United States — News - Blog Roll — She's the First

United States

Fighting Misogyny: Two Student Activists Share How Girls Can Take a Stand

Following the U.S. election results, She’s the First spoke with girls in our Chapters program who live in states and areas where women’s bodies are politicized. A university student from Arizona said that men on her campus held signs that said, “Women are property.” A girl from a high school in Texas told us that boys were walking around the hallway saying, “Your body, my choice.” The use of these phrases online has also spiked dramatically. 

We wanted to see what two alums of our Girl Activist Fellowship thought about the rise of sexist discourse and what girls can do to fight back. Allison Choong, 21, of Penang, Malaysia, and Sania Hammad, 19, from Kansas, U.S, are two of the five co-authors of Safiya Speaks Up!, a children’s book about safety from sexual violence—which they created during their She’s the First fellowship. The book and mentor’s guide have been available for 15 months, and in that time, more than 7,000 girls were introduced to Safiya and learned how to identify safe adults in their lives.

In this conversation, Allison and Sania talk about how they’re tackling significant issues like sex education, reproductive health, and gender-based violence at a time when women’s rights are challenged. 

A Letter to the Girls of She’s the First

A Letter to the Girls of She’s the First

We fight for a world where every girl can choose her own future. This week, that vision may feel further out of reach. Please know that we are here for you—and that we'll continue to listen to your needs and help you advocate in your communities. We're ready for the next fight, by your side.

Girl Activist Fellows Talk Sex Ed Misinformation

Girl Activist Fellows Talk Sex Ed Misinformation

We spoke with two of our Girl Activist Fellows about sex education, the spread of misinformation in their communities, and what changes they want to see. Sydney, 17, who lives in a conservative rural town in Massachusetts, U.S., pointed out that abstinence-only programs cause harm. Faith Boke, 21, from Kuria, Kenya, shared how her community faces shame and misinformation about menstruation and reproductive health. They talked about the need for thorough and inclusive sex education to clear up myths and reduce the stigma around reproductive health. 

Why Do You Need Feminism? She's the First Chapter Speaks Up

Why Do You Need Feminism? She's the First Chapter Speaks Up

Why do you need feminism? Challenging stereotypes about what it means to be feminist and connecting it to their personal lives, students at Clark High School’s She’s the First Chapter in Plano, Texas, crafted empowering posters answering this compelling question.

Girl Activist Fellows Produce Pop-Up Gallery Shows with the Theme “My Body, My Choice”

Girl Activist Fellows Produce Pop-Up Gallery Shows with the Theme “My Body, My Choice”

Girl Activist Fellows from Kenya and the U.S. produced pop-up gallery shows with the theme “My Body, My Choice” for International Day of the Girl. Reproduce This! was a bi-continental art gallery experience produced by a team of girls, for girls. The fellows spent the last year in our program learning how to imagine, plan, and execute an activism campaign and these gallery shows were the result.

Our Co-Founder & CEO Represented STF at the White House!

Our Co-Founder & CEO Represented STF at the White House!

“This week, I had the honor of representing She's the First at the White House for Women's History Month! The President, First Lady, Vice President, and the Second Gentleman gave speeches that underscored the importance of investing in the economic freedom of women and defended girls' and women's rights, especially over their bodies.”