On March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day, a day to recognize the accomplishments of women while shining a light on the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality.
What She Said! spoke to Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO of global girls’ rights organization, Plan International Canada, regarding the organization’s newly released national survey data that revealed the roadblocks young women experience as they enter womanhood.
The survey found that young women in Canada are less likely to believe they can lead, to believe their ideas are taken seriously, or to feel empowered to share their opinions, and are more likely to feel pressure to change their physical appearance and behaviours. For too many girls, here and around the world, ‘normal’ means experiencing roadblocks and adversities that challenge their power, freedom and equality as they enter womanhood.
Plan International Canada is calling on Canadians to #DefyNormal by not just listening to girls, but amplifying their voices, and helping to support their transition into empowered, confident women, ready to unleash their full potential.
Learn more about Plan International Canada at plancanada.ca, join the conversation online with @criseboro on Twitter, and with @plancanada on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.