Recently came across an essay competition for female teenagers to write on the topic "why do I matter" and given that I live with 4 teenage girls I asked them to submit entries, excited to read what they have to say. Suffice to say I was disappointed.
For any further gist and to help with this conversation I will be naming them Drama queen (S.S.1, art student, 17 years old ), Princessa( 200level, English, 18), Homebody (awaiting admission,science,18) and Killmonger (S.S.3, art, 19), so when I told them this were the reactions I got.
Princessa: I am not doing, it is a waste of my time.
Homebody: I am not an art student, I can't write this essay, it is not for me.
Killmonger: I have exams, I don't have time.
Drama queen : I want to write it, but I don't know what to Write.
Please note that all these girls have been through things that no child should face, been kicked down by the misogynistic community they lived in , doing well academically but can't or won't let themselves see themselves as people who deserves to be heard.