Presented by: Liz Miranda Social Innovator: Grlz Radio Community Center for Entrepreneurship

Transcription

1 Presented by: Liz Miranda Social Innovator: Grlz Radio Community Center for Entrepreneurship

2 IMAGINE.CLOSE YOUR EYES The world of an urban young girl

3 KEY AREAS WOMEN & POVERTY WOMEN & HEALTH WOMEN & EDUCATION WOMEN & LEADERSHIP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN WOMEN & THE MEDIA

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5 WOMEN & POVERTY: FACTS Approximately 1.3 billion people live in extreme poverty in the world, subsisting on less than $1 per day. Nearly all live in the developing world, and a FULL 70% are women and girls. Not only are women over-represented among the world s poor, but it is also thought that they experience poverty differently and often more acutely than men, In the least developed countries, infrastructure to energy, water and food is lacking. Providing for basic needs often falls to women. In developing countries, poor women lack access to education, land, capital and adequate health care.

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7 WOMEN & HEALTH: FACTS BEAUTY The number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on youth 18 or younger more than tripled from 1997 to Among youth 18 and younger, liposuctions nearly quadrupled between 1997 and 2007 and breast augmentations increased nearly six-fold in the same 10-year period. HEALTH 65% of American women and girls report disordered eating behaviors.

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9 WOMEN & EDUCATION: FACTS Two-thirds of the world s children who receive less than four years of education are girls. Girls represent nearly 60% of the children not in school. Women make up 66% of the world s illiterate adults. Women account for 55% of all college students, but even when women have equal years of education it does not translate into economic opportunities or political power.

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11 WOMEN & LEADERSHIP: FACTS FAMILIES Women head 83% of single-parent families. The number of families nurtured by women alone doubled from 1970 to 1995 (from 5.6 million to 12.2 million) POLITICS The United States is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures. Women hold 17% of the seats in the House of Representatives (the equivalent body in Rwanda is 56.3% female) BUSINESS Women are merely 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs Women perform 66% of the world s work, but receive only 11% of the world s income Women own only 1% of the world s land It s highly unlikely for females to excel and pursue leadership in a society where the reality is rarely visible

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13 VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: FACTS Gender-based violence kills one in three women across the world and is the biggest cause of injury and death to women worldwide, causing more deaths and disability among women aged 15 to 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accident, and war. Sources: Amnesty International US Census Bureau Women's Learning Partnership About 25% of girls will experience teen dating violence. Wars today affect civilians most, since they are civil wars, guerrilla actions and ethnic disputesover territory or government. 3 out of 4 fatalities of war are women and children. Rape is consciously used as a tool of genocide and weapon of war. About 75% of the refugees and internally displaced in the world are women who have lost their families and their homes.

14 LOCAL PERSPECTIVE : CIRCLE OF PROMISE ROXBURY, DORCHESTER, JAMAICA PLAIN & SOUTH END Female 52% of Pop High STD rate High Teen Pregnancy rate High Drop-out rate Academic performance below district 20% of Pop under % minority compared to approx 52% in district 30% living below poverty line compared to 21% in district 50% of the households with NO husband present Over 27% on Food Assistance

15 The media has been described as a mirror to society, Which implies that they way women are portrayed are represented pretty much mirrors their status in society.

16 WOMEN & THE MEDIA: FACTS Under-representation of women who determine the content of news, literature, television, film entertainment Negative portrayal of women in entertainment tv and film -Women s Media Center Women hold only 3% of clout positions in the mainstream media (telecommunications, entertainment, publishing and advertising). Women comprise 7% of directors and 13% of film writers in the top 250 grossing films. According to missrepresentation.org American youth are being sold the concept that women and girls value lies in their youth, beauty and sexuality American youth absorb 10 hours & 45 minutes of media everyday Women are hypersexualized The images shown, inevitably effect how women are seen by others and how they see themselves

17 WOMEN & MEDIA : FACTS CONT D Television Most heroes and protagonists particularly in prime time tv tend to be men 3/ of all female characters in sitcoms are under-weight and if they are overweight are the subject of jokes by male characters Women s sports receive far less air time than men s on cable and sports networks Video Games Female characters are scantily clad and highly sexualized Portray and glorify violence against women Film! Number of roles for leading women far below that of men! Use of body doubles for less than idealized body types: un realistic expectations Music Videos Contain unflattering and aggressive lyrics and images about women

18 The media can be an instrument of change: it can maintain the status quo and reflect the views of the society or it can, hopefully, awaken people and change minds. I think it depends on who s piloting the plane. - Katie Couric, Journalist

19 WHAT WE KNOW WORKS Educating women resolves chronic impediments in health and the economy. Educated girls have more life choices as members of their communities! Better able to protect themselves Educated women are more likely to send their daughters to school A key factor in reducing poverty rates and improving overall community and social well-being Eradicating poverty cannot be achieved without an investment in women, that means educating girls.

20 The media is a powerful instrument of change can only occur once we are able to see the type of force this tool has cast on society. It s up to use women to use the force of media to influence positive change and correct the representation of women. -Sifat Azad

21 WHY GRLZ RADIO? EDUCATION & UNDERSTANDING MEDIA LITERACY & CRITICAL THINKING UNITING WITH A SHARED EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY & OPPORTUNITIES CREATING NEW, STRONG VOICES DEVELOPING LEADERS UPLIFTING A COMMUNITY

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