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One thing has become quite clear – young women are amazing social leaders! From the Women’s March to the Global Climate Strike, girls are blazing the trail for the rest of us. I am so inspired by young women like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg. So, why are young women such amazing social leaders? The answer may be a fascinating mix of history, culture and science.

Young Women are Passionate

Ever had an argument with a teenage girl? Then you have experienced first-hand her commitment to her beliefs. Developmentally, adolescents have a growing sense of self – of their likes and dislikes. Today’s young women are the most educated in history. They learn to understand and form their own strong opinions.

There were just all these things I would notice in my own life, and I did more and more research because I’m a huge nerd – I just like research everything. So, I started to get more educated and involved, and I realized gender equality was something I was super passionate about. Not just in my own community, but globally.

Eva Jones
Founder, Hood River Valley High School GirlUp Club
as featured in UN Foundation’s Promoters of Progress

Young Women are Fearless

Can you imagine campaigning for girls’ education after being shot for going to school? Or, speaking to the General Assembly of the United Nations at 16? Young women are courageously standing up to the establishment, daring the rest of us to join them. They are proud descendants of the women’s liberation movement. Some of this fearlessness may also be biological.

In Puerto Rico’s July 2019 anti-governor protests, young women stood atop police barricades with signs reading “We are more, and we are not afraid”. This, while handing out flowers to both protesters and riot police. No one exemplifies this audacious spirit more than the so called Cacerola Girl. As riot police dispersed the crowds with gas, this young woman remained – alone, banging on her pot in protest.

Leadership is not a choice anymore, it is a necessity.

Monica Singh
UN Women Global Youth Champion and Gender Violence Survivor
speaking at young women’s leadership event at UN headquarters

Young Women Persevere

“Nevertheless, she persisted” became a popular social media meme for young women in 2017. It represents girls’ admiration for women who never give up in the face of societal pressure. Teenagers, psychologists say, grow more assertive and have a greater sense of agency. This means they are more likely to take matters into their own hands. Thus, young women persevere and fight for their dreams.

Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That’s what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.

Bethany Hamilton
The Soul Surfer

Young Women are Authentic

Leadership is about credibility and, therefore, trust. I love how today’s young women leaders show themselves as they are. We connect with them, because they are perfectly imperfect. Because of their honesty and transparency, people feel they can trust these girls.

I know you are trying but just not hard enough. Sorry.

Please save your praise, we don’t want it. Don’t invite us here to just tell us how inspiring we are without actually doing anything about it because it doesn’t lead to anything.

Greta Thunberg
Climate Activist
In a US Senate hearing

Young Women Support Each Other

Young women have really embraced the saying “Girls support girls”. I see it on t-shirts and banners at rallies. This past year, for example, young women in India and Spain have taken to the streets to support victims in gender violence cases. #MeToo shows us that what used to be a deeply isolating experience is no longer so lonely. Girls are unleashing the power of the sisterhood to create social change.

We’ve become social leaders out of necessity. The world and previous generations have failed, and continually fail, our youth: the new rise in authoritarian, far right ideals places the rights of many young people (queer women & women of color in particular) at risk; refusal to act on climate change stops just short of child endangerment; and a lack of gun control measures here in the United States have caused thousands of us to die at school, on the streets, or even at places of worship. And those are just the major issues.
 
We’re angry, frustrated, and disappointed, and rightfully so. We see a world that desperately needs the energy and leadership we as young women can provide. We’ve always been very well aware of the power we hold and the punch we can pack, I think – strong female representation in media has helped in that significantly in recent years for sure. Now we’ve identified the perfect opportunities to harness our power and show the world how girls get things done.

María León-Acosta
Student Social Leader

Want to Learn More About Young Women Social Leaders?

You can visit the UN Women‘s website to learn more about international efforts for gender equality. GirlUp is another interesting movement. For more information on promoting young women’s leadership, see one of the few studies on the subject.

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