In reading “How To Think Like an Activist” by Wendy Syfret, who provides us with different steps and strategies to take action and stand up in trying to change political or social issues. Throughout history activism has involved both violent and nonviolent movements, where some used to battle in war and others would turn to peaceful protest. These action were taken in order to promote and fight for positive change for groups of people who were affected by inequality, discrimination, or living under poor conditions in their community. People pushed toward positive change to influence and inspire the upcoming generation to have a better life. Activism consists of many different issues as Syfret states “People from all over the world are confronting issues such as climate change, racial injustice, xenophia, and violence against women, people of colour and non-binary individual” (Syfret 11). This means that the individuals in these communities are unsatisfied with the way they’ve been treated and are probably deprived of their rights and freedom. 

We now live in a generation where technology plays an important role in our lives and  helps us perform many different tasks efficiently and easily. In efforts to create change I feel like technology is one of the ways to communicate with others and have more of a chance to get their message across with people from all over the world that may also share the same frustration and injustice. Syfret stated “Not only has technology transformed our causes, but it has also reshaped the role and individual impact of activists. With a phone in hand, anyone has the ability to educate, inform, expose and serve as a reporter, documentary maker or social organiser. Today you don’t need an arm to act, just a wi-fi connection” (Syfret 23). It’s important to take advantage of the opportunities we have to grasp public attention, especially through social media platforms by inspiring and supporting others at the same time to create a successful movement with strong leadership. 

In the film Girls Connected by Koen Suidgeest there are 5 teenage girls from third world countries that go against their traditional and cultural practices and systems by engaging in activism as a way to prevent poor decisions from being made and challenge issues that continue to set a bad example to the younger generation. The girls presented throughout the film were using their voices to take action against gender discrimination and violence publicly which is another way to promote activism. There was Josi from Peru who wanted to help raise awareness about teen pregnancy which was a common problem in the community. For this to be done Josi formed an organization were the group informed others the importance about sex education. Ghazal from Jordan wanted to help other girls from doing things out of the ordinary; they are not only bound to the feminine role. Latifa from Bangladesh wanted to help prevent arranged marriages where young girls would get married due to the poverty of their parents and lose the opportunity to continue their education and childhood. Michelle from Kenya mentors girls and empowers them to be leaders and have the confidence to be successful and inspire those around them and serve as role models to the younger girls.  Ayesha from India has a passion for karate and uses her skills to train other girls as a form of self defense to protect the girls within the community from sexual assaults and violence. 

All these young girls incorporated their own strategies and techniques by trying to change their current lifestyle to a better one and advocating for young human rights and freedoms so that more knowledge gets passed on and equal opportunities are made. It sucks that before these girls, most of the older women in their communities didn’t have the chance to resist change because they were to strictly follow cultural customs and values that prevented their community from thriving economically, socially and politically.

In connection with Samantha’s snapshot the image that was shared depicted how people are defending women’s reproductive rights by coming together using protest posters at a popular spot in the city which was Washington Square Park. This is one form of activism that can help an issue like this secure women’s freedoms over the control of their own bodies, health, and privacy. I think it’s important for us women to target an issue like this because nobody but ourselves should decide whether or not we want to reproduce, we just need access to the right healthcare and sex education to prevent further complications. Third world countries are also at risk of political issues interfering with women’s rights and equality.