Stop Abuse of Women Worldwide

So any of my "faithful" blog readers know that I love Ted Talks. Last week I started watching a talk by Sheryl DuWann. She is the author of the book, Stop Abuse of Women Worldwide. I had to stop and take the time to create a blogpost on this, not only because the video was moving, but I think it is essential information that people need to know.

I have found myself many times having heated debates/discussions on gender inequities in America and around the world. Honestly the people that I usually have these debates with are men. Sometimes I leave feeling so defeated because I don't know if "male privilege" is really operating that much or do people refuse to see the gender inequalities that span worldwide.



There are some highpoints from this video that really stuck with me.

She talks briefly on Female Sex Trafficking (also known as "modern day slavery", which is at an all time high around the world. This topic has really had an eye opening transformative effect on me, for several reasons. In undergrad my sorority held a Symposium on Sex Trafficking, that was extremely informative. Things are things that often go unlooked and thought about, mostly because it doesn't involve the every day person (or does it?). It's also important to know that many of these women are in fact young girls. As young as 6 or 7. Lisa Ling has also done a wonderfully enlightening documentary on sex slavery.

She also talks about childbirth and how around the world a woman dies every 1.5 minutes while giving birth.

Infanticide is a large issue when it comes to girls, because around the world, even in America...male children are often looked at as being more valued than girls.

DuWann's solution to these problems are to educate girls. Often girls are not given the opportunity to be educated, but instead they are married off at young ages and forced to be domestic servants to their husbands. She also reiterates that when a woman is educated, she tends to have fewer kids, get married later on in life, and also educate her own child. Which would inevitably stop the vicious cycle.

Overall the video is extremely informative, and it is something I think is worth taking a look at, especially for men, who think that we have reached gender equality.The specific stories she gives are so moving and dynamic. For me, it is especially touching as I sit here in my apartment and take a break from studying. I have been blessed beyond measure. There are girls around the world who will never go to school, let alone college and a doctoral program. It gives me strength and motivation to keep going, so that I can help those that are less fortunate.

Until Next Time...