Because I am a Girl - I'll take it from here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-ZZeE7C7uM

1 Minute Extract: (0:32 - 1:32)

1. UNICEF uses a form of contrast in scenes to create a “in the moment” reaction for the
viewers. For instance:
a. In the scene at 0:33 seconds, viewers are shown the protagonist of the video
happily getting married as she “dreams of having a family with her true love”.
There is a happy mood as there is uplifting music in the background and she is
even about to kiss her loved one.
b. But, this is quickly contrasted with the scene right after at 0:34, as the mood of
the video changes. Sad music starts playing and instead of kissing her true love,
there is a white drawn individual on the chalkboard in the background. This
drawn man is clearly older, foreshadowing the type of person she will be forced
to marry at such a young age.
2. Additionally, UNICEF uses camera position and angles, to highlight the gender inequality
faced by women in today’s society.
a. After being “forced to drop out of school”, “because [she's] a girl”, the proceeding
scenes at 0:50 and 0:56 show males looking down on the female protagonist.
They view her as inferior due to her gender and lack of education as she even
states that “because I am a girl, boys bully me”, and “men desire me”. There is
even an “A++” sign on the mans paper thinking he can incentivise and trick this
poor, uneducated girl into marrying him.
b. The camera is put in a position in both stills where we, the viewers, are in the
shoes of the female. This is done to try to make the viewer feel what those
females have to undergo due to the disregard of women's right to be educated in
today's society.
3. Finally, in order to allow the viewers to fully grasp the extent of the global issue, UNICEF
utilizes facial expressions and body language in the scene at 1:20.
a. Here, you can clearly see the man very happy to be getting married through his
facial expression and his body language as he's even reaching down to hold the
girl's hand. While the girl herself is looking down as a sign of fear and sadness.
As a result of the perception that females are inferior, she is forced to leave her
education as well as marry a man she doesn't love.
UNICEF: Empowering girls by challenging the tradition of…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Cpl8pcNbBDc&list=PLzfcpxK7Y8rSoK8ILFr2vO9UaXHpeE6ZA&index=21

● Given that this global issue can be very sad and depressing at times, UNICEF tries to
instill some hope in the viewers by using camera angles in a positive way in their video,
“Empowering girls by challenging the tradition of…”.
○ In this video, there is a scene that shows all the female children sitting quietly
and learning from their teacher in a safe environment. This is thanks to a
UNICEF supported program that is working hard to give girls a say in their future.
 The camera is angled in a way to make it seem as if the viewers are in the same
position as the children. This is done to both highlight the safe environment that
was created by UNICEF in hopes of emotionally connecting with the viewers to
try and help create other environments like that for girls.

What does education mean to you? | UNICEF

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un5msddQl6U

● Finally, UNICEF elaborately places scenes in a way that greatly matches what is being
said.
○ To elaborate, In UNICEF’s video titled “What does education mean to you?”
viewers are shown a young girl who answers the question that many have asked
her. “Why should girls go to school?” She replies by saying “Why not?”. She is
then shown thriving in school and trying hard to learn, showing that not only can
girls learn too, they can do it amazingly as well.