After watching the powerful documentary, Girl Rising, it makes me appreciate growing up in the states. One of the characters, Wadley, is a 7 year old girl that lives in Haiti. She went to school and loved it, but then the infamous earthquake hit Haiti, turning the country to ruins. After this natural disaster, Wadley could no longer attend school because her family did not have enough money to pay for it. This, however, did not stop this brave young girl, who continued to go to school everyday even though she was told to leave. Eventually, she told her teacher that she would come back every day until she was allowed to stay, and the teacher agreed to let her sit in class. Unlike public school in the US, school in Haiti is not free. Children that live there do not have the right to an education as children in the US do, which is sad especially for children like Wadley who crave knowledge.
Another girl in the movie, Yasmin, is shown as a 12 year old girl living in Egypt. The culture of Egypt is different and Yasmin has to wear a scarf over her head. The scene shows this girl telling the police about how a man tried to abduct her and her friend, and ultimately tried to rape her. She fought back and cut him with a shard of glass, claiming to be a superhero. The police tell Yasmin's mother that they will not receive justice against this man, and he is right. The story ends by the narrator explaining that the man who committed this crime had no consequences for his actions. Just like Wadley, Yasmin is a brave and strong young girl who comes from a poor family. Yasmin does not attend school because her family cannot afford it, therefore she works with her mother. The narrator tells the audience that Yasmin is now 13, but she cannot read or write; she is also engaged to be married.
Although the cultures of both these countries are drastically different, they both have very little emphasis on education. Wadley, unlike Yasmin, is lucky enough to have some schooling, even if it is a small amount. Egyptian culture puts emphasis on women being wives, evident by this 13 year old girl being engaged. She will most likely never receive an education, and will spend her life as a housewife having children and taking care of a husband she will probably never grow to love. Both these cultures are drastically different than the US, where girls are boys both have the right to an education. America believes in educating our youth because they are the adults of the future. We also encourage both sexes to be independent and marry who they want to when they are ready. A 13 year old girl who is engaged would not be acceptable, or even legal in the states. I feel blessed to be a part of a country like America, but we definitely take it for granted. I am a 21 year old girl who has always gone to school and plans to be a doctor, while there are girls all over the world who will never see the inside of a classroom. This movie, along with others, are made to put our lives in perspective and to create a desire for change in us; to make us want to go out and help these young children around the world. I think this movie definitely made that point clear.
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