Overview

STORIES OF GIRLS’ RESISTANCE is an extensive collection of oral and narrative history of teenage girls’ activism, showcasing their struggles, strength, and power. This project is a collaborative effort of many contributors and co-conspirators over several years, covering various regions and organizations. Each area has a Story Curator well-versed in girls' work and movements, leading the charge in their respective regions.

Challenge

The campaign addresses the underrepresentation of adolescent girls’ activism and resistance against patriarchal structures in mainstream narratives while fostering a supportive community for girls and young women to share their experiences.

Our Intervention

A digital campaign inspired by the anthology "Stories of Girls' Resistance" encouraged teenage girls and young women to share stories of resistance using the hashtag #GirlsResist. The campaign utilized the following strategies:

Campaign Goal

Amplify the voices of teenage girls and young women, allowing them to share stories about their everyday acts of resistance against patriarchy to foster a sense of solidarity and connection among participants and sparking online and offline conversations about gender-based resistance.

Campaign Strategy

• Empowering Storytelling: Inspired by the "Stories of Girls' Resistance" anthology, the campaign encouraged girls to share their personal stories of resistance using the hashtag #GirlsResist.
• Influencer Engagement: Strategic partnerships were formed with content creators and influencers to amplify the campaign's reach and encourage participation.
• Platform Optimization: The campaign focused on TikTok and Instagram, popular platforms among the target audience.
• Offline Engagement: Partnerships with national teen radio programs and grassroots NGOs expanded reach beyond the digital space and fostered in-person discussions.
• Inclusivity and Support: The campaign ensured French-speaking girls were included and partnered with mental health professionals to provide support for participants.

Key Interventions

• Digital Campaign Execution:
  • Led and executed a digital campaign, inspiring teenage girls and young women to share stories of resistance against patriarchy.
  • Developed and implemented a comprehensive digital campaign strategy, engaging influencers and content creators across multiple platforms.

• User-Generated Content Management:
  • Managed and curated user-generated content, achieving over 286,000 video views and reaching over 838,800 young women.

Strategic Partnerships

• Formed partnerships with national teen radio programs and grassroots NGOs, reaching over 50,000 offline listeners and facilitating discussions attended by over 40 girls.
• Collaborated with grassroots NGOs to provide a safe space for discussions among girls and young women in their communities.
• Partnered with a national teens-focused radio program in four states, embedding the campaign into their show to allow people to call in and share their stories.
• Ensured inclusivity by capturing stories of French-speaking girls online, representing diverse experiences.
• Partnered with mental health practitioners to provide support for girls involved in the campaign, ensuring they had access to resources to process their emotions healthily

Results

• Storytelling Surge:
  • Over 103 stories were shared using #GirlsResist hashtags on TikTok and Instagram.
  • Posts originated from West Africa, Francophone West Africa, Southern Africa, East Africa, the USA, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
  • Young creators (19-25 years old) dominated the movement, with a minority in their 30s and 40s sharing their voices.
• Increased Visibility:
  • Videos received over 286,000 views, reaching over 838,800 young women.
  • TikTok's followers increased by over 2880%, and Instagram's number rose by 75%.
• Offline Impact:
  • Collaboration with a national radio program reached over 50,000 listeners.
  • Partnerships with grassroots NGOs facilitated discussions attended by over 40 girls, fostering local engagement and community building.

This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of social media campaigns in empowering young women to share their stories and amplifying their voices. By providing a platform for girls to express their experiences of resistance against patriarchy, the #GirlsResist campaign sparked crucial conversations and fostered a movement for positive change.

Conclusion

The Stories of Girls' Resistance campaign successfully amplified the voices of teenage girls and young women, allowing them to share their stories of resistance against patriarchy. By leveraging digital platforms and forming strategic partnerships, the campaign achieved significant reach and engagement, fostering a supportive community and sparking important conversations about gender-based resistance.