To Read

Credit chance, destiny, divine intervention, or just good marketing, but I have been bumping into the topic of human rights for women time and again over the last few months.  I have always had an interest in the topic, but the issue is no longer one where  I can  bury my head in the sand and tell myself that there is nothing I can do.

It all began this last August when I came across a link to an article about Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s book called, Half The Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The book highlights human rights issues that women face in Africa and Asia. Also highlighted is the premise that by educating and giving these women microloans, they can then run businesses and earn money, most of which is reinvested back into their families.

According to the fact sheet downloadable from The Girl Effect website, when women earn income they reinvest 90 percent of their earnings back into their families. Whereas, sorry guys, men only reinvest 30-40 percent. For each additional year of primary education received, women’s eventual earnings went up 10-20 percent, and an educated mother’s children also appear to benefit from better health.  (Again, check out The Girl Effect website for more sources on this information. Also, the Half The Sky Movement website is a great resource. )  I remember being highly interested in the article I read, but, as is common with Twitter, I was quickly inundated with a hundred million other interesting things. I got busy and distracted, and I did nothing.

A few weeks later, in early September, a friend on Facebook sent me a message telling me that she was reading “Do They Hear You When You Cry,” because I had recommended it in one of those My Favorite Books of All Time memes. We started messaging back and forth about it, and I began to recall all of the heartbreaking feelings and emotions about the subject that I had upon my first read.

If you have read this book, you already know that it is the story of a woman named Fauziya Kassindja from Africa who got on a plane and came to the United States to avoid female circumcision. I read it around 1997, when it was first published. It truly altered my perspective on female roles in the world, asylum, and the justice system in the United States. I was seventeen at the time, and it left an indelible impression on me. But, again, soon after my little Facebook chat, I forgot about it. I got busy and distracted, and I did nothing.

A few weeks later, I was feeling a little down about a class I’m taking, and for a little diversion, I headed over to one of my new favorite sites called My Inspiration Lounge where I came across these videos put out by The Girl Effect, a program sponsored in part by The Nike Foundation.  Check out the videos below, and then continue reading below.

These videos touched my heart deeply. I added them to my favs and sent them to a few friends.  And then I, again, got busy and distracted, and I did nothing.

Not more than a week later, I came across a post on my university’s home page saying that Kristof would be speaking at my school the next week. I attended last night. His speech was eloquent, and I enjoyed it very much, despite the difficult topics discussed.

I am a firm believer in women’s rights in the world. I believe that topics such as lack of education for women, female genitalia mutilation, acid attacks, and sex slavery need to be discussed more, not less. The more we bring these things to light, the better we are able to find ways to help and improve the lives of not only women, but everyone.

Credit what or whom you will: chance, destiny, divine intervention, or just good marketing. But this time, I listened, and I’m doing something. I write this post in the hopes that it reaches more people like me. People who are no longer willing to just say that is sad, but there is nothing I can do.

I am adding “Half The Sky” to my reading list, and when I am done I will be writing a review about it and sharing it with as many people as I can. I will continue sharing these videos and trying to get the word out. I’m also going to look into some sites that give microloans to women like Global Giving, Heifer, and Kiva.

I have decided that for Christmas gifts this year, I will be gifting donations to one of these organizations for a microloan to improve the life of a woman. I was so impressed by what the Nike Foundation is doing with The Girl Effect that I’ve also decided the next pair of tennis shoes I buy will be Nikes. I guess there are things that I can do after all.

How about you?

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