Why Being a Global Do-gooder is Fiercely Feminist

Global: An Extraordinary Guide for Ordinary Heroes

Women are half the world’s population, but many enjoy second-class citizenship. I’m here to tell you that this issue is the key to a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Women need opportunity, agency, and lives free from violence – the holy trinity of gender equality. When women can go to school, get jobs and be active in the public sphere; they can contribute economically, intellectually and politically to the betterment of society. A country that isn’t using half of its human resources is losing out.

For example, if women farmers had similar access to the sorts of resources that male farmers have, women’s crop yields would increase (by up to 30 percent), which would help slash the number of undernourished people in the world (by up to 150 million!).

Here’s another one: a girl with just one extra year of education can earn 10 to 20 percent more as an adult. When you add up all these potential individual earnings across an entire economy, the wider impacts are astounding. For example, India’s economy would increase by an estimated $5.5 billion dollars annually if they enrolled just one percent more girls in secondary school. Educated mothers are also more than twice as likely to send their own children to school.

Bottom line: gender equality can add $12 trillion to the global economy by 2025. If we can move the needle on just this one issue, we stand to make enormous gains in peace and prosperity.

Want to be fiercely feminist? Figure out which issues or developing countries you’re passionate about, then explore resources for getting involved. You’re more likely to invest your time and resources if you’re focusing on something you’re passionate about.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get out there and create a better world!

Check out my blog on how to become a global citizen for some tips.

Views expressed are my own and not necessarily those of the U.S. Government

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