56 Health Concerns of Girls
Changes
that Can
Lead to a
Better Life
414
self-esteem
The way a woman sees herself forms as she grows. It is
important that a girl learn to feel good about herself when she
is young, so that she will be able to develop fully and help make
her community a better place. A girl is much more likely to
learn this when her family and community show her that they
value her.
In many places girls are raised to believe they are less
important than boys. They are taught to feel shame about their
bodies and about being female, and they learn to accept less
education, less food, more abuse, and more work than their
brothers. This not only hurts their health directly, but it makes
them feel bad about themselves and less able to make the right
decisions for a healthier life in the future. When girls are raised
in this way, it shows that their communities do not value them
as much as boys.
But if a girl’s community recognizes the value of each
person—whether the person is male or female—she will grow
up feeling she can make a better life for herself and for her
family and neighbors.
Teacher, we could
organize a health
fair at school to
show people how
diseases are spread
and how to stay
healthy.
A girl will feel proud if she
sees that her efforts can
make her community better.
7
low status of women
The way a community treats females also affects how
families treat their girl children. For example, if a community
believes that girls should learn skills, a family that lives there is
more likely to want their daughter to go to school for as long
as she can. But in a community where women are allowed to
do only ‘women’s work’ and are not allowed to participate in
any public meetings, families are much less likely to believe that
their daughters should be educated.
There are many ways to help girls feel better about
themselves and to help their families and communities
understand that girls’ lives can be different. On the next few
pages are some ideas.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012