Youth Unit

The Girl Child Concept
By Dr. Madam Catherine Biemkpa
The term, “girl child” has been broadly conceptualized as, a young female child.
Overview
It is a commonplace fact that the Igbo is an ethnic group in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria with a strong inclination for patriarchy. Until recently, most women who give birth to a girl child in Igbo land are unhappy at their first delivery, because of the fear of rejection and disappointment by the husband. In Igbo land, the preference for sons is very prevalent and its existence dates back to pre-historic times, as it is tied to inheritance. Unfortunately, it has not succumbed to societal changes but has remained sacrosanct because of the desire for a son to carry on the family name and guarantee the family lineage.
Importance of a Girl Child
We know that girls play multiple roles in the household, society, and the economy. In addition to helping with numerous housework; they go to school, work in factories, care for elder and younger family members, make friends, and prepare themselves to take on the responsibilities of adulthood.
Rights of a Girl Child
The girl child inherently has rights as a human being. However, those rights have been suppressed by the ways the girl child is traditionally regarded and treated in most cultures vis-a-vis, Igbo culture. Suffice it to say that girls are victims of “double” discrimination (age and gender). By age, they are “minors” and by gender, they are “females”. The discrimination is even worse when the girls are poor, disabled, or from a minority group. They are victims of forced marriage. The illiteracy rate of girls is at 96 million when compared to that of 57 million boys illiteracy rate. The United Nations declaration of International Day of the Girl Child on 11th of October 2012, led to effective highlights of the “girl child’s” rights to; life, education, health, protection from sexual abuse, and exploitation, to mention a few.
Girl Child Education
We understand the importance of education for girl children. In summary, an educated girl is more likely to grow up healthy, safe, and empowered to determine the course of her life and future. She will decide when she is ready for marriage and children. She will likely send her children to school and even live a longer life.
The Good of the Order
Going by the potentialities of the Girl Child, IWMW will be highly invested in the setting up of machinery in motion for educating the girl child through creating awareness that enables the parents to seek maximum and gainful education for the girl child. IWMW will aim at closing the illiteracy gap between the boys and the girls by encouraging the girls to stay in school for completion before getting married and having children of their own. IWMW will also bring pressure to bear on families or households that maltreat and dehumanize any girl child in their care.
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