I feel privileged to speak my mind, and hope for a time when all women can do the same
Author: info@klassikdigital.co.za
Sheen Tyagi became an activist when she was just 10 years old. “When I discovered that changes in my community were because of climate change, I was like … I have to do something about this,” she recalls.
Meet Sheen Tyagi, a champion fighting for girls and women to be #EqualEverywhere.
“I have seen women tolerate physical, verbal, emotional, mental, and financial abuse to avoid conflicts, social stigma, and lack of financial independence,” Sheen says. “Seeing the daily struggle of women drives me to act for gender justice and equality.”
Sheen, a 16-year-old Young Climate Advocate and founding member of her local Girl Up chapter in India, has been a gender equality advocate for years, and has taken action as she watched the pandemic further exacerbate inequalities.
“I find it more difficult now than ever before to reach girls and women in semi-urban and rural areas who care about sustainability and climate action,” she says.
Especially when combined with the effects of a devastating pandemic, gender disparities, societal expectations, and access to resources continue to be institutionalized and validated through discriminatory laws and negative cultural influences.
“Despite the progress we’ve made, there is still a tremendous gap between cultures, beliefs, traditions, and women’s participation in the world,” Sheen says. And she’s right.
Did you know that…
- - 32 countries have not enacted legislation to address domestic violence
- - 18 countries require women to have their husband’s permission to work outside the home
- - 30% of countries still restrict women’s freedom of movement
- - Test your knowledge of discriminatory laws and systems by taking the #EqualEverywhere quiz now — women around the world will thank you