Generally speaking, the birth of a baby into a family, regardless of gender, should evoke joy, laughter and happiness. But this is not always the case in some families, especially those inclined to some African traditional beliefs. For such families, the male child is superior to the female and they tend to celebrate more loudly when the baby is male. But that’s laid back mentality and as Africans, we need to start becoming progressive in our thinking. This article is meant to help in that regard by explaining exactly who is a female child and giving 10 reasons why female child is important in the family and in the society at large.
Table of Contents
Who is a Female Child?
A female child is a young human being who is biologically female. This means that she has the reproductive anatomy that is typically associated with girls or women. In most societies, a female child is recognized as such from birth until she reaches adulthood. Adulthood may be defined legally or culturally, but whichever way, it is normally around the age of 18.
What are the Characteristics of a Female Child?
There are several factors that influence the characteristics of a female child. Some of them include individual personality, upbringing, and cultural influences.
Therefore, the characteristics of a female child can really vary widely. But for the sake of this discourse, I’m going to give you some characteristics that many female children share in common, at least, generally speaking.
Here are the characteristics of a female child:
1. Female children tend to excel more in verbal communication and language skills from a young age. From that young age, you notice that they tend to have the ability to express themselves clearly.
2. Female children have empathy and emotional sensitivity. They easily feel and understand the emotions of their siblings and parents.
3. Female children are naturally curious. They are ever interested in learning new things around the home and exploring the world around them.
4. Female children are not just curious, they are also creative. They often use imagination and play to express themselves and explore possibilities.
5. Female children go through physical changes associated with their gender, such as the development of breasts and hips during puberty.
6. Finally, each female child is unique, with her own personality, strengths, and weaknesses. So, even though there are common characteristics associated with being a girl, it is important that we recognize and celebrate the individuality of each child, as families and societies.
10 Reasons Why Female Child is Important in the Family
1. They bond better with their parents, especially their father.
Female children often share a special bond with their parents, particularly with their fathers. And this bond continues even after they married into another family. And this is unlike male children they may forget or reduce their attention to their parents as soon as they marry and form their own families.
2. Female children possess the natural qualities of empathy and nurturing.
With that, they foster an atmosphere of care and support within the family.
3. They take responsibility for the household.
This is true in virtually every culture. Female children quickly learn the essential life skills related to household chores and caregiving. This is part of the reasons why most of them grow to have a huge sense of responsibility and independence.
4. An investment in the education of female children has positive long-term effects.
They say that if you educate a woman, you have educated the society. In other words, educated women contribute more to their families and communities.
5. Female children stand by their parents in old age.
Unlike a male child who may just come around, give you some money, and go his way, the female will be there to provide emotional support and companionship. They are always there to offer a listening ear and a source of comfort when you need it most. When you are too old to help yourself, it is your female children that will bathe you, change your clothes, and prepare your meals. Hardly will your son do these things for you.
6. Your female child is everlastingly yours.
In the words of the famous author, Emily Giffin, a son is a son till he gets a wife, but a daughter is a daughter all her life. Even after the female child has gotten married, she still takes care of both her parents and her parents-in-law. She never forgets home.
7. Female children balance the family gender ratio.
Having both male and female children in a family brings diversity and balance. It also enriches family life with different perspectives, interests, and experiences. More so, the males will end up wanting to get wives for themselves and the parents also want daughters-in-law. For that to go round, it is important that every family has a fair number of female children.
8. Female children bring money to the family.
One of the major reasons why people tend to desire male children over females is because they believe that males are natural breadwinners and will always provide for the family. But the reality of today shows that females also bring in money to the family, sometimes more promptly and assuredly.
Take for example, if your son is getting married, you spend money here and there. But if you are giving out your daughter in marriage, you prepare a long list for your in-laws and sit back to enjoy the benefits.
After both your son and daughter have gotten married, check who responds to you first when you need financial assistance. Your son may focus more on his immediate family, his wife, and children but your daughter will do everything she can to get the money for you.
9. Female children are excellent multi-taskers.
They are now taking up roles, which were previously the preserve of men, like CEOs, and entrepreneurs, while still handling the job of home-keeping and nurturing the children.
10. Female children grow to become great role models and mentors.
Most female children possess desirable qualities such as resilience, determination, compassion, and so on. They can serve as positive role models for their siblings. Moreover, they are very good counselors. They can guide and help their siblings through any challenge.
Importance of Female Child in the Society at Large
No society around the world can possibly deny the importance of the female child. Although many people with archaic gender biases try to undervalue the contributions of girls and women in society, people with progressive minds can see the critical role female children play in societal development. In this concluding part of our discourse, I want to explore the importance of female children in society with regards to education, economy, culture, and so on.
1. Their role in generational education and empowerment.
There is an old African proverb that says, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a family (nation).”
Both male and female children receive education but here lies the importance of educating female children. The educated girls are more likely to marry later and have fewer children. But beyond just having fewer children, they also invest in the education and well-being of their own children. By so doing, they break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
2. Female children are indispensable agents of economic growth and development.
The inclusion of female children in economic activities not only enhances household income but also stimulates local economies and fosters innovation.
3. They contribute to cultural preservation and progress.
Female children play an important role in preserving cultural heritage and fostering societal progress. In many cultures, it is the girls that are entrusted with the transmission of traditions, values, and languages from one generation to the next. This helps in identity formation for the upcoming generation and also fosters community cohesion.
4. They contribute to the overall health and well-being of society.
The well-being of female children has an intrinsic connection to the overall health of society. When the society prioritizes the health needs of female children, it can mitigate the prevalence of maternal mortality, infant mortality, and preventable diseases.
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