Ep 10: Girls Who Run….for Office

Quote: With women being the minority in every government in the world, it is vital that we don’t allow ourselves to be cut out of discussions due to who we are and what we represent, and that we fight for our position and our beliefs. (Student at Canberra Girls Grammar School) When a young woman aspires to enter the political arena, she faces an array of challenges–from societal bias to the discouragement of family and friends. According to statistics maintained by the United Nation, as of September 2021, there are a mere 26 women serving as Heads of State or Government in nations around the world. Even more astounding, there are still 27 countries in the global realm in which women account for less than 10% of parliamentarians. In this episode, our conversation focuses on what adults can do to ensure that girls with political aspirations become women whose ambition and courage place them in rooms where their voices will make a difference in the legislative agenda. Along the way, we discuss the barriers they confront and ways to prepare them to challenge those barriers. Host Trudy Hall invites Julie Joritssma, Acting Principal, and Winifred Hanson, Head of Academic Engagement, from Canberra Girls Grammar School in the Australian capital city of Canberra, to talk about a program designed to ensure girls understand and engage in the political realm. They offer lessons learned, practical advice and a savvy understanding of the skills girls need to successfully enter the political fray. They take the responsibility for preparing girls for a life of service very seriously; they want girls to be able to “open the door, enter the room, and join the conversation.” The resources you need to know about: NCGS: https://www.ncgs.org/ Canberra Girls Grammar School: https://www.cggs.act.edu.au/student-life/co-curricular/the-house