Tina K.’s Post

In Afghanistan where the Taliban takeover has erased 20 years of progress for women and girls. Investment in girls education is the key. I suggest that SDG4 should be strengthened by increasing the involvement in girls education.

In reading Melinda French Gates’s latest article, I am reminded of the outdated gender norms re-emerging in some workplaces. It concerns me to see women and girls given domestic or servile tasks again in professional settings. Globally, we are losing decades of progress in gender equity when these types or behaviors go unchecked. Melinda French Gates clearly articulated the rationale for investing in women and girls, “Investing in women and girls benefits everyone…We know that economies with women’s full participation have more room to grow.” #genderequity #womenintheworkplace #investingirls #investinwomen #breakthebias #genderjustice #equalopportunties #empowerwomen #womenleaders #economicgrowth #endgenderdiscrimination #melindagates

As a holder of a feminine point of view, it can be hard to push for women’s issues because we are socialized to think collectively, collaboratively, and for the good of the whole. And when we are perceived not to be caring for the collective, we can face criticism. It takes fortitude - no matter your resources - to say focusing on us is good for all. “Decades of research on economics, well being and governance make it clear that investing in women and girls benefits everyone. We know that economies with women’s full participation have more room to grow. That women’s political participation is associated with decreased corruption. That peace agreements are more durable when women are involved in writing them. That reducing the time women spend in poor health could add as much as $1 trillion to the global economy by 2040.” It’s clear that despite all these benefits, the world is too slow to invite women in. It’s clear we are going to have to save ourselves to achieve these global benefits for all. Thank you Melinda French Gates for hearing the call within your own heart, and the hearts of all of us.

🙏 Finally something to feel hopeful about during a time when women’s and girls’ rights are being stripped away across the globe (and specifically in the United States)! — “In nearly 20 years as an advocate for women and girls, I have learned that there will always be people who say it’s not the right time to talk about gender equality. Not if you want to be relevant. Not if you want to be effective with world leaders (most of them men). The second the global agenda gets crowded, women and girls fall off. It’s frustrating and shortsighted. Decades of research on economics, well-being and governance make it clear that investing in women and girls benefits everyone. We know that economies with women’s full participation have more room to grow. That women’s political participation is associated with decreased corruption. That peace agreements are more durable when women are involved in writing them. That reducing the time women spend in poor health could add as much as $1 trillion to the global economy by 2040.”

Hopefully some of this investment includes support for innovative childcare programs. That is one of the hurdles we have to address with our CARES program. The other area I hope/know this will probably help is with Increasing exposure to career pathways. Groups like LEAD Girls of NC and other initiatives should start getting their programming overviews in order to apply when this opens. There is a tendency and belief now, amongst many philanthropists, to build strong non-profits by seeding them first with smaller gifts, which can be transformational the small non-profits. Philanthropists then watch for the impact and then adjust the sluices of support, to build a longer term strategy for their giving, that makes the impact they wish to see. It looks like Melinda French Gates is setting up a similar strategy. Which is probably wise because, as we have seen with Mackenzie Scott, sometimes the funds you give in trust are not always utilized to make the exact impact your wish to see. This is though the beauty of Mrs. Scott’s model.

Big announcement today in the The New York Times from Melinda French Gates: She is leaving the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to focus on advancing women's rights through her new charitable organization, Pivotal Ventures, and plans to give $1B in two years. Important excerpt: "In the United States, maternal mortality rates continue to be unconscionable, with Black and Native American mothers at highest risk. Women in 14 states have lost the right to terminate a pregnancy under almost any circumstances. We remain the only advanced economy without any form of national paid family leave. And the number of teenage girls experiencing suicidal thoughts and persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness is at a decade high. Despite the pressing need, only about 2 percent of charitable giving in the United States goes to organizations focused on women and girls, and only about half a percentage point goes to organizations focused on women of color specifically. When we allow this cause to go so chronically underfunded, we all pay the cost. As shocking as it is to contemplate, my 1-year-old granddaughter may grow up with fewer rights than I had."

Melinda French Gates makes some important points in The New York Times about female-focused giving: 💵 investing in women and girls benefits everyone 📈 economies with women's full participation have more room to grow 👭 only about 2% of US charitable giving goes to organisations focused on women and girls The parallels with #investing in #femalefounded businesses are clear. We know #femalefounders do more with less, partly because they receive about 2 percent of total VC funding. Encouraging more women into #investment will benefit everyone by growing the funding pie. And women often start businesses because of a gap in the market for female-focused services such as PMS, reproductive health, menopause & workplace support. Some of our ambitious female founded businesses are addressing these issues, including Béa Fertility, Adora Digital Health, Samphire Neuroscience. 👍 We agree with with Melinda's sentiment - it's always the right time to talk about #genderequality! Tess Isabelle Cosad Ann O'Neill Emilė R. Jane Clemetson Laura Meyer John Souter Deirdre Walters Rowena Ironside GILLIAN M. Sara Sullivan Rob Smith Sally Kemkers Stephen Stanton-Downes #angelinvestment

🎊 This is BIG and exciting news! In case you haven't seen/heard...Dive more into the decision-making process behind Melinda French Gates donating $ 1 Billion over the next two years to advance organizations and global leaders championing women's health and well-being. "For decades, I’ve watched women and girls fight to get on the global agenda. It’s time women and girls set that agenda themselves."- M.F.G Read the Full Article, linked in the post below 👇 #InvestinWomenAccelerateChange #WomenLed #SocialImpact #GlobalImpact

"Pivotal" Truly Is Of Crucial Importance The article by Melinda French Gates (https://lnkd.in/ekv5SdA9) provides hope to many. Her charity "Pivotal" will support organizations to promote gender equality. The day I read it, a friend and I had just discussed what it will take to end relationship violence against women and girls. We reflected that it is women who bear and raise boys. We discussed the route to manhood that must teach males how to treat others, especially women and girls. Perhaps we can create a program or booklet for all mothers to encourage the training of boys and girls about appropriate treatment--to dish out and to accept. PathChoice (https://lnkd.in/gmavpiP4) is committed to the endeavor. Send your ideas to [email protected].

How exciting to see donors and philanthropists intentionally focus on gender equality! However, it is disheartening to witness the pace at which resources for Africa, especially women's movements, are dwindling. We know we won't reach the SDGs -- forget about 2030 -- without equal opportunities for women and girls, and data have shown how gender equality can accelerate progress across all SDGs. Yet... #GenderEquality