„Women carry out two-thirds of the world's work hours, they receive one-tenth of its income and own less than a hundredth of its property.”
GirlsAndWomen.com
I am no. 4 588. It neither my favourite number, nor my phone number, flat number or even nickname on Facebook. No. I am number 4 588 of 3.3 billion girls and women in the world.
Now, I know the number was randomly generated. Yet it means something to me. For some reason, I am somehow proud of it. It makes me feel more a part of the global female society. And it makes me feel more… important. It's not like I were somehow better than those about 3 299 995 412 girls and women “behind” me. But maybe I am luckier than them. Perhaps, as I am a university student even though I am “just” a woman, I haven't experienced gender-related discrimination at work (yet), I haven't been considered any man's property, I haven't been expected to keep my mouth shut and bear a lot of healthy sons as my only life purpose, and I haven't been forced by my family to sell my body in order to bring some money, I am sort of privileged – blessed with things women outside of “Top 100 000 000”, or other number, are not. And maybe I can help those less lucky. I don't know yet how – I might never be a president with pro-women politics, a multimillionaire providing generous donations or a volunteer teaching girls in Somalia, but still there are things I can do. If nothing more, I can spread the word, talk about problems, share my thoughts – either face to face or in media. I can do my smaller or bigger part. And I ought to. Being number 4 588 of 3.3 billion, so high in the list, can mean I am so responsible for other female creatures. And maybe so strong and powerful in doing that too.
Because I am no. 4 588.
For obtaining your own unique number (girls ad women only) and for more information about the issue, the upcoming G(irls)20 Summit and the opportunity for 18–20-year-old girls to attend, have a look at http://www.girlsandwomen.com/.
Hi Radovana,
Although I am 100% male, I could not resist checking out my number. For purposes of convenience I changed my name to ‘Johanna’. Guess what, my number is 4597.
Uhm…...now what?
Now we know that probably the number is not really randomly generated, merely a counter of how many people already tried it. And you have ruined the magic of it. Plus you have cheated, creating a fictional female character, which means that (apart from your approaching punishment you surely deserve) one of the real girls or women will not have her own number anymore, and the whole universe will explode.
But I hope that still you get the point of my post and the initiative.
I do get you. And I am terrified about the punishment…
Can a number really achieve that much? I doubt it.
I love this idea. It makes me feel ‘part’ of something, empowering almost. We are always looking at new methods of advocacy and the more ownership one has over the process, the better.
That said, I’m a dyed in the wool Development-head. If I were an apathetic member of the public, maybe I wouldn’t love it so much.
“I am sort of privileged – blessed with things women”
I’m trying to get more out of this sentence… Perhaps we really ought to do something to minimize the suffering, if nothing else, of our fellow humans. The point is - how to do that?
Wow, great url, thank you for flagging up!
Taking into account the situation you described and the developed world which is your base it seems it is a lucky number!