Teaching Girls to be Advocates

Without advocates, would women have the vote today?

It was back in January that the Tri-County YWCA declared 2012 to be the "Year of the Young Woman."

Their "Girl Talk" series continues on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 1:30 p.m. when a panel discussion on "issues surrounding advocacy and its importance in the lives of women and girls" will be held.

The YWCA is located at 315 King St., and participants can park in the "permit spaces" in the Evans Street parking lot across King Street from the YWCA.

"The purpose of the program is to inspire a new generation of young women and girls to engage in issue advocacy starting in our local community," according to the YW's flyer on the subject.

"Whether those issues are Internet safety, getting more girls interested in math and science, homelessness or wellness, participation in advocacy is very empowering for young people, especially when they realize their ability to not only influence change, but to create it."

Advocacy can sometimes lead to higher office as well.

"Women are not a special interest group seeking special privileges," the flyer notes.

"We comprise 52 percent of the population and we are citizens who deserve the same freedoms and protections warded our male counterparts," the flyer notes.

"The YWCA Tri-County Area supports and empowers women to have the right to control their own bodies, make their own decisions about healthcare, receive equal pay for equal work and be treated with respect by the men and women who represent them in their state houses and in in Washington."

"We support the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and the restoration of all the rights which have been limited or destroyed by governors and other legislators across the nation and which continue to limit women's participation and progress," the flyer read.

"The latest statistics indicate need for more women elected officials in state legislatures, in the United States Congress and in the White House," the flyer read. "Women comprise more than 50 percent of the population, but make up only 15.3 percent of elected officials in the United States Congress and only 22.8 percent in all state legislatures combined."

The advocacy panel discussion is free with a reservation that can be made at 610-323-1888 or by emailing Dawn Short at dshort@ywcatricountyarea.org