Haleema
Why are you an activist for young women and girls' rights and well-being?
I grew up seeing and being impacted by various forms of gender-based violence such as sexual harassment, state violence, and domestic violence. As a child, I did not understand why this was happening or how to stop it. My journey into young womanhood empowered me to take action, to speak up and to do something. It was because of women TGNC (Transgender and Gender Nonconforming) adults who modeled for me and mentored me that I was able to develop my own voice. I am an activist for young women and girls*, and gender-expansive youth because I can’t live knowing that half of our society is being held back, oppressed, and harmed. Fighting for the needs of girls and gender-expansive youth is fighting for fundamental human rights, rights that when granted, benefit us all. When girls thrive, we all do.
What's the biggest threat to girls' rights today?
The biggest threat to girls*’ rights today are toxic cultural norms that permeate all levels of our society, influencing media, government policies, and behaviors. Examples of this culture include rape culture and the gender binary which result in the enactment of violence on girls* and gender-expansive youth. At Alliance for Girls, we believe that it is imperative that our advocacy includes intentional narrative and cultural strategy to combat these harmful norms and help create new ones.
What can people do to get involved to help support girls' rights and well-being everywhere?
Girls and gender-expansive youth need caring adults who can support them, access to gender responsive programs, and resources that meet their expressed needs. To that end, girls organizations need to be well funded to provide this, and our government agencies are including girl leaders at the table to inform policy decisions that impact their lives. Every day, people have the power to make change. I think of leaders like Santana, a trans activist fighting for safer public transit in the Bay Area, or youth researcher Uche, as well as the the amazing individuals on Alliance for Girls’ Young Women’s Leadership Board, who have shone a bright light on the issues facing girls amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They inspire me every day with their advocacy and remind me of the power we each hold to speak up, act, and make change.
*“Girls” refers to gender-expansive youth (cis girls, trans girls, non-binary youth, gender non-conforming youth, gender queer youth and any girl-identified youth).