Melinda Gates was quoted last fall in Science Magazine as saying, “No society can achieve its potential with half of its population marginalized and disempowered.” And her tenent is that helping women and girls actually raises the standard of living for their entire community.
I support organizations such as Just LIke My Child’s Girl Power for this very reason. Girl Power goes directly into communities, empowering girls and training them to mentor other girls. This is a powerful program. Instead of a single act, their work is aimed at creating ambassadors within each community that can continue the effort and help it grow exponentially. Girl Power has magnified its work dramatically this way.
Yet, even here in the developed world, there is still a need for similar mentoring and supporting of women in all walks of life becoming empowered and having agency over their lives. Those of us who have found our strength can help those who have not. Surprisingly, you might even find that in the woman next door–not just in the lower-economic neighborhoods.
I remember the time a Harvard classmate told me of a story about her country club friend who seemed to have very little “power” since she had no job and “depended” completely on her husband. One day that friend told my friend, “Dear I would never let my husband treat me that way.” It was a wake-up call my Harvard MBA, high-paid friend needed to hear. This women then offered my friend other forms of support that later helped her make new choices. Do you know someone who could use your support in this area?
At a Harvard Women’s Summit a few years ago, Cheryl Sandberg spoke of how women are less inclined than men to apply for jobs (unless they are over qualified), put forth their ideas less then men in larger business meetings, and hold back their greatness over and over again. Do you know any women in your organization who do great work and don’t let it shine? How might your encouragement help them?
Years ago, while raising my children I was part of a mother-daughter group whose primary intention was to support our daughter’s self confidence and their ability to believe in themselves, their ideas and their dreams. An unforeseen outcome was we helped ourselves– adult women–grow in the same attributes. Are their mothers you know that could benefit from each other?
You might feel too busy to join a non-profit organization that empowers young girls, but there may be moments in each day and every week where your offering a hand-up, gentle suggestion, or actual mentoring of another woman could change her life, the life of her children and ultimately a circle of people you will never know. Be that woman.
You can read more about what The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are doing in this blog describing why they have now dedicated much of their foundation’s work to empowering women and girls around the globe.
