And to the extent to which girlhood is denied, liberated, and fostered, womanhood perishes or prospers.
Parents prefer to have a son to a daughter in many countries of the world.
Worldwide, approximately 500 million children start primary school, but more than 100 million children, two thirds of them girls, drop out before completing four years of primary school. Girls are not encouraged as much as boys to further their studies and develop their careers. Girls are often seen as less important to family and community life than boys. Millions of girls are raised in an environment of neglect, overwork and often abuse simply because they are female. In many countries, girls are fed less than their brothers, forced to work harder, provided less schooling and denied equal access to medical care.