Inspiring Girls USA, a national nonprofit organization with a mission to raise girls’ aspirations and break down gender stereotypes, is proud to announce the upcoming relaunch of its transformative social media campaign, #ThisLittleGirlIsMe. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the ongoing commitment to fostering the growth and development of the next generation. According to LinkedIn, the campaign “created the most buzz in the history of the platform.”
#ThisLittleGirlIsMe will run from October 4th through 18th, with a special focus on October 11th, International Day of the Girl. Anticipating the participation of thousands of women across diverse countries, backgrounds, ages, and professions, the campaign invites women to post a picture from their childhood and the piece of advice they’d give their younger self.
The campaign aims to celebrate the influential strength of women role models, particularly those whose stories remain untold. Every woman is enthusiastically encouraged to participate, to spread awareness and inspire the youth of this generation.
Inspiring Girls USA carries out their mission by introducing girls to incredible role models and engaging them in meaningful conversations about their future. The campaign has included posts from extremely prominent women with world-wide recognition, including Annie Lennox, Billie Jean King, Sheryl Sandberg, Martina Navratilova, Julia Gillard, and Arianna Huffington. There was even an endorsement from Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany.
“We are thrilled by the continued growth of our #ThisLittleGirlIsMe campaign. It encapsulates the very essence of empowerment, striking a chord with girls all over the world as they see and read the stories of women who came before them,” said Erin Brown, Executive Director of Inspiring Girls USA, in a press release.
“This campaign not only inspires the younger generation but also resonates across all age groups, uncovering a common thread among women who, too, once longed for such guidance and support during their formative years. It stands as a catalyst for transforming futures, empowering every young girl to chart her own path and embrace the belief that limitless possibilities await,” she continued.
Role models play a crucial role in dismantling stereotypes and bridging the confidence gap that many girls encounter. Research indicates that as much as 70% of girls have reported a shift in their perspectives about the future after being inspired by female role models.
Some other key stats to consider, underscoring why campaigns like this are vital for the empowerment of the next generation of female leaders:
- Girls experience a 30% drop in confidence between the ages of 8-14 (The Confidence Code For Girls, Ypulse, 2018)
- 41% of girls aged 11-21 think there are certain subjects or careers people expect them to do because they are a girl (Girls’ Attitudes Survey, 2020)
- Girls are twice as likely to consider STEM careers after hearing from a women role model working in the sector (Microsoft, KRC research, 2018)
- 67% of young women believe they do not have the same professional chances as men (Girls Attitude Survey, Girl Guiding, 2019)
- Less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women (Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, The Gender Snapshot. 2020)
- 46% of 11-16 year-old girls say they don’t have the confidence to become leaders (Girls Attitude Survey, Girl Guiding, 2019)
- 27% of managers and leaders globally are women (ILO Quantum Leap Report, 2019)
- The average pay gap between men and women per month globally is 20% (ILO Quantum Leap Report, 2019)
In their own interactions with girls aged 11-16, hailing from various corners of the globe, Inspiring Girls USA found some enlightening results. An astounding 92% of these young minds expressed that the impact of witnessing women share their narratives through the #ThisLittleGirlIsMe campaign has substantially altered their outlook on both their professional trajectories and their prospects ahead.
From October 4th -18th, you too can be part of furthering the message in #ThisLittleGirlIsMe on social media. Upload an image of yourself (the campaign suggests a younger photo and a current one for comparison), sharing your story of your younger ambitions in the caption using the dedicated hashtag, include a piece of advice you’d give to your younger self, and tag @InspiringGirlsUSA.
As Geena Davis often says in her speeches and reports through her institute studying gender in media, “if she can see it, she can be it”. Inspiring young girls to know they can be ambitious and mentoring them even in small ways such as social media posts can go a long way to setting them on the path to success and confidence in their lives.
