Growing up, I thought I understood the meaning of the phrase “girl power.” We hear it all the time; be strong, be confident, stand up for yourself, do whatever you set your mind to.
Although this all still rings true, my understanding of “girl power” has changed over time. As I grew up a little, developed my own opinions, beliefs, and values, I began to encounter some experiences that allowed me to truly understand what it means to be a girl.
From the Very Beginning…
There is no denying that women have faced many challenges over the course of history, and for minority women, these challenges are even greater. From the battle for women’s suffrage in 1919 to the fight for paid maternity leave (and more) today, there have been many big steps taken, but there are still many huge steps to go, regardless of political stance. I think fighting for human rights and opportunities is something we can all get behind.
Rewind to 2014, when I first got involved in the Miss America Organization. This new experience required me to study social issues and public policy to prepare for my pageant interviews and onstage questions. To expand my knowledge, I started following news sources, public figures, and political leaders. I started to develop an interest in the important issues and make connections regarding how these issues affect me, my friends, family, other young women, and even strangers. We are ALL affected by what happens around us, even if they may seem like the smallest matters in our personal lives.
I learned that there are so many people worldwide without access to basic needs, like food, water, shelter, or healthcare. These people may even be our neighbors. Additionally, there are some people around the world (by some, I mean MILLIONS) who long for education or safety in their own communities. Many of these people are girls and women.
I know what you may be thinking, “What about boys and men?” Of course boys and men are also crucial parts of our society! I’ll always be an advocate for the success of both men and women. Both populations contribute highly to our communities. However, for my mission specifically, I wanted to target young girls and women because I recognize a need for programs for girls to be involved in, from a local to global level.
Starting a Brainstorm…
From here, the Miss America Organization encouraged me to form an opinion on EVERYTHING, which motivated me to start conversations and apply things that I enjoy toward making a difference. I’ve always enjoyed lifting up other girls and women, encouraging them to believe in their dreams and shoot for the stars and beyond. However, I wanted to do more. How could I make a change with this passion of mine?
One day, I was working on expanding my Miss America Organization platform (a pageant “platform” is an issue or cause I am passionate about and wish to promote as a contestant). I simply Googled, “ways to help girls around the world” and “nonprofit organizations for girls.” This is when I discovered Girl Up, a movement created by the United Nations Foundation, which aims to empower girls to advocate for the safety, health, and education of other girls worldwide, specifically in developing nations. I fell in love with this mission and became a community advocate for Girl Up.
“When girls are empowered, it benefits all of us. Investing in girls is key to reducing poverty: Girls who receive an education marry later, have fewer children, and are more likely to get healthcare for themselves and their children. Every year of schooling increases a girl’s future earnings by 10-20%.” –Girl Up (HIGHLY encourage everyone to check out this link and this campaign)
During the course of the next few years, I also took on a few new jobs and internships, earned a local MAO title, met many influential community members, made friends, lost friends, and gained a new understanding of who I am and what I want to be.
This is when I decided that, although empowering girls worldwide is something I am so passionate about, I want direct my focus a little closer to home. I started blogging here and there (writing has always been another fun hobby of mine) and I began to really think about ways to make an impact and how I can use my voice.
This is when I published To Today’s 14 Year-Old Girls, a message from myself to a younger population of girls. Never in a million years did I anticipate this article reaching so many people and generating as much feedback as it did. I got messages from girls, parents, community members, and leaders, racking up over 800,000 views. I knew, at this point, that I was capable of using my voice to make changes.
This time in my life between 2014 and 2017 is when I began to discover what I’m meant to do and who I was made to become. When I was young, being a girl meant following the rules, fitting into a mold made by society, growing up to be a wife and mother…the usual. Today, being a girl and WOMAN means I have the voice to speak and the power to act. I get to choose my own destiny, and it’s okay if it’s not the norm. I’ve developed the confidence to form my own opinions and beliefs, and I firmly believe that every girl is capable of that as well.
Taking Action…
In this day and age, nobody is afraid to share those opinions and beliefs. However, how often do we see people physically standing up for what they believe in? ACTING on their opinions and beliefs? Going out and MAKING THE CHANGE they so openly spew about on social media? Hardly.
People, young and old, continue to want change to happen, but instead of stepping up, they are guarded by lack of motivation, confidence, leadership skills, or knowledge on where to begin. The reasons are endless.
This is where I wanted to step in.
We NEED more people to use their passions and interests to make positive changes, starting right here at home. I found that my passion lies in empowering girls, so I decided to make my mark that way. This is when GEMS- Girls Empowered and Motivated to Serve was born.
Rooted in the importance of service and community involvement, GEMS is a program I wanted to develop (with generous assistance from some wonderful, motivated women in my life). GEMS offers workshops for girls to learn about motivation, confidence, and empowerment. The program allows them to discover their true purpose and take on a service project of their own, depending on their own unique passions and talents.
By creating a positive, safe environment for girls, I’ve found that they feel more comfortable being open about their passions and dreams, as well as their insecurities and concerns. It’s crucial to provide a space for girls, young and old, to connect, learn, and flourish.
GEMS is just getting started, but this has been my way of putting my own skills, passions, and motivation to positive use. GEMS is just a stepping stone toward a future of strong, empowered girls who aim to be the next generation of leaders. By understanding my voice and the impact I can make, I chose to fuel my fire by researching ways I can make my mark and creating a community of people who are just as motivated as I am. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire.
It’s Your Turn…
I invest in girls because I believe girls are the future. We need more girls taking on leadership roles and influencing communities, government, and beyond. Growing up, I thought I understood the meaning of the phrase “girl power.” We hear it all the time; be strong, be confident, stand up for yourself, do whatever you set your mind to.
Today, “girl power” to me means recognizing your true worth as a woman, taking control of your own life by exploring the things you’re passionate about, taking advantage of the opportunities that are given to you, appreciating the privileges that women before you fought for, standing up for girls worldwide, and fighting for opportunities you may not have yet.
“Be the change you want to see in the world” is a paraphrased quote from Gandhi, but many people don’t know that the full quote delivers a much deeper message:
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” – Mahatma Gandhi
It is within us to understand our true value and capabilities as humans. Once we are able to do this, we can reflect that out to the world. From here, the world will also change to reflect us. Go out and do what sets your soul on fire.
Love always,
Jessica
Just Jessica by Jessica Hammer 