In the lead up to International Women’s Day last month, I was a guest at the screening of a feature length documentary “I am a Girl” presented by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West Inc.

The documentary addresses what it means to grow up as a female in the 21st century, and follows the lives of six teenage girls on the cusp of womanhood.

“I am a Girl” takes you on a journey with these young women and the issues they face, dictated by many things including religion, where they live, race and social status.

Given that I am way past being “on the cusp of womanhood”, with my teenage years far behind me…I went along expecting that I would simply hear their stories, but not relate to them…my how I was wrong!

As I left the theatre that night, I had tears in my eyes, and an empty feeling in my stomach…like I’d let these girls down by not protecting them…but above all else, it took the words of a teenage girl living on the other side of the world, to describe exactly how I feel…

A quote from Aziza – “those who have lost a mother or a father feel incomplete”…

I encourage you to take a look at this documentary and share it with your own teenage children, both girls and boys!

Regards