The Hard Truth – And What We Want to Tell Our Daughters
We like to think we’ve come a long way. We have. But the road is long and the world is a bumpy one.
Peel back the glossy veneer of progress, and the truth is more uncomfortable: for millions of women around the world, basic rights remain a distant dream. Violence, inequality, and systemic neglect are not relics of the past—they are today’s reality.
The statistics scream, but too often, the world shrugs. So the question isn’t whether the fight for women’s rights is still necessary—it’s why we’re still having to fight at all.
What kind of world are we handing to our daughters? One that tells them their value is conditional? Their safety negotiable? Their dreams optional?
This is not about politics. It’s about humanity. It’s about standing up for a future where every woman—regardless of where she’s born—has the freedom to live, to lead, and to thrive.
1. Land Ownership: Equal Opportunity for All
Women’s access to land ownership is still a barrier in many parts of the world. In developing countries, women represent just 13% of landholders, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). To our daughters, we want to instill the importance of not only owning property but understanding the need to empower women with the same opportunities.
Land ownership is not just about wealth – it’s about freedom, independence, and security. If women around the world had equal access to land, we would see an enormous shift in communities’ economic well-being. Teaching our daughters to value fairness, respect for all people, and equality ensures that they will one day step into a world where women’s rights are recognized and valued.
2. Honor Killings: The Right to Live Free from Fear
Each year, an estimated 5,000 women worldwide are victims of honor killings. These murders are carried out by family members who claim that the women have brought dishonor to their families. To our daughters, we need to teach them that honor is not about shame, but about integrity and kindness. We cannot let cultural practices that harm and kill women be normalized. By teaching our children to care for one another, to speak up when they see injustice, and to never tolerate violence – we create a generation that values life, safety, and dignity for all people.
3. Domestic Violence: Speak Up, Seek Help
Domestic violence is a global epidemic. The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 3 women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner. This is a heartbreaking reality for far too many women. We want our daughters to understand that no one should ever feel trapped in an abusive situation, and it’s okay to seek help. It’s not about politics – it’s about ensuring that we all stand up against violence in any form. Teaching them that love should be kind, healthy, and safe sets a foundation for a life built on respect, empathy, and equality.
4. Education: The Power of Knowledge
Education is one of the most powerful tools for empowering women, but millions of girls and women around the world are still denied the chance to learn. According to UNESCO, 132 million girls worldwide are out of school. Every time we support a girl’s education, we are not just helping one person – we’re changing the trajectory of entire communities. To our daughters, we want to impress upon them the idea that knowledge isn’t just about personal success – it’s about lifting others up and being part of something larger than themselves. If we want to create a world that cares about one another, we must fight for education for all.
5. Earnings and Economic Equality: Fairness for All
The gender pay gap remains a serious issue, with women earning, on average, 23% less than men for the same work, according to the World Economic Forum. This issue isn’t just about fairness – it’s about ensuring that women have the means to support themselves and their families. For our daughters, we want to send a clear message: fairness matters. No matter what field they choose to pursue, they should be empowered to know their worth, advocate for equal pay, and demand respect. By instilling the importance of equal opportunity, we show them that caring about the people around us means fighting for what’s fair, no matter the circumstances.
6. Childcare Burden: Share the Responsibility
Women still bear the brunt of unpaid domestic and care work. Women spend on average three times more time on unpaid work than men. This affects women’s ability to pursue careers, education, and personal growth. To our daughters, we need to teach that caregiving is a shared responsibility. True equality isn’t just about women having access to work and education; it’s about recognizing that both partners in a family are responsible for providing care, support, and love. Teaching our daughters this will set a standard for their relationships and encourage fairness in how both parents contribute to home life and beyond.
Why These Issues Can’t Be Dismissed: The Bigger Picture
This isn’t a political talking point. Not everything needs to be rooted in politics. Every day, millions of women around the world are denied their basic rights, and the impact ripples through communities, economies, and nations. For our daughters, this should never be a question of politics or an “us vs. them” debate. It’s about understanding the need to care for those around us, to see the value in each person’s humanity, and to never stand by while others suffer.
If we truly care for the people around us, we will fight for a world that values equality, respect, and opportunity for all. And that’s a world worth striving for.
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Well said. But I urge all of us when we talk about this to not just say “teach our daughters” …. We need to teach our daughters AND our sons these things if we are to create and foster a world where women’s rights are valued and protected. As a mother of three sons (who are now young men) I set out to raise men who understood these things.
Beautiful