Feminist perspectives and critical analysis

The girls’ programs found in the scan have been developed to foster the strengths, abilities and health of girls. Few, however, promote an expressed feminist perspective or purport to use an analysis of gender, race, class and sexuality in their implementation. Again, those programs mentioned in this scan that are explicitly working for social change are exceptions. The degree to which a critical analysis of equity issues is used in the design of other programs and with the girls themselves varies from program to program. For some, the lack of articulation of this approach may simply be a strategy to fend off negative forces in their communities, and avoid backlash. As it is, advocates commented that they must continue to be creative and vigilant in making the case for girl-specific programs, to address the many arguments of those who feel there is no need (“why girls?”) and to address exclusivity (“what about boys?”). It is interesting to note that the representative of Girls Inc. responsible for Canadian programming has found more receptivity to girl-centred programs in Canada among audiences they address than with similar audiences in the US.

Read more...

The Direct Action

The MS Foundation has an explicit interest in sparking the involvement of girls in making change not only in their own lives but also in the larger community. They emphasize, “in a social change model, girls do not have to accept this inequality.” And individual resiliency and self-esteem, as one key informant commented, is important but individualizes problems that are societal in nature. The message here is that “girls are not the problem.” For this reason, MS has promoted the involvement of girls in their communities – as active change agents. Community action gives girls visibility, a sense of their own power, and moves the community to see girls’ best assets and potential contributions. Community action is viewed on a continuum from community service to direct action. In Canada, programs such as Power Camp National/Filles d’action are beginning to clearly articulate this as a best practice in girl-centred programming, by encouraging action-oriented strategies and connections to the community.

Read more...

The Physical activity

While young girls may be taking global and local activism to the Internet, another positive observation is that national networks and organizations in particular are now clearly articulating their role as advocates for girls’ gender-based programming in Canada. The YWCA National and Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sports and Physical Activity are two such organizations. Girls Inc. has also identified a role for itself in advocating for positive media attention and policy change, although there is not a critical mass of Canadian-based affiliates as yet to move forward on its agenda.

Read more...

The Projects

Our research did identify e-zine and web-based projects, some arising from community programming. The Venus Project in Toronto and the Young Women Work participatory research in Winnipeg, for instance, are two that include e-zine production by girls. Power Camp National/Filles d’action is also currently developing an on-line, live-action zine to increase the visibility, profile and voices of young women across Canada doing great things. There are myriad other e-zines for girls, some explicitly feminist or aimed at empowering and others emphatically not. Given that most girls’ e-zines are not community-based programs in the sense of being location-based and
grounded in a community program, they are not featured in the program scan. However, encouraging and supporting involvement in such projects is very much in keeping with the best practices in girls’ programming.

Read more...