So glad I could use a Destiny's Child song for a blog title. SO GLAD.
Today is International Women's Day and it seems only fair to make this all about the sisterhood, am I right?! I've been incredibly busy during the last week as the volunteers have finally arrived and we have moved down to Besi Sehar (main town of Lamjung) and have started our training. Although that has been fantastic, it does however mean this isn't going to be as well researched as I would have liked. But here goes.
Now, I'm no expert in International Development or gender issues, but I sure have met and heard about a lot of inspiring women. For me, it doesn't take making global change to be inspiring, but to do something empowering, unexpected or to achieve something up against the odds. For whatever reason I'd never really thought of myself as much of as a campaigner for gender equality but that has all been slowly changing over the last couple of years. Having now worked in two countries where there is an extreme difference between life for men and for women, I have opened my eyes to the situation for women around the world.
Here's some fast facts from the UN for you about the global situation:
- 60% of chronically hungry people are women and girls
- women hold only 21.4% of the world's parliamentary seats
- globally, every 3 in 10 women report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner
- approximately 800 women die every day from preventable diseases during pregnancy and childbirth
Over in Britain we are currently 26th in the world rankings for Global Gender Gap, falling from 18th, the lowest ranking we've had since 2008. It's certainly not the worst, but definitely not good, as we should be improving, not slipping further down the ranks. If you'd like to know more about the growing gender gap, this is a pretty good article.
That's a pretty bleak scenario, especially as all of the above is preventable.
Now as much as all of that is very depressing and absolutely must be changed, this day is all about celebrating women, so let's look at some positives eh?! I might have cheated and taken this list from somewhere else, but you can find the original here, or you can read on to find out about some amazing human beings. The list was originally compiled by VSO, so as one of their representatives I think it's only fair that I help shine a light on these amazing individuals. So here we are:
Ganga Adhikari: it seems only right that we start with a Nepali woman. In Nepal there is an extreme caste system, but despite this, Ganga married a man from a higher caste. His family refused to accept her and wouldn't even let her serve them food. Through the VSO partner Women's Empowerment Action Forum (WEAF), Ganga became and advocate for women's rights and worked to get girls into school. She gave women a voice and eventually acceptance from her in laws.
Hon. Esther Murugi Mathenge: a Kenyan MP and former minister. Esther was the only female politician in Kenya when she started. She says "Kenyan politics is still seen as a man's world and you are a trespasser. You learn to have a thick skin. I can assure you that becoming a minister was not easy. I was a lone ranger". Once Esther was elected she built 11 health facilities in her constituencies for women who had previously had to walk long distances to reach healthcare facilities and collect water.
Samira Hashi: a campaigner against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) who was born in Somalia and grew up in London. She actively campaigns against this shocking practice at the same time as being a model and VSO ICS volunteer.
Rute Manave: Rutes husband died 15 years ago and she found out she had HIV. With the help of a VSO project supporting widows she was able to open a shop in Mozambique and can now support herself and her family.
Binti Ali Kiza: Binti was always told "women can't lead because they have periods...how can they lead when they are bleeding?". She then went on to create her own women's organisation Sauti Ya Kinamama (Voice of Women) who work to end the discrimination of women in Kenya.
Habiba Hashimu: Habiba is former sex worker from Tanzania. She was discriminated against and denied basic rights such as housing and medical care purely for being unmarried. Habiba then formed a support group that gives a voice to women born into poverty and forced into a challenging way of life. The group is registered with government authorities and free to advocate for their rights as commercial sex workers.
Well done to those ladies!
As I mentioned above, it doesn't take changing the world single handedly to be an inspiration. I myself am surrounded by women who inspire me everyday. I was brought into this world by an incredible woman also known as Mummy Sue, who is an actual angel and has given me so much support over the years and continues to do so (this day is all about women, but of course Padre you are equally as admired and loved). I can't imagine how hard it is to be a mother (especially to me!), so thank you madre. I've got great friends who are all out their doing their own thing because they can and they will. Friends who raise family whilst also building a career, showing the world that it doesn't have to be a choice of one or the other. I've met fantastic women overseas who battle daily gender inequality and help support those without a voice. I've worked with talented and ambitious women, all with hopes and dreams of their own. And of course I wouldn't be where I currently am (a Team Leader in Nepal just in case you didn't realise) without being supported by an amazing programme supervisor, but more importantly, friend, who has continued to inspire me to take on new, and to be honest terrifying, challenges. Speaking of my team, I have a very female heavy team full of exciting, enthusiastic and strong young women who are no doubt going to do incredibly well on this project.
So, on International Women's Day 2015, here's to you, inspiring women!
Lizzie x
p.s
You may have noticed that the title says part one. There will be a part two as I have been meaning to write more about the situation for women in Nepal. I think this deserves (and definitely needs) it's own post, so that will be coming once we have started our work on sexual and reproductive health work in community. So sit tight on that.
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