Girls Deserve to be Protected at All Cost 

– Nia Jovan Andrews 

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2019, the female population of the United States is approximately 167.2 million. Of that, according to the latest population data, there are approximately 33 million female youths (ages 10-24) in the United States. 

According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 4 girls in the United States have experienced some form of violence or abuse. This includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.  

We recently viewed a YouTube video on a channel called “Soft White Underbelly” where a 14-year-old girl talked about her experience as a prostitute in Los Angeles – they followed-up with a part two showing her speaking on overcoming the life-style, but experience will have lasting effects. Some common effects include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and physical health problems.  

Now that we got some data out of the way, and an example of how vulnerable a young girl can be in the world we live in today, let’s get real. My role as a writer in this modern society is not to make you feel comfortable or even hopeful; it’s to reflect on to you what is happening in the spaces we share in this world. We tend to hide in isolation, maybe because we feel defeated or as if we do not matter to the greater good, but you are here so, you matter!  

I wrote a White Paper addressing domestic violence, what happens in our homes shapes how our children show up in the world; we have men in politics trying to control if we can or if we cannot bring children into this world but fail at shaping a world that truly protects them. 

The White Paper shared how as many as about 4.5 million women (about twice the population of New Mexico) had been threaten with a firearm; we glance over that fact; in 2019, a former FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) employee blew the whistle on how women – particularly women of color come-up missing with no resolve over decades of many cases going cold and still no real federal deep dive into what is really happening to these women. The maternal death rate as of right now has skyrocketed out of control; had it been addressed seriously we would be on a better path. I mention all these topics on the surface, but there is plenty of grassroots efforts digging deep into them; we all must find our place in protecting women, girls and overall womanhood.  

It is important to protect girls from harm and ensure their safety and well-being. Girls are vulnerable to various forms of violence, discrimination, and exploitation, and it is essential to create a supportive and secure environment for them to grow and thrive. Protecting girls requires addressing systemic issues such as gender inequality and promoting education, health, and empowerment. 

There are several organizations that offer support for young girls, such as Girls Inc., Girl Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Additionally, schools often have counseling services available for students in need of emotional support.