Blog Post: Day 4
Today was an absolute whirlwind. I
began my day in a session dedicated to understanding the effects political
instability has had on Palestinian women. I was very disheartened to see so
many individuals in the session came solely to propagate anti-Palestine views,
when the panelists came to discuss not politics, but the humanity of women
trapped in conflict zones. Regardless of personal feelings regarding Palestine
statehood, real women live in Palestine, often without choice.
The second
session I attended, regarding innovative solutions to improve worldwide
maternal health, was a real treat—primarily because an organization I worked
with in high school, called Days for Girls, had a representative on the panel.
Days for Girls attempts to “get back” the days girls miss from school and
social activities while menstruating in many developing countries through
handmade “kits”, which include hand-sewn reusable, sustainable cloth sanitary
pads. I was so excited to see their mission shared at a panel, with so many
other great speakers.
The third
session I attended was regarding the effects of armed conflict on women in the
Arab world. Truly, I was completely blown away by the amount of information I
was able to obtain in an hour and a half. My favorite quote of the event came
from a panelist who said, “We come from the womb of Arab countries. We do not
need a savior narrative”. It really made me think about how NGOS (and myself)
can be most effective in helping in conflict issues—how to treat those in need
with respect and the understanding that they need the opportunity to thrive
within their own society, not us “creating” stability for them.
Finally, I
attended an event on youth in feminism in the same room that the WomenNC
Fellows will be presenting in tomorrow (!). It was a fun event geared toward
discussing how to overcome the limitations youth often place on themselves when
striving to become feminist leaders.
I cannot
believe our panel is tomorrow. This week is flying by, and I can’t wait to
share my knowledge with the rest of the conference.
Justine
So excited for you!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that there are multiple messages, of "we don't need a savior" and "we are enough". It seems that women everywhere want to seize their own power and craft their own solutions. Women really can change the world, because they have the focus and the incentives of commitment to their children and their cultural communities. This is sounding like a "movement" with great women leaders! 'Bout time!
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