CHAPTER 14: Activism and Community Engagement to Promote Girls and Women: To Have Voice and Choice

New and ever-evolving ways in which young women access information and then act on this information challenge many traditional notions of being a citizen and participating in a school community. Faced with historical learning approaches and patriarchal leadership structures that may not align with increasingly globalized contexts, the contributions of young women can be stifled and underestimated. Changing times must prompt educators to reexamine what it means to be a citizen and active community member. Within these considerations, attention must be paid to the shifting duality of knowledge and power, as educators and young women alike seek to redefine the relationships between teacher, student, school, and the wider community.

This chapter examines the complex notion of global citizenship and interrogates the concept of “voice,” highlighting of the role voice can have in engaging young women as committed global citizens. The use of co-constructive pedagogies within learning communities is examined as a vehicle for creating democratic spaces in which young women can share in decision-making processes. Obligations for leaders working alongside young women in both educational and community settings are highlighted, and reflective questions are posed to encourage the engagement of alternative approaches to develop leadership and a sense of agency amongst young women.