July 29, 2011
by Wendy Garcia and Ariana Seymore
GlobalGirl Media has changed our world. We all started as girls who consumed media, but now, thanks to GlobalGirl Media, we are reporting the stories of our communities, ourselves. We all came to GlobalGirl Media from different backgrounds and walks of life, and each of us brings a unique and valuable perspective to the table. We are now able to tell stories that affect us, young women in Los Angeles, that are not normally reported through the mainstream media.
We need more women in media because men often overlook many stories that directly affect women. For example, this summer we covered a story about teen pregnancy. We believe that if men were to cover the same story it could be lacking sensitivity and would not produce the most honest responses by the teen mom. Many stories that affect women need to be reported from a woman’s perspective, because who better to tell the story than someone who can relate to that person and knows what she is going through?
In some high schools, getting pregnant, losing one’s virginity, competition between other female teens, and having the “ideal” body are the pathways to popularity and getting male attention. By discussing topics like what teen girls have to face everyday in high school, and how what they see in the media is affecting their lives, we were led to create the story of a 14-year-old teen mom who faces these issues. Being a GlobalGirl reporter allowed us to tell her story from her point of view.
Being a GlobalGirl has given us the opportunity to break the cycle of male-dominated and male-centric news, and make a change in society. Being able to hold a camera and a microphone in our own hands gives us the chance to tell our story our way, and feel powerful. We don’t have to be the vision of others. We are our vision of ourselves. It’s time to not be afraid, break out, and let our voices be heard.
Become a Global Girl
