Investing in youth education to deconstruct harmful gender stereotypes

Editor's note: This blog post was compiled by Michael Nabieu, a youth activist and member of the Adolescent Influencers Movement, and Amé Atsu David, Regional Co-Director for Africa at Global Fund for Children.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a critical international moment for individuals and organizations around the world to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge to help end all types of violence against girls and women. In this blog post, adolescents and youth aged 13-25 share personal stories that confront deeply rooted traditional gender stereotypes.

Through the Adolescent Girls Summit, first held in 2022, Global Fund for Children and its partners are empowering young minds to serve as catalysts for change in their countries, challenge stereotypes, and redefine societal expectations. By including boys in these conversations, GFC and its partners are paving the way for a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can realize their full potential.

Youth voices on gender stereotypes

"In my journey, growing up as a boy, my view on house chores was clouded by societal expectations. I harbored a negative perception, believing these tasks were primarily meant for girls or women. However, my mindset underwent a significant transformation through my interactions with like-minded young people. I realized that chores shouldn't be confined to gender stereotypes."

- Michael Nabieu, 21

"The assumption in my community that women inherently desire to care for the family creates a false narrative. Cooking, often seen as a basic household skill, should be accessible to all genders, as all can excel in caregiving and management."

- Fakanbi Ogeoluwa, 19

"In my society, entrenched traditional roles and stereotypes persist, reinforcing the belief that women shouldn't assume leadership roles. It is also a belief that boys should be given the leverage to socialize freely, whilst girls are kept under strict supervision."

- Abubakarr Kabba, 16

"I have a younger brother. Each time he cries, everyone screams out and asks him, 'Why will you do that? Are you not aware a boy is not supposed to cry?' My sister and I look at him and say: 'Cry all you want, express your emotions. You are human.' I think we've been creating awareness for too long. It's high time we start implementing the change we seek."

- Favour Unoh, 18

"During my upbringing, I held the belief that women or females were not superior. The societal image of a woman seemed to convey weakness and lesser competence, framing them solely as supporters rather than central figures."

- Mabinty Koroma, 23

"To resolve these issues, we need to start now. Changing people's mindsets by creating awareness is essential."

- Daniel Oyekachi, 18

To end sexual and gender-based violence, we the young people suggest that it is crucial to dispel stereotypes, encourage emotional expression, challenge beliefs such as "boys don't cry," empower girls to pursue any career, advocate for shared responsibilities, and acknowledge diverse capabilities.

Global Fund for Children's work with adolescents in West Africa is supported by People's Postcode Lottery and Tides Foundation.