Did you know that in our world today 62 million girls are denied the right to an education? Some of this is due to lack of school fees, or the lack of schools in rural areas, but most of this is because of the attitude many people have towards females getting an education—indifference.
Our first lady is fighting hard to change that, along with some of our favorite BOSS females.
This past week, Michelle Obama teamed up with some A-list musicians to collaborate on a new song. That’s right; Mrs. Obama now has a single. The first lady got together with artists Zendaya, Kelly Clarkson, Lea Michele, Missy Elliott, Kelly Rowland, JadaGrace, Chloe & Halle, and Janelle Monáe to come up with the female empowerment anthem—This is For My Girls.
The song was written by Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren, and all the proceeds for the single will go to charities like Girl Rising and Let Girls Learn, which are organizations that help provide women around the world with an education. The track highlights themes like confidence, respect, and strength. It inspires girls to fight through hardship and to have the courage to chase their dreams and show the world that they can do anything:
Don’t shy away from showing what you’re made of
This world is yours to take
You can bend, but you won’t break
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Push negativity aside
Let em see how bright you shine
Cuz you know that it’s your time to
Recently Michelle Obama talked about why she’s so passionate about helping women around the world receive an education, in Lenny Letter (which is also a really good read).
“For me, that’s where this issue gets personal, because as I’ve traveled the world as First Lady, I have met these girls, and they are so smart and hardworking, and so hungry for an education. I’ve met girls who make long, dangerous journeys each day to school and then come home and study for hours each night. I’ve met girls studying at rickety desks in bare concrete classrooms who are raising their hands so hard they’re almost falling out of their chairs. I see myself in these girls — in their ambition and their determination to rise above their circumstances.”
Like Malala said, “we cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” Here’s to all the girls who are fighting for women’s rights everywhere. Here’s to the women who are battling every day to get an education and rise above their circumstances—like Michelle Obama said. “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we raise them. May we be them.”
Here’s a 33-second clip of our new #GirlPower anthem. Be sure to check out the song on iTunes.
