Rebuilding after COVID-19: Here's What Gender Advocates Want to See for Women and Girls

The world that I want to see for women and girls. The world I want to see for women and girls is a world with equal opportunity in regards to education and jobs. A world without fear. Fear of violence, fear of poverty, fear of being discriminated against. Better racial, social, and economic justice. Is one in which they are free from the fear of violence and have the freedom to make the decisions that affect their own destiny. A world that prioritizes the voices and perspectives of women and girls from all walks of life. That embraces all of their exuberance and celebrates all of their difference. The world I want to see for women and girls is one that all little girls of all races can be able to envision a path, a career, a future. I want to see a world where girls and women are unafraid and unapologetic. Where the color of a person's skin doesn't mean that they're more likely to die in childbirth. Where no one has to choose between their life and their livelihood. Between their careers, running for office, and their families. The world I want to see is one where women are sitting at the leadership table when decisions are made about how to rebuild from COVID-19. One of power and hope. Of making investments and making that vision attainable. Of action instead of words. One in which we create a new model of leadership. A world in which we understand that we are the architects of change. To build a society that is rooted in abundance and thriving rather than scarcity and survival. What the world is seeing now in this crisis is simply magnifying and exacerbating the existing problem. We need to hear from women and non-binary folks of all classes, races, and sexual orientations. Creating methodologies, strategies, policies that include gender sensitivity and gender responsiveness even as we respond to COVID. This pandemic has exposed inequalities in our system, and gender equality should be at the center of how we rebuild when we reopen. I would love a world that women and girls play the part they're supposed to play. And I would definitely love a world where women and girls are seen as human beings and are cared for as such. We are better than anyone could dream that we could be. Thank you.