Tonight I participated in a pilot program of Jewish Women International's (JWI) Safe Smart Dating program that will soon be brought to Sigma Delta Tau sorority and Zeta Beta Tau fraternity on campuses nationwide. The program approaches the issues of dating abuse and sexual assault by teaching about different types of abuse, the signs of abuse and how we can help reduce the prevalence of sexual assault and dating abuse in our communities.
While the information presented was striking, much of it I have heard before in other sexual assault awareness trainings. What struck me most about the evening was the prevalence of men in the room. Of 8 university students piloting the program, half the students were men. Considering global women's issues is the focus of this blog, I rarely take the time to mention the men who are helping to mitigate issues women face in their communities. This is not to say that men do not experience dating abuse or sexual assault; however, according to national surveys presented in JWI's program, women tend to make up more victims of sexual assault and dating abuse than men.
The motivation of these men to pilot a dating abuse program impressed me, but the actions they have already taken to help end sexual violence impressed me even more. Three out of four of the boys present were members of GW Men of Strength, a George Washington University student organization focused on mobilizing university men to combat cultures of violence on campus, with an emphasis on violence against women.
Piloting the Safe Smart Dating program alongside men who are as invested in combatting violence against women as I am was a unique and rewarding experience. While I so often talk to my male friends on campus about global women's issues, they often see it as just that--a woman's issue. The nature of framing problems such as gender-based violence, human trafficking, maternal mortality, etc. as global women's issues is that men hear "women" and assume these issues do not pertain to them.
However, as Hillary Clinton once said, "Women's rights are human rights and human rights are women's rights." Similarly global women's issues are not just women's issues but issues of humanity; and in regards to tonight's program, violence against women is a problem of humanity as well.
Thank you to the men who came out tonight to JWI's Safe Smart Dating Program. I hope as I continue to fight for women's rights that I meet more men like you who realize women's issues are human issues, and who are speaking out against injustice to bring about change.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Woman of the Week: Linor Abargil
 |
| Linor Abargil |
A few months ago, I returned from studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. While away, I was able to complete three portraits. Three portraits, in four-and-a-half months, and in a new environment was more than I had hoped for. I had been nervous that I would lose motivation to paint and keep up with my blog while abroad. However, it seemed the opposite occured.
The real challenge, I discovered, was coming home. After about a week with my family, I went straight to work at my internship in D.C. Although I was working for an organization that helped women worldwide lead change in their communities, I did little blogging, and even less painting. I was meeting and learning about so many amazing women throughout the day, yet was producing nothing. I made lists of women I wanted to paint and post about, but actually creating content felt like pulling teeth.
I thought I had lost my spark; I honestly didn't know if I would ever produce another painting; and then I felt guilty and responsible to all those who looked to me as an example of someone striving to make a difference.
In the beginning of summer, I had the chance to meet former Miss World Linor Abargil as she toured cross country to promote her new film "Brave Miss World". Linor, crowned Miss Israel in 1998, was raped in Italy by an Israeli travel agent just two months before being crowned Miss World. After returning to Israel, Linor pressed charges against her rapist and became a symbol of hope for other victims of domestic violence and abuse. By encouraging other victims to speak out, Linor challenged the culture of silence that allows injustices against women to persist.
Linor was at the top of my list of women to paint. I was eager to share her story and the trailer for her film that moved me deeply. When I began to form her right eye, I thought I saw her peeking through the blank watercolor paper. But then I began the nose, and I lost her. She slipped through the strokes and I couldn't find Linor no matter how many layers of paint I added to bring her back. Linor's portrait was the longest one I took to produce. And I grew anxious when I thought I might have to give up.
Below is the trailer for "Brave Miss World":
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Recap: Malala Day
Malala was the first woman I painted and her story jumpstarted my blog. Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani teenage girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban for challenging their doctrine and advocating for girls' education. She miraculously survived the murder attempt against her and has made a full recovery. On July 12, 2013, Malala turned 16 and on her birthday she addressed the UN and viewers worldwide of the struggle for girls' empowerment and education around the world.
On July 12, my fellow interns and I gathered around a computer in our office to view the live online streaming of Malala's speech at the UN. Malala spoke eloquently, confidently, and with a sense of maturity that deceived her 16-year-old body. Her words were profound and her fight just. Despite her voice being projected through a computer speaker, I felt her presence in the room. "Malala Day is not my day: today is the day of every woman, every boy and every girl who have raised their voice for their rights," she announced. These were words of Malala's first public speech calling upon the world to act and they have yet to lose their fervor.
Highlight: "Honor Diaries" Documentary
Thank you Uncle Steve for forwarding this documentary trailer my way.
The film "Honor Diaries" features 9 women from societies with large Muslim populations in their fight to secure their human rights as women. The film approaches issues such as forced marriage, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, the right to education and the right to move freely from place to place. "Honor Diaries" is amplifying the voices of women around the world that have gone unheard and bringing attention to issues that plague over half of the world's population.
I can't wait to see this film in full.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The Power of Human Agency
I have to admit that I haven't always been an active American citizen. In fact, I haven't always been an active world citizen. Before reading Half the Sky, I had little concept of what was going on in the world, and if I did, I felt that I had too little knowledge to contribute to any conversation meaningfully. So in turn, I remained silent, and I put all my trust in world leaders that they would lead my life accordingly.
I distinctly remember the time I stood in the back of a small crowd of university students fighting for lower tuition in front of our campus library. I stumbled upon the procession and listened to a student speak about the calamity of high tuition. I lingered in the back watching the scene. Coming from a privileged family, I never worried about my tuition. I didn't track how money for books or classes were increasing each year because I deferred that responsibility to my parents who were always there with financial support. I was uninformed and felt like a phony in the gathering of people. The crowd began to chant a demand for lower tuition, and I slowly shrunk away and returned home, too embarrassed to join in.
I never followed up with the movement for lower tuition on my campus, mostly because I didn't imagine anything would come from it.
Until I had spent a good four-and-a-half months in South Africa did I come to realize civil society's place in the world. I learned more about the drive for human agency and the ability of a unified movement to bring about change.
South Africa spent decades under an apartheid regime, which divided the country based on race. The white minority ruled over Coloureds, Africans, and Indians. People of "inferior" races were forcibly removed from their homes, forced to carry passes around detailing their identity; they were pushed to the outskirts of society and denied their basic human rights. Nelson Mandela became an international hero as he brought worldwide attention to the injustices of the apartheid regime and organized a non-violent movement for justice among Africans, Indians and Coloureds. He became the first black president of the country and stepped down after one term to give others the chance to lead and follow in his footsteps.
Unfortunately, South Africa's government today, in certain parts of the country, remains corrupt, and the nation is left with many problems. The government-promised houses for shack dwellers in townships have taken years to manifest. One girl I met seemed hopeful despite the 16-year-period her family has been waiting for a house. In other parts of the country, the environment has felt the brunt of mining development in regions rich with indigenous vegetation and wildlife. However, South Africans understand the importance of human agency, considering it was only a few decades ago when community action successfully ousted the oppressive apartheid regime. South Africans strike for higher wages, organize to protect the environment and challenge legislation to bring about positive change.
A South African friend of mine's little sister was singing the South African National Anthem at home when she got to the line "let us live and strive for freedom". In her ten-year-old naivety, Michal sang out "let us live and STRIKE for freedom". We all laughed, though her South African parents laughed the most because they knew it was true. Striking, as a tool for justice, was and remains a part of South African culture. My last three weeks of volunteering in Cape Town were cancelled due to bus strikes. Although, I was upset to no longer be volunteering in the townships, bus drivers' wages increased, and I saw firsthand the power of collective human agency.
Upon returning home to America, I realized how naive I was to be absent from the decision-making processes in my home country. I realized how irresponsible it is to believe my country would always act in my best interest and that of humanity's. I began to see the danger of ignorance and how by remaining silent, I could potentially be supporting an oppressive regime.
As I read more and learn more, I have discovered how unified action to fight for civil rights, women rights, LGBT rights, and even action to reduce school tuition or increase wages can change our world. Without human agency, segregation could still exist, people with disabilities could still be ostracized, women could still be excluded from politics (not to say these issues have been perfectly fixed either).
Recently, a hospital in Zimbabwe decided to charge women five dollars for every time they screamed during labor. Why? Because their scream signaled a "false alarm". This decision enraged me, disgusted me, but I left it for what it was. Thankfully, others didn't. Transparency International, a non-profit fighting against corruption in governments around the world, talked with Zimbabwe's National Health Industry. About a week after I heard about the five dollar charge, I learned of its removal from hospital policy. This unfair charge seemed easily overturned and I realized I could potentially have done exactly what Transparency International had succeeded to do. This small success made towards justice strengthens my conviction that I have the ability to provoke change as well.
From protests on campus to strikes in South Africa to international intervention in Zimbabwe, I have seen how speaking up and standing up can make an impact. I see that we all have power as human beings to bring about change. Yet, we forfeit that power when we forfeit our belief that, as an individual, we matter. It is imperative we realize our worth; there is no time for so much human potential to go untapped.
I distinctly remember the time I stood in the back of a small crowd of university students fighting for lower tuition in front of our campus library. I stumbled upon the procession and listened to a student speak about the calamity of high tuition. I lingered in the back watching the scene. Coming from a privileged family, I never worried about my tuition. I didn't track how money for books or classes were increasing each year because I deferred that responsibility to my parents who were always there with financial support. I was uninformed and felt like a phony in the gathering of people. The crowd began to chant a demand for lower tuition, and I slowly shrunk away and returned home, too embarrassed to join in.
I never followed up with the movement for lower tuition on my campus, mostly because I didn't imagine anything would come from it.
Until I had spent a good four-and-a-half months in South Africa did I come to realize civil society's place in the world. I learned more about the drive for human agency and the ability of a unified movement to bring about change.
South Africa spent decades under an apartheid regime, which divided the country based on race. The white minority ruled over Coloureds, Africans, and Indians. People of "inferior" races were forcibly removed from their homes, forced to carry passes around detailing their identity; they were pushed to the outskirts of society and denied their basic human rights. Nelson Mandela became an international hero as he brought worldwide attention to the injustices of the apartheid regime and organized a non-violent movement for justice among Africans, Indians and Coloureds. He became the first black president of the country and stepped down after one term to give others the chance to lead and follow in his footsteps.
Unfortunately, South Africa's government today, in certain parts of the country, remains corrupt, and the nation is left with many problems. The government-promised houses for shack dwellers in townships have taken years to manifest. One girl I met seemed hopeful despite the 16-year-period her family has been waiting for a house. In other parts of the country, the environment has felt the brunt of mining development in regions rich with indigenous vegetation and wildlife. However, South Africans understand the importance of human agency, considering it was only a few decades ago when community action successfully ousted the oppressive apartheid regime. South Africans strike for higher wages, organize to protect the environment and challenge legislation to bring about positive change.
A South African friend of mine's little sister was singing the South African National Anthem at home when she got to the line "let us live and strive for freedom". In her ten-year-old naivety, Michal sang out "let us live and STRIKE for freedom". We all laughed, though her South African parents laughed the most because they knew it was true. Striking, as a tool for justice, was and remains a part of South African culture. My last three weeks of volunteering in Cape Town were cancelled due to bus strikes. Although, I was upset to no longer be volunteering in the townships, bus drivers' wages increased, and I saw firsthand the power of collective human agency.
Upon returning home to America, I realized how naive I was to be absent from the decision-making processes in my home country. I realized how irresponsible it is to believe my country would always act in my best interest and that of humanity's. I began to see the danger of ignorance and how by remaining silent, I could potentially be supporting an oppressive regime.
As I read more and learn more, I have discovered how unified action to fight for civil rights, women rights, LGBT rights, and even action to reduce school tuition or increase wages can change our world. Without human agency, segregation could still exist, people with disabilities could still be ostracized, women could still be excluded from politics (not to say these issues have been perfectly fixed either).
Recently, a hospital in Zimbabwe decided to charge women five dollars for every time they screamed during labor. Why? Because their scream signaled a "false alarm". This decision enraged me, disgusted me, but I left it for what it was. Thankfully, others didn't. Transparency International, a non-profit fighting against corruption in governments around the world, talked with Zimbabwe's National Health Industry. About a week after I heard about the five dollar charge, I learned of its removal from hospital policy. This unfair charge seemed easily overturned and I realized I could potentially have done exactly what Transparency International had succeeded to do. This small success made towards justice strengthens my conviction that I have the ability to provoke change as well.
From protests on campus to strikes in South Africa to international intervention in Zimbabwe, I have seen how speaking up and standing up can make an impact. I see that we all have power as human beings to bring about change. Yet, we forfeit that power when we forfeit our belief that, as an individual, we matter. It is imperative we realize our worth; there is no time for so much human potential to go untapped.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Highlight: Girl Rising
If you ever questioned the value of girls' education, ponder no more. 10x10's "Girl Rising", a new documentary depicting the lives of 9 impoverished girls from across the world, reveals how educating girls can ultimately change "everything". From helping the economy to decreasing the chances of disease, educating girls has immeasurable impact on a global scale.
The documentary illustrates the personal stories of Ruksana, Suma, Yasmin, Senna, Azmera, Amina, Wadley, Mariama and Sokha and the struggles they face in their communities to achieve an education. Challenging cultural norms, tradition and poverty, these girls rise above it all to create better lives for themselves.
The movie is filled with interesting and important facts regarding girls' education. 10x10's "10 Facts About Girl's Education" is just a sample of some of the startling statistics about girls and education that are featured in the documentary.
I highly recommend attending a screening of "Girl Rising" to learn more about the power of education as a tool in bettering our world.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Aid in Action
We so often hear about development initiatives and projects launched abroad to help end poverty, eradicate disease, or reduce violence, but rarely do we get to see those projects in action in the countries they have reached and in the hands of those they have impacted. I was lucky enough to witness the use and benefit of Unicef's Sara Communication Initiative. While volunteering at Ons Plek girl's home in Woodstock, South Africa, a student of mine picked up one of the "Sara" books from a stack of about 20 available in the home. In comic book format, the books delve into issues such as HIV/AIDS, genital cutting, early marriage and violence against women. The dense topics explored are complimented with simple story lines centered around Sara, her friends and the issues at hand that are relatable and easy to follow.
My student handed me one of Sara's stories to read after she professed that they were some of her favorite books in the home. When I read about the Sara Communication Initiative on the inside cover, I was in awe of being at the receiving end of international aid. The books had reached their proper destination and were welcomed by the girls in need of their message. Watching my student relax in her seat with Sara's story open before her eyes was a surreal sight. In that moment, I could feel the smallness of the world and how connected we all truly are. Our efforts are going places and actually reaching people. Thank you Unicef for following through on your efforts and inspiring me that we can truly reach those in need.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)