The Impact of Today’s Society on the Health of the Young Girl Child

By Kafayat Busari

Amina was only eleven when she first began to question her worth. Sitting quietly in her classroom in northern Nigeria, she watched her teacher praise boys for their confidence and clever answers, while girls were reminded to stay polite and well behaved. That moment planted a seed of self doubt that would quietly affect her emotional and mental health for years.

Around the world, millions of girls like Amina grow up in societies that shape not only their dreams but also their health, mental, emotional, and physical. We talk about equality and opportunity, yet countless girls face invisible barriers that can affect their well being from a very young age.

Cultural Expectations and Early Responsibilities

In many cultures, girls are expected to conform to traditional roles even before they understand choice. They are often taught to care for others before caring for themselves, a pattern that can impact their physical and mental health.

Early marriage remains a major challenge in parts of South Asia, where UNICEF reports that one in five girls is married before the age of eighteen. Early marriage often leads to early pregnancies, interrupting education, increasing maternal health risks, and limiting personal development.

In parts of Africa, girls spend hours on domestic work, averaging four more hours daily than boys according to UNESCO 2023. This excessive workload reduces time for rest, play, and self care, critical components for healthy physical and emotional development. Even in developed societies, subtle pressures to prioritize appearance over intelligence or to avoid leadership roles can undermine self esteem and mental health.

Education as a Pathway to Health and Freedom

Education is more than a tool for learning it is a pathway to healthier lives. Quality education equips girls with knowledge about nutrition, hygiene, sexual and reproductive health, and emotional well being.

Take Grace, a fifteen year old from Kenya. Facing the threat of early marriage due to her family’s inability to pay school fees, a scholarship changed her life. Not only did she continue her studies, but she also flourished academically and emotionally. “When I study, I feel free,” she says. “Books show me a world where I can be anything.”

Research supports Grace’s experience. The World Bank reports that each additional year of secondary school can improve future income, reduce early marriage, and improve health outcomes. Yet millions of girls remain out of school due to conflict, safety concerns, or lack of digital access, leaving them vulnerable to health and social challenges.

The Digital World: Power and Pressure

Technology can be a double edged sword for young girls. Social media and the internet provide access to education, role models, and peer support. However, excessive online exposure can increase anxiety, depression, and body image issues.

A 2024 study from the University of Oxford found that teenage girls who spend more than three hours daily online are twice as likely to experience anxiety or body dissatisfaction. Sophie, thirteen, describes, “I follow inspiring women, but sometimes I compare myself to them and feel I’m not enough.”

Programs like Girls Who Code and TechHer Africa help girls navigate the digital world healthily, teaching them to create, not just consume, content. Guiding girls to use technology wisely promotes not only mental resilience but also problem solving and leadership skills.

Mental Health: The Silent Struggle

Teenage girls are particularly vulnerable to anxiety and depression. According to the World Health Organization 2023, girls are more likely than boys to experience these conditions due to academic pressures, social expectations, bullying, and lack of emotional support.

Zara, seventeen, shares, “I feel like I have to be perfect all the time, at school, at home, even on social media. When I fall short, it feels like I’ve failed everyone.”

For girls from marginalized communities, mental health support is often limited. Cultural stigma around counseling or therapy further prevents care. Schools and communities that provide safe spaces, mentorship, and access to emotional health resources can help girls build resilience and self worth, protecting both mental and physical health.

Representation and Role Models

Seeing women in leadership, science, and diverse careers positively impacts girls’ self esteem and mental health. When media and education portray girls as capable, intelligent, and strong, it helps dismantle harmful stereotypes that can harm emotional well being.

Global figures like Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Amanda Gorman inspire young girls to believe in their potential and prioritize their health, education, and personal growth.

Family and Community Influence

A girl’s first school is her home. Families that value daughters equally, encourage self expression, and share responsibilities promote better emotional, mental, and physical health outcomes.

Programs in Ghana, such as fathers’ clubs that teach men about equality and shared responsibilities, have helped more girls stay in school while strengthening family bonds. Such community initiatives show that nurturing environments are essential for holistic health.

Policy, Protection, and Progress

Government policies can transform the lives and health of young girls. Rwanda’s Girls’ Education Policy provides sanitary products and safe school facilities, improving attendance and reducing health risks. India’s “Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter” initiative has promoted education while challenging gender based restrictions on well being.

Global organizations like UN Women and Plan International advocate for policies that protect girls’ physical, emotional, and educational rights, demonstrating that health empowerment and gender equality go hand in hand.

Resilience and Hope

Despite challenges, young girls are showing remarkable resilience. Laila, thirteen, from Abuja, started a reading club to learn about inspiring women. “We remind each other that we can be anything,” she says. Small acts like these foster mental strength, confidence, and a sense of purpose, essential for healthy development.

A Shared Responsibility

The health and well being of the girl child are a shared responsibility. Families, educators, policymakers, and communities must create environments where girls feel safe, valued, and supported.

By investing in girls’ education, mental health, and access to opportunities, society invests in the physical and emotional health of half its population, fostering stronger, healthier communities.

Conclusion

Amina, once a quiet, doubtful student, is now a university student mentoring young girls. “When I look at them,” she says, “I see myself, and I tell them their dreams are valid.”

Supporting girls’ health, from emotional to physical, is more than an act of care, it is a necessity for societal progress. When girls are empowered to dream, learn, and lead, we build not just individual potential, but healthier, fairer, and more resilient societies.