead and encouraging them to get involved in politics. By providing role models, making politics accessible, highlighting issues, and celebrating success, we can inspire girls to make a difference in their communities and create a brighter future in politics. Let's work together to build a more equal and representative society, where every girl has the opportunity to be a leader!
5 Steps to Encourage Political Involvement For the Girls In Your Life
As we celebrate International Women's Month, it's important to remember that empowering young girls to get involved in politics is crucial to creating a more equal and representative society. While politics can seem intimidating and overwhelming, we can all take a few simple steps to encourage girls to get involved and make a difference in their communities.
1. Start Early
Encouraging young girls to build their leadership skills early on can be a great way to set them on the path toward political success. One way to do this is by encouraging them to get involved in student government or extracurricular activities that promote leadership and community involvement. This can include clubs that focus on community service, student council, or even sports teams where they can develop teamwork and communication skills. By starting early, girls can gain the confidence and experience they need to become successful leaders later in life.
2. Highlight Role Models
Girls must see other women in leadership roles to visualize themselves in those positions. By being a role model, you can inspire young girls to get involved in politics and make a difference in their communities. This can include sharing your own experiences and stories of success and introducing them to other women in leadership roles who they can look up to. By showing girls that women can be successful in politics, we can inspire them to pursue their own goals and dreams.
Here are just a few to get you started:
The Right Honourable Kim Campbell - Canada's first female Prime Minister (1993-1994), also served as Minister of National Defence and Minister of Justice.
Jody Wilson-Raybould - Former MP and Minister of Justice, an advocate for Indigenous rights and reconciliation in Canada.
Chrystia Freeland - Canada's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, a champion for free trade and international trade agreements.
Rosemary Brown - First Black woman to be elected to a Canadian provincial legislature (1972), a champion of women's and minority rights, and instrumental in the creation of Canada's multiculturalism policy.
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon - Former Canadian diplomat and Inuk leader who was appointed as Canada's first Indigenous Governor General; an advocate for Indigenous rights and reconciliation, as well as climate action and environmental protection.
looking to be inspired by northern ontario women? check out our blog series on the women who ran for council in the 2022 ontario municipal election.
3. Make it Accessible
Politics can seem like an exclusive club, but it doesn't have to be. By making politics accessible, we can encourage more young girls to participate and make a difference in their communities. This can include encouraging them to attend council meetings, engaging with their local representatives, and asking questions. Girls must know that their voices matter and that they have a place at the table. By providing them with the tools and resources they need to get involved, we can help them become successful leaders and advocates for change.
4. Highlight the Issues
Young girls are more likely to get involved in politics if they see the issues they care about being discussed and addressed. We can encourage girls to speak up and take action by highlighting the issues that matter to them. This can include encouraging them to attend rallies or protests, writing letters to local representatives, or even running for office. By giving them the tools and resources they need to make a difference, we can empower young girls to become advocates for change and help create a better future for all.
What are 5 books girls and their parents can read to empower them to become advocates for change:
"I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai: In this memoir, Malala shares her incredible story of standing up to the Taliban in Pakistan and fighting for girls' education. Her bravery and determination are truly inspiring and show young readers that even the smallest voices can make a big impact.
"The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas: This powerful novel follows the story of Starr Carter, a black teenager who witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend by a police officer. The book addresses important issues around racism, police brutality, and activism, and encourages young readers to use their voices to fight for change.
"Rad Girls Can" by Kate Schatz: This book features 50 real-life stories of young girls and women who have made a difference in the world. From activists to scientists to athletes, these stories are sure to inspire readers and show them that anything is possible if they work hard and believe in themselves.
“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Inspiring Young Changemakers” by Rebel Girls. A collection of inspiring stories featuring extraordinary young women who are making a difference in the world, including well-known figures like Greta Thunberg and up-and-coming changemakers like inventor Vinisha Umashankar and poet Alexandra Huynh. Each story is accompanied by a bold portrait created by young female and nonbinary artists.
“Govern Like a Girl: The Women Who Became Canada’s First Ministers” by Kate Graham: Thirteen Canadian female politicians, including one Prime Minister and twelve Premiers, are highlighted in this book. The stories of their childhoods, political careers, and differences from male politicians are told to inspire future female leaders.
5. Celebrate Success
When girls get involved in politics and make a difference, it's important to celebrate their achievements. This can include recognizing them publicly, providing them with opportunities for growth and development, or simply congratulating them on a job well done. By celebrating their successes, we can build their confidence and inspire them to continue making a difference in their communities. This can also encourage other young girls to participate in politics and contribute to the world.
Celebrating success for girls in politics can also involve engaging the community. This can be done through public events, such as panel discussions, town halls, or networking events showcasing girls' political accomplishments. By involving the community in celebrating their success, we can build a sense of pride and unity and inspire others to participate in politics and make a difference.
TL;DR
Encouraging young girls to get involved in politics is crucial for building a more equal and representative society. We can achieve this by providing role models, making politics accessible, highlighting issues, and celebrating success. Let's work together to inspire girls to make a difference in their communities and create a brighter future in politics.Disclaimer: By clicking and purchasing any of the products linked in this post, we may earn a very small commission.
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Letter Writing Campaigns: How To Make Change Happen
Our members of parliament, members of provincial parliament, and municipal councillors have a unique job requirement—they must cast a vote on issues that affect their constituents, and try to vote with that in mind. They're not mind-readers. They can only vote based on the information they have. This is why it's important that you contact your political representative to let them know how you feel about whatever is at stake.
Our members of parliament, members of provincial parliament, and town/city councillors have a unique job requirement—they must cast a vote on issues that affect their constituents, and try to vote with that in mind. They're not mind-readers. They can only vote based on the information they have. This is why it's important that you contact your political representative to let them know how you feel about whatever is at stake.
Sure, But Why?
You might be asking yourself, “Why bother?” But that's the wrong question. The questions you should be asking are, “Is my perspective represented? Has my representative heard it already?” If you answered “no” to either of those questions, you need to contact your representative and make your feelings known implicitly.
Posting on social media is not enough. Sure, it helps make your feelings known in a more widespread way, but most politicians I've spoken to about this have said the internet is a little like white noise since identities can't always be confirmed. Emails are more effective because they need to be read in full. Old-fashioned snail mail is by far the best because you'll stand out. It shows you've put time and effort into your letter and they're going to remember that while they read it.
So I've Got a Cause. Now What?
Brainstorm the important things that you want to touch on and start organizing your thoughts. It's recommended that letters to politicians be written in a three paragraph format.
Introduce yourself and share your background. If you have any qualifications, this would be where to list them.
State your case. Use cold hard facts to back up your argument, but don't forget to show your representative how their decision is going to affect you, your family and others that you know.
Close with the call to action you'd like to see them undertake. Implore them to vote a certain way, or to look into a certain issue.
Don't forget to give them means to contact you should they need to. Don't be shy to share your mailing address or your phone number.
Quick Tips
Keep your letter short—no more than a page or two. Think quality, not quantity.
Be kind and courteous. Any profanity or vulgarity will negate all the great points you make in your letter, and will probably get it thrown out without a second thought.
Feel free to ask questions in your letter. That will make it even more evident that you’re expecting an answer.
Follow up in a few weeks if you've not heard back from them. Sending a quick e-mail that says something like, “Thank you for taking the time to read my [letter/e-mail]. I hope to hear from you soon,” goes a long way.
If your politician goes to bat for you, don’t forget to thank them! They love knowing that you appreciate the actions that they took.
Get To It!
Throw your support behind a cause, and get writing! So many causes need your voice to help them be heard. It's not enough for us to say that we believe in something - we need to start putting our time where our mouth is. That's the most effective way to make change happen.
This blog post has been cross-posted at Women's March Canada.
