• 65 per cent of participants from India and Rwanda totally or partially agreed with the statement ‘A
woman should tolerate violence in order to keep her family together’. A further 43 per cent agreed
with the statement: ‘There are times when a woman deserves to be beaten.’
• ‘Changing diapers, giving kids a bath and feeding kids are the mother’s responsibility.’ 67 per cent
of boys and 71 per cent of girls in Rwanda agreed, as did 83 per cent of boys and 87 per cent of
girls in India.
• Our survey showed, however, that children are actually happier when they see their parents
sharing household responsibilities (eg when dads cook and do the laundry, both parents make
decisions and when their mums spend their time in and out of home).
• Over 60 per cent of children interviewed in India for this report agreed that ‘if resources are scarce
it is better to educate a boy instead of a girl’
The above information is from a report by Plan International, an international organization focused on improving the lives of children all over the world. Because I am a Girl is an annual report which assesses the current state of the world's girls. Their research is reliable and more reports and research is available on their website at http://www.planusa.org/ .
One event being held today in Liberia to mark International Women's Day today is The Association for the Advancement of LIberian Girls (AALG). AALG will host a roundtable discussion with female students at Children's Village High School and professional women in the community as they explore careers usually closed to women in Liberia. The AALG is a registered NGO in Liberia established as an advocate for Liberian females through education, philanthropy and social activities.
Pictured below is Mrs. Morris who is over ninety years old and taught school in her Liberian community for more than 65 years. Here she is pictured with her young friends. The aspiration behind International Women's Day is that these little girls and the little boys of their generation will grow up in a society that offers a better life of opportunity, respect and health for everyone - boys and girls, men and women.
