From Assumptions to Awareness: What I Learned About Rights from Angelina Jolie’s Know Your Rights
I’ll be honest. I assumed we had this all figured out. Women’s rights, children’s rights. I thought they were basic, universal, and firmly in place. As a 40-year-old mom raising kids in a country that values freedom and fairness, it felt like a given.
Then I read Angelina Jolie’s Know Your Rights and Claim Them. It was a reality check. The book opens with a startling fact. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a treaty that guarantees children safety, education, and freedom from discrimination, has been ratified (formally approved and made legally binding) by 196 parties. This includes 193 UN member states, the Holy See, the State of Palestine, and the Cook Islands. The only country in the world that has not ratified it is the United States.
I couldn’t wrap my head around it. How is that possible? It didn’t sit right with me, so I started digging. That’s when I found out we also haven’t ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
I felt embarrassed by how much I didn’t know. But more than that, I felt responsible.
The Reality About Rights
As parents, we assume certain things are just done. We trust that systems are in place to protect us, to keep us safe, to make sure our kids are supported. Reading this book made me realize something important. Rights aren’t automatic. They’re not guarantees unless we protect them.
That’s why Angelina Jolie’s book is so valuable. It’s not just about rights on paper. It’s about empowering our kids to understand their rights and advocate for themselves and others. And honestly, it’s a guide for us parents, too.
Teens and the World They’re Navigating
If you’ve got teens, you know how tuned in they are. They see injustice. They hear conversations. They’re aware in ways we never were at their age. But here’s the thing. Do they know their rights?
Do they understand what to do when something feels wrong? How to speak up when they see a friend being treated unfairly? How to advocate for change in their school or community?
This book lays it out for them and for us. It’s not about politics or big-picture treaties. It’s about practical, real-world empowerment.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Rights
Starting these conversations doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Here are some ways to begin.
- Ask what they think. Start by asking your kids what they know about their rights. What do they think they’re entitled to? Have they ever felt like their rights or someone else’s were being ignored?
- Discuss responsibilities. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. Talk about how knowing their rights can help them protect themselves, but also how they can stand up for others when something feels unfair.
- Connect it to their world. Use examples they care about. Maybe it’s a rule at school that feels unjust, or something they’ve seen in the news. Relating rights to their own experiences helps make the conversation real.
- Encourage small steps. Remind them that making a difference doesn’t mean changing the whole world at once. Speaking up for a friend, asking a question, or sharing their thoughts can be powerful first steps.
Why This Matters
I’ve always thought of myself as someone who tries to do the right thing, to raise good humans. But Know Your Rightsreminded me that I can’t just assume my kids will figure this out on their own. It’s up to us as parents to start the conversation, to give them the tools, and to empower them to ask the hard questions.
This isn’t about being perfect or knowing all the answers. It’s about making sure our kids grow up confident, informed, and ready to face the world not just for themselves, but for others, too.
If you’re like me and assumed everything was already taken care of, let me nudge you to pick up this book. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness. And when we help our kids understand their rights, we’re helping them build a better future.
So, let’s start the conversations. Let’s ask the questions. And let’s raise the kind of kids who don’t just assume the world is fair but know how to make it fairer.
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