Empower a Young Girl Today

Can you think of a woman who has impacted your life? Maybe she’s your mom, or your sister, or your 2nd grade teacher. She might even be Maya Angelou, Mia Hamm, or Jeannette Rankin. Our personal lives and societies worldwide have undoubtedly been shaped by intelligent, creative and courageous women. We celebrate their contributions and achievements on this International Women’s Day, and every day, and hope that their ongoing legacies serve as an inspiration for future generations.

It’s hard to believe that there was once a time when society feared the education of women. Many believed our social systems would crumble if women received a higher education. Many worried that their traditional roles would be lost, along with their femininity. You may balk at this idea, but as you (hopefully) may know, a significant gender wage gap exists worldwide and it grows larger as workers age.

An eye-opening report from the non-profit WageIndicator Foundation includes more than 500,000 observations across 11 countries between 2006 and 2010. While the gender pay gap is particularly evident in developing countries, women in the United States have their challenges too. Even though women account for more than 75% of our nation’s teachers (according to 2006 statistics by the National Education Association), The New York Times reported in 2010 that female elementary and middle school teachers make 9% less than male teachers, and female high school teachers make 10% less than their male counterparts.

Women are doctors, scientists and police officers. They’re writers, lawyers and marketing executives. They’re mothers and daughters – CEOs and world leaders. Most importantly, they make up nearly half of our planet’s future generation. They’re our students, and they’re the children we tuck into bed at night.

Every day is an opportunity to empower our young women and present them with the gift of choice. Whether we’re at home or in the classroom, it’s our responsibility to educate and inspire one day – and one child – at a time.

Wendy Wegner is editor of educational content for 1 On 1 Academic Tutors and the LA K-12 Examiner. Follow Wendy’s education coverage in Los Angeles and read the original post on Examiner.com.