Grassroots for Girls: My International Women’s Month Resolution

by Ainslie Jones Uhl

When the media party is over and the month long celebration of uplift and outrage has come to an end, when Gloria Steinem and Nicholas Kristof and Hillary Clinton have had their say and the United Nations task forces and the nonprofits have presented their research and policy papers on the global status of women: What will we do?

It’s easy to get swept up in the moment. High-tech video access has produced poignant evidence of the plight of women everywhere, connecting us emotionally with women and girls in dire circumstances around the world. Gritty camera work and tender music and fine editing make the stories that much more compelling.

Certainly all of us can agree politically that something must be done. Time and time again the facts have shown that when girls are educated, they become women who contribute to society in many ways. And when women contribute economically or bring needed goods and services to their villages, they gain the respect of the men in their communities. Where women are respected, there is greater hope for peace. Yet gender discrimination is persistent and entrenched in all cultures, including our own.

As everyday citizens, how will we prod this stubborn beast? Embrace the animal, observe its habits, choose our battles. And the battles best won may be in our own backyards. Let’s start by paying attention to the messages we send our daughters about self-respect, education, and boundaries. We can stop coddling our sons—let them do their own laundry—and enhance their capacity for empathy by getting them involved in community projects that help families in need. Beyond family, we can educate ourselves about the status of girls and women in our own regions. In San Diego, where I live, a local radio news program, “These Days” with Maureen Cavanaugh on KPBS, has in recent weeks tackled issues facing the local female population.

This is where I learned that California is a major hub for human trafficking.

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