Crossing the Gender Line-Egypt and the world

Recently, my keynote comments at Texas Tech University (4-13-12) included "  the problem of the 21st century is the challenge of the gender line". There's nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. From Egypt's gender struggles and the renewed contempt for women's humanity and citizenship there, to stories of increased violence against women in the form of forced sterilization, or the 'war on women' in US politics, no/low access to health care or political participation, or the daily confrontation with prejudice & brutality, women are saying 'there's no turning back'. This is a battle and it IS about power, ignorance, and 'keeping things tidy for men' so that they never have to change and grow into better men. How juvenile!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17820809
In this BBC interview, Mona Eltahawy tells it like it is. The "Arab Spring" will fail if women don't take their rightful place in societies around the world, whatever their status, whatever the deal.
Moral courage is what we women do best. It will be our gift to the future, but its' energies will atrophy if we don't use them. Do the right thing.

In my closing keynote remarks, I quoted writer Sherri tepper: "

“Some of us went to the brides in India, and the girls being cut, and the mothers told to kill their baby daughters. Some went among women who were alone, teaching them to join together, for there is hope in two women, help in three women, strength in four, joy in five, power in six, and against seven, no gate may stand. Some even went among men to tell them that a battle was coming, to explain that it is not male god against male devil, nor is it female against male; it has nothing to do with gender but with dominion.”

Speak out!

SADC Gender Protocol 2011 Barometer

SADC Gender Protocol 2011 Barometer

How do we measure wealth and poverty?

Pushing forward the 'welcoming partnership'-the equality of men and women is not for 'the foolish or faint of heart'.In
many countries we take our rights for granted. One of the surest means for monitoring progress on equity and equality is 'bean-counting' because data forces citizens and elected officials alike to face the scope of inequality and its cause squarely. But numbers only tell part of the story-the quantitative. Different indicators used measure different results.
SADC scores second only to Nordic countries in the representation of women in Parliament-a critical achievement towards recognition of women's intelligence, nobility, and greater powers of leadership during times of crisis, compared
to men. Yet those of us committed to equality for all realize the hard road ahead. Improving the quality of life for everyone, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups-women, children, elders, the disabled-is a 'no-brainer' if we believe in and work for global peace and security.
SADC (Southern African)countries are making headway despite competitive disadvantages that include age-old patriarchal systems (male-dominated regimes of power),customary laws, and despite comparatively lower poverty levels
and greater public health challenges. They score second only to So what do they have that described their progress?
SADC uses both the SGDI + the CSC (Citizen score card). Between the two tools for measuring progress toward gender equality the report offers a few insights:
" Across the board, citizens score their governments more harshly than the SGDI. For example Seychelles gets 79% in the SGDI but 61% in the citizen scoring exercise."
In this case, countries that have NAPS(National Action Plans) that include other indicators (e.g., GBV(gender-based violence) show up differently and, according to SADC, here is why:
" Nine SADC constitutions provide for the promotion of women and seven have other provisions that relate to gender equality. But contradictions between customary law and statutory law abound where these are outlawed by the Constitution."
In my work in Liberia, a West African country, I am proud to say their President and Parliament have pushed forward a National Action Plan. This plan directly addresses gender inequality and GBV through citizen education, law, and policy.




Weigh in on your thoughts and experiences with the worlds' most important goal-the equality of men and women.