What is Utopia and What Does it Mean for This Journey?

The idea of utopia was first introduced by the Renaissance author Sir Thomas More in his novel Utopia. The novel centers around a "perfect world" in which social, political, and financial systems were all "perfect." (To read more about More's Utopia, click here). After the idea of  utopia was introduced, it took over 100 years for the topic to return to the focus of the literary community. (Other novels exploring the idea of utopia include Mary Cavendish's A New World: The Blazing World and Sheri S. Tepper's The Gate to Women's Country) On the course of this journey, it is necessary to look to these interpretations of the term utopia in order to pursue a unique vision of what a perfect world would look like to each individual girl worldwide.

As we begin this journey, it occurs to me to consider some of the major issues facing women today and how the world might be different if a GIRLtopia could actually be achieved.

One of the most prevalent issues facing women worldwide today is the significant proportion of  women worldwide who cannot read or write. The futures of such women are limited far beyond where they should be. A woman who cannot read or write will likely have more difficulty providing for her children throughout their lives, leading to a negative cycle of illiteracy. When women can't earn enough to support their children, the family may go hungry. Children will likely be denied opportunities for education and young girls may be forced into prostitution to support the family.

All too often, we look at a problem and see only the issue at hand, but in reality, almost every "women's issue" in the world today is tied to many other worldwide issues. Just because it is predominantly girls who are not getting the opportunity to attend primary school does not mean that this is not a problem for all children worldwide. Illiteracy itself is connected to many other issues, health related and political alike. Illiteracy often leads to prostitution or unsafe sex which allows for the spread of AIDS, especially across sub- Saharan Africa. It can also lead to domestic abuse and lack of women's rights, especially in countries like India where males have traditionally held all the power. An inability to read also creates problems with democracy and a people's ability to be informed about their government.

I would submit that issues that are considered "women's issues" are issues that should be confronted and dealt with by humanity as a whole. Consequently, a GIRLtopia would be not only a step forward for women's rights but also a step forwards for human rights. While not every vision of GIRLtopia will be the same, the world could definitely benefit from considering the issues that face women today.