Are Girls Really Asking for Too Much?

It’s a question that lingers in conversations, online comments, and even among peers: Are girls today asking for more than they deserve?

We hear it all the time:

"Girls have scholarships, awareness campaigns, and even a day to celebrate them."

"They’re always talking about their problems."

"Is feminism still relevant?"

These sentiments whether whispered or shouted echo the same message: girls have enough already. But is that really the case?

Yes, progress has been made. More girls have access to education, leadership programs are growing, and gender equality is now a global conversation. But let’s not confuse visibility with equity, or progress with parity.

Being heard for the first time is not the same as being dominant. For generations, girls have been silenced, overlooked, and denied. The attention they’re finally receiving isn’t extra—it’s overdue.

Think of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: for anyone to thrive, they must first feel safe, secure, and valued. Yet millions of girls still live in environments where safety is a privilege, not a right. From walking to school in fear, to being dismissed or shamed for having opinions, the daily reality for many girls is far from equal.

When girls ask for consent education, protection from harassment, or the right to live without fear, they’re not asking for too much. They’re asking for just enough. For the bare minimum of what any human deserves.

Feminism isn’t about replacing men’s rights with women’s. It’s about equality—a society where everyone, regardless of gender, can live with dignity and possibility.

So no, girls are not asking for special treatment. We’re asking to be seen. To be safe. To be respected. To no longer carry the burden of proving our worth.

The real question isn’t whether girls are asking for too much.

It’s this: Why are girls still forced to ask at all?

Call to Action:

Let’s shift the narrative. Instead of questioning girls for speaking up, let’s amplify their voices. Whether you're a teacher, a parent, a policymaker, or simply someone who cares—stand with girls, not just on International Days, but every day. Support their safety. Listen to their stories. And most importantly, act to create a world where they no longer have to ask—because they’re already valued.

💬 Share this message. Start a conversation. Be part of the change.

Written by Ha Linh Nguen