So the lyrics of my song are about women not being able to "speak up" (express themselves freely). To what extent have you observed this in your community ? by Malaika Shongwe

So the lyrics of my song are about women not being able to "speak up" (express themselves freely). To what extent have you observed this in your community ? by Malaika Shongwe https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk en-us 2017-04-18 18:47:09 UTC 2025-10-28 11:42:59 UTC hello@padlet.com Instructions lailai379 https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/166860828 1. Click on the pink + sign in the bottom right corner
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3. Answer the question and tell us about your experiences :) ]]> 2017-04-18 19:00:03 UTC https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/166860828 You have a beautiful voice! And, it's clear that your voice has to speak up and express itself fully. There are so many ways that women are silenced and have been historically. I find myself shaking my head too often these days, given how women still remain silenced in small ways and large. This morning's Catalyst Conference keynote speaker described a kind of silencing in the unequal access to education that girls in Sierra Leone experience and which his organization, Plan International, is working to change. Your music will be your vehicle for making change through speaking out, saying what needs to be said, and striving to end the silencing of women. https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/168767179 2017-04-27 22:04:57 UTC https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/168767179 As a teacher, every day I see women who don't speak up. I know the reason - it's not safe to do so. It's my job to create that safe place, and it can't be built overnight due to the biases many boys are being taught at the same time their teachers are trying to undo that harm. I can speak up whenever I see or hear bias from a boy, I can introduce the work of women in my class content, I can urge all female students to participate in class discussions, and I can directly teach students the history of sexism and male privilege and what it looks like today. I cannot control what my students learn outside my classroom, so this is a battle I will fight for the rest of my career. https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/168981274 Brendan]]> 2017-04-28 21:16:40 UTC https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/168981274 Having read Brendan's comment, I want to echo and add to what he says about making change, especially one as an educator and a parent. Brendan mentions what he can do in several ways, including his work with boys. I think that's critical to underscore, as everyone needs to commit together to fighting for equality and for enabling women to be fully equal participants. We have to make change with everyone's support and commitment. As the mother of two white boys, I feel a huge responsibility to help them understand the unearned privileges they receive, simply because of their gender, ethnicity, and class, while also helping them become thoughtful, empathic men who have enormous regard and respect for girls and women. My older son has participated in Planned Parenthood's Teen Council, a peer education group dedicated to healthy sexuality and relationships. This has been invaluable for his understanding of the problems he needs to work towards solving, especially in regards to equality as well as questions of identity and how that informs our understanding of ourselves and of others. Keep going with your work, Malaika, and see allies everywhere! And, music is just the vehicle for enabling many people to get involved and to care and engage. https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/169075225 2017-04-30 19:35:41 UTC https://padlet.com/lailai379/eo9g7yu0bemk/wish/169075225