"...We must be courageous in speaking out on the issues that concern us: we must not bend under the weight of spurious arguments invoking culture or traditional values. No value worth the name supports the oppression and enslavement of women...
The function of culture and tradition is to provide a framework for human wellbeing. If they are used against us, we will reject them, and move on. We will not allow ourselves to be silenced..."
Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, Beijing, 1996
I’ve been listening to the University of Berkeley’s lecture podcasts of their Population and Poverty course. Malcolm Potts, Martha Campbell, Ndola Prata and a host of other speakers share their insights and experiences to provide an understanding of the relationships between population growth, poverty, women’s empowerment, and the politics and changing paradigms of population control.
They explore the history of family planning movements the world over in order to place in context the developments of today, and why since the 1980s, population control measures seem to have lost their momentum, though, “..globally one million more births than deaths occur every 112 hours, 90% in the poorest countries.”
In September 2000, the UN Millennium Declaration was adopted by 189 heads of state. It set out a plan for countries to work together to achieve the following goals for 2015:
• Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education
• Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women
• Goal 4. Reduce child mortality
• Goal 5. Improve maternal health
• Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability
• Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development
In Lecture 5, Martha Campbell asks an inconvenient question – Is it realistic or feasible to work toward any of these goals without addressing the population problem? How can we speak of eradicating hunger when there are a million new mouths to feed every few days?
They make a strong case for the support of women’s reproductive rights…which they see as crucially linked to the availability of options for contraception. This was raised by Dr. Sadik in her 1996 Address To The World Conference Of Women, highlighting the need to liberate women "from a system of values which insists that reproduction is their only function”
“…the first mark of respect for women is support for their reproductive rights. Women must be empowered to perform this role as they see fit. No-one has the right to impose reproductive decisions on them.
Living in Mumbai, a city that is bursting at its seams, with hundreds of children begging at every traffic light, and hundreds upon thousands of families living their lives on the roads, these words resonate deeply with me. But when and how will change come?
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Women. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Angel's Advocates and Creating New Social Norms
The Wired to Connect dialogues is a series of dialogues between Daniel Goleman and several leading thinkers. In the dialogue called The Inner Compass for Ethics and Excellence, Daniel Goleman and Naomi Wolf share their thoughts about how to create new social norms and cultures in which women develop their leadership.
Naomi Wolf explains how in order to be heard, women need to use their "true voice" and let go of old, overlearned responses such as, presenting a "false front of compliance" and "playing it safe" and "placate". For women who want to make change, there is a need to get over the aversion to criticism. In order to change this wiring, they need to live by the maxim, feel the fear and do it anyway.
Goleman speaks about how Neuroplasticity comes into play - the brain shapes itself through repeated experiences and it's only by putting women in a place where they are compelled to take risks, will these old, play-it-safe responses be overwritten.
Goleman explains this shift in terms of the amygdala, the part of the brain that receives direct inputs from the senses, to trigger a response even before these stimuli are registered by the neocortex or the thinking centre. The amygdala triggers an emotional response even before the cortical centres (or the thinking brain) have fully understood what is happening.
When women speak with their true voices, this shift resonates outwards, and is instantly and almost unconsciously, perceived by listeners (via the amygdala) and plays a significant role in building trust.
Goleman shares a story about an organisation that has developed the concept of the Angel's Advocate, a powerful and real way of creating a new culture and social norms. In this organisation, there is a tradition that whenever anyone advocates a new idea, the next person who speaks must support it. This allows breathing room for new ideas, and ensures that not every new idea is killed at the outset. This practice is now standard operating procedure in that organisation.
So for all of you who long for change - there's many routes - use your true voice, face up to and do not fear criticism, take risks often, and be an angel's advocate...in Gandhi's words, well, just go ahead and be the change!
Naomi Wolf explains how in order to be heard, women need to use their "true voice" and let go of old, overlearned responses such as, presenting a "false front of compliance" and "playing it safe" and "placate". For women who want to make change, there is a need to get over the aversion to criticism. In order to change this wiring, they need to live by the maxim, feel the fear and do it anyway.
Goleman speaks about how Neuroplasticity comes into play - the brain shapes itself through repeated experiences and it's only by putting women in a place where they are compelled to take risks, will these old, play-it-safe responses be overwritten.
Goleman explains this shift in terms of the amygdala, the part of the brain that receives direct inputs from the senses, to trigger a response even before these stimuli are registered by the neocortex or the thinking centre. The amygdala triggers an emotional response even before the cortical centres (or the thinking brain) have fully understood what is happening.
When women speak with their true voices, this shift resonates outwards, and is instantly and almost unconsciously, perceived by listeners (via the amygdala) and plays a significant role in building trust.
Goleman shares a story about an organisation that has developed the concept of the Angel's Advocate, a powerful and real way of creating a new culture and social norms. In this organisation, there is a tradition that whenever anyone advocates a new idea, the next person who speaks must support it. This allows breathing room for new ideas, and ensures that not every new idea is killed at the outset. This practice is now standard operating procedure in that organisation.
So for all of you who long for change - there's many routes - use your true voice, face up to and do not fear criticism, take risks often, and be an angel's advocate...in Gandhi's words, well, just go ahead and be the change!
Monday, 18 February 2008
Self Worth: The Antidote for the Dowry Plague
Dowry cases still continue to make headlines. There is however, little discussion about the underlying malaise that the dowry phenomena is really a symptom of: The inherent lack of self-worth in women.
This is belief that is planted and instilled in women from the moment of their birth. And we as mothers and fathers do much to strengthen and further entrench this false and damaging self-perception.
To many today, the lesser evolved of our species, the worth of a woman is measured by her (or her father's) bank balance and the assets she brings to the kitty. Is it not amazing how the fragile relationship between a man and woman who choose to make a life together and to raise a family, can be sustained by the payment of this toll tax?
It is not a new thing that for many, both men and women, marriage is a stepping stone to economic benefits. Call it dowry or call it marrying well. Money has always a part of the equation. So when do these expectations cross the limit and become criminal? Where is the line to be drawn? How is a girl to know and when is she to put her foot down?
It all boils down to being given a choice. Even today, how many women really have a choice? By offering women avenues to build their lives on their own, without having to resort to marriages based on dowry we will be striking at the root of it. And such evil must be removed from its roots. By offering women education and skills, we give them choices.
Women must be shown and made to appreciate their own self-worth and their limitless capabilities. Both men and women must recognise and realise this. Let us teach our children these values and eliminate this evil for good.
Read about an initiative that helped women set up their own businesses and gave them the confidence to make their own choices.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/17/MNUFV3EO3.DTL
This is belief that is planted and instilled in women from the moment of their birth. And we as mothers and fathers do much to strengthen and further entrench this false and damaging self-perception.
To many today, the lesser evolved of our species, the worth of a woman is measured by her (or her father's) bank balance and the assets she brings to the kitty. Is it not amazing how the fragile relationship between a man and woman who choose to make a life together and to raise a family, can be sustained by the payment of this toll tax?
It is not a new thing that for many, both men and women, marriage is a stepping stone to economic benefits. Call it dowry or call it marrying well. Money has always a part of the equation. So when do these expectations cross the limit and become criminal? Where is the line to be drawn? How is a girl to know and when is she to put her foot down?
It all boils down to being given a choice. Even today, how many women really have a choice? By offering women avenues to build their lives on their own, without having to resort to marriages based on dowry we will be striking at the root of it. And such evil must be removed from its roots. By offering women education and skills, we give them choices.
Women must be shown and made to appreciate their own self-worth and their limitless capabilities. Both men and women must recognise and realise this. Let us teach our children these values and eliminate this evil for good.
Read about an initiative that helped women set up their own businesses and gave them the confidence to make their own choices.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/17/MNUFV3EO3.DTL
Friday, 29 June 2007
Chief Justice
Leila Seth is the "first woman chief justice of a high court in India, first woman judge of Delhi High Court and first woman to top the Bar exams in London " (Times News Network, June 24, 2007, Pioneer in the courtroom).
Women's achievements still make the headlines as though it's extraordinary and amazing for a woman to be achieving like this. Let's now cross over from a decade of firsts to a decade of regular and always and but of course it's got to be a woman and who else could do it?! Kudos to Leila Seth, and all who strive for the cause! And I know quite a few.
As I think more, women have always flourished in the business of justice. Famous women and less famous women and even some infamous women have had opportunities to grace the bench. Mothers must mete out justice when their children fight. Teachers must ensure justice in class and between students. When children see justice being done, they implicitly learn the ways of justice. That is how a fair and just society is built brick by brick -- by example.
You and I are often faced with situations everyday where a decision must be made about right and wrong and what is fair and what is unfair. We may not always be conscious that we are members of an Honourable Bench, but yes we are. And justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Does this apply to you?
Women's achievements still make the headlines as though it's extraordinary and amazing for a woman to be achieving like this. Let's now cross over from a decade of firsts to a decade of regular and always and but of course it's got to be a woman and who else could do it?! Kudos to Leila Seth, and all who strive for the cause! And I know quite a few.
As I think more, women have always flourished in the business of justice. Famous women and less famous women and even some infamous women have had opportunities to grace the bench. Mothers must mete out justice when their children fight. Teachers must ensure justice in class and between students. When children see justice being done, they implicitly learn the ways of justice. That is how a fair and just society is built brick by brick -- by example.
You and I are often faced with situations everyday where a decision must be made about right and wrong and what is fair and what is unfair. We may not always be conscious that we are members of an Honourable Bench, but yes we are. And justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Does this apply to you?
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