In today’s world, being a girl often comes with silent struggles, especially when it comes to safety and dignity. While society teaches girls how to protect themselves, it rarely teaches boys to respect boundaries. This imbalance continues to fuel a culture of silence and victim blaming that must be addressed.
Let’s be honest, most of us have heard phrases like “You shouldn’t have worn that,” or “Why did you go to his house?” These comments shift the blame onto victims rather than holding perpetrators accountable. In one tragic case I heard of, a 4-year-old girl was abused by a trusted family driver. Even more horrifying was his response: he claimed the child was “attractive.” Such a statement isn’t just disgusting, it reflects the deep rot in how some men view young girls.
Another disturbing example involved a 17-year-old girl offered a job by a man who later harassed her with inappropriate questions. When she refused to entertain him, he mocked her and made her doubt her worth. These are not isolated incidents. These are not movie scenes or social media trends. They are real experiences faced by girls in our communities, maybe even someone you know.
The truth is, most girls carry wounds they never talk about. Fear of not being believed. Fear of being blamed. Fear of reliving the trauma. And all of this adds layers to an already heavy burden.
But we must speak up not just the victims, but all of us. As a society, we need to move beyond sympathy and into action. It starts with believing survivors, teaching consent early, and holding predators accountable, regardless of who they are.
To every girl who has ever felt ashamed, silenced, or blamed: You are not alone. You are not broken. You are not defined by what happened to you. You are strong, worthy, and deserving of safety.
Let’s raise our voices not just in pain, but in power. We owe it to every girl to make this world a safer place.
