DW March Issue POWER

8/2/2019 DW March Issue POWER

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DELTAWOMEN

P OW ER

Ma r c h 2 0 12


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Editors

Note

P

oweristheonlythingthatdrivespeopleorward.Ithasalwaysbeeneveryhumanbeings

mainsubjectomindoccupation.

T

hisissueisnotalovelettertowomenwhoseekpower,itsdedicatedto

everywomanwhoeellikea real,naturalandcompletewomanasitsthe

secretoWomensPower.

Beawoman,Bepowerul.

ElahehZohrevandi

Power

Learn to,

Listen, love, care,

About who you are,

The world you,

Live in,

And for once,

Give the POWER,

Back,

POWER,

In all its forms,Somehow,

Resides,

Only in the hands,

Of those,

Who constantly,

Fail,


3/29

Tip!

Nam inum alia adicia

Am ipsapid mi, eici Tem

faccum vendaeped.

When I can estimate my worth by what I perceive myself to be without waitingfor others to endorse me,

When I dont allow other to trample over my self-esteem,

When I dont measure myself by what others perceive me to be,

When I am not a slave to laudatory remarks from those around me,

When I recognize myself as a complete unit in myself -

My personality luminescent and my soul self-reliant,

That is when my soul, my being is truly empowered

Whiletheimportanceoempowermentoanindividualcannotbeundermined,empowermentowomeninparticular,holdsthekeytoachievingtheequalityandrespectthatwomenarestillyearningorintodaysmodernsociety.

The concept opower lies at the coreo empowerment. Interestingly,Weber(1946) reects thatpower exists within thecontexto a relationshipbetween

ArticleoTheMonth-byKanikaJainSahEMPOWERMENT - The indispensable step towards development


4/29


5/29

Tip!



faccum vendaeped.

Financialdependenceis,inalargenumberocases,thecausewomensuerandtolerate

abuseromtheirmalecounterparts.LetsjustsayIyouareabletoearnyourownbread,amanwillthinktwicebeoreraisinghishandonyou.

Furthermore,educationgivesyouideasoreedomandcreatesthatsenseosel-worthwhichempowersanindividualsocially.Educationasopposedtosocietalcustomsinsomanycountries,tellawomanthatsheisworthalotmorethanwhatsheismadeouttome.Sheisinnowayineriortoanyman.Whensucheelingohighsel-esteemlivesinawoman,shecancontributeawholelotmoretothesociety.

Shedoesnotneedtoquestionherbeing;rathersheneedstobepoliticallyempoweredtocreateapositivedierenceintermsochangingnotonlythereactionsothesocietyto-wardswomenbutsocietaldiscretionasawhole.Politicsandwomenareotenperceivedtonotgohandinhand.Whilemenbelittletheirpositioninpolitics,womenthemselvesacknowledgepoliticsasaconceptthattheydonotwanttobeassociatedwith,sincetheyperceiveittobethesameaspower.

Butwhydowomenassociatepowerwithnegativity?Poweropposedtowhatmanywomenbelieve,enableindividualstopursuetheirvaluesandaims.Inact,womenwithamore

communaloutlookandwithmoreconcernorthecommonwelareosocietiesthanmenshouldsetthestandards.Womenhavearesponsibilitytowardthecommunityandshouldbeinvolvedinpolitics.

ThisthoughtwasperectlywordedbyLylin,oneoourownsta:Empowermentisrecogniz-ingonesrightasanindividualandtheabilitytohelpandtransormthecommunity.Whatwomenreallyneedtodoistakecontrolotheirownlie.Theabilityowomentocontroltheirownertilityisanotherundamentaltowomensempowermentandequal-

ity.Awomanneedstobeabletoplanheramilywhichisamajoractorindecidingthecoursehercareerwilltakeandhowhealthyshewillbe.Thisisduecoursewillenablehertobecomeamorecompleteindividual.

Additionally,thereisanincessantneedonthisjourney,toexamineourbeingsinspiritualcontext.Toovercomeourspiritualhesitationandspiritualstagnationandtorecognizeand

tapintothespiritualpowerdeepwithinusandasserttheinnateandinalienablerighttoliveasempoweredbeings.

Sowhyhaventwemademoreheadwayinthisdomainjustasyet?Amajorbarriertowomenempowermentandequitylieingrainedintotheculturesandsocialnormsocertainnationsandsocieties.Thesecustomshaveledwomentoquietlyacceptbeingtreatedineriortomen.

ArticleoTheMonth-byKanikaJainSahEMPOWERMENT - The indispensable step towards development


6/29

Inact, empowerment is a signicant procedural

concernwhileaddressinghumanrightsanddevel-

opment.TheHumanDevelopmentandCapabilities

Approach andTheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals

to name a ew eminent eorts, acknowledgepar-

ticipationandempowermentasanecessarystepnot

just inwomendevelopmentbutnecessaryorthedevelopmentoanation.

Empowermentisnotanendin

itsel, but as wesee ameans

to many ends. So this is an

importantmessagetoallyouwomenoutthere

Iyouwakeuponedayand

Lookatyourreectioninthe

mirrorandseeawoman,areal

woman,youreawoman.

Iyouhaveapairoopeneyesthat

lookstrongandnevershakewhenyousay

somethingasawoman,youareapowerulwoman.

ElahehZohrevandi(StaoDeltawomen)

go


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StrengthTraining

AMustorWomen!

WhenitcomestoPower,wealwaysthinkoThebest,Thestrongest,andthemostinuentialpeoplebutwhatabouttheoneswhosuerromadisability?Cantheyalsobepowerul?

ManypeoplearebornwithADD(AttentionDecitDisorder)andsadlymanyotherjustgettohaveitlateroninlie.

AdultADDisnowaverycommonproblemallaroundtheworld.


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1.Howotendoyouhavetroublewrappingupthe-naldetailsoaproject,oncethechallengingpartshavebeendone?

2.Howotendoyouhavedifcultygettingthingsinorderwhenyouhavetodoataskthatrequiresorgani-zation?

3.Howotendoyouhaveproblemsrememberingap-pointmentsorobligations?

4.Whenyouhaveataskthatrequiresalotothought,howotendoyouavoidordelaygettingstarted?

5.Howotendoyoudgetorsquirmwithyourhandsoreetwhenyouhavetositdownoralongtime?

6.Howotendoyoueeloverlyactiveandcompelledtodothings,likeyouweredrivenbyamotor?



faccum vendaeped.WomenarediagnosedlessbuttendtosuermoreromthesymptomsoAdultADD.Whateveritis,Itsall

aboutourbrain.

First,LetsseeiwehaveADD:

AdultADHDQuizpsychcentral.com


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Thepleasuretospeakismylostprivilege,

Andnowinsanitydwellsonapage,

However,itschangingthecolorindays,

Revealingthetruthmywhitepencilportrays.

ButImgettingsickothepoetessate,

Ionlyenliventheworldsyourcreate,

Denyingthemythsyoudontwanttobelieve,

Orperpetuateeverysideomygrie.

Todayitstriangular,soontobesquare,

Orevenlinear,incaseyouarethere,

Youskillullyplaywithmychangeablemood,

IdstealsuchatalentromyouiIcould.

Ipaintthereality,liveinadream,

Dualitykillsme,Ijustwanttoscream,Illndthesalvationwhenholdingyouclose

Illspeakomyeelingsandkeeptheminprose.

DualityApril Avalon


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ArtShopKirthiJayakumar


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Th L ft


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StoryContest

Winner

The LeftoversTracy Hauser

Iaccidentallygotabookmailedtomyoldinnercityschool

thattheyrenovatedandre-staed,butIdidntcalltosee

iitwasthereorianyonehadpickeditup.Thatschool

wasontheeastsidewherenoonecouldndit,oEasternAvenueandtowardsEssex.Itwasaroundthecornerrom

theEastpointMallwheretheyhadhauntedhousesevery

yearandanewhibachito-gogrillrestaurant.Itwastwo

milessouthoNorthPointBoulevardwhereiyougotina

carwreckyoudbethereorhours.Itwaspracticallyright

onthecityandcountylineandthecopsromeachdistrict

wouldntknowwhosterritorywaswhos.

FromacrossthehallsatDianewhohelpedallo

us.SheusedtoplaywithadeskZengardenthathadsand,

stones,andarake.Michaelwouldleavehislunchesin

thisroomordaysanddaysaterheatethem.Likethis

onetimewhenhemadecoldsalmonandbroughtitina

mosaicglassplatterandsevendayslaterheremembered

totakeitbackhome.Coreyusedtocomeuptoourthird

oorbreakroomtopurposelyleaveherrozenquesadillas

inourreezersoshecouldwarmthemup,talktoDiane,

playwithDianesZenrake,andcomplain.

Andrea,thenewteacherwhodpreviouslytaught

ninthgradewasuponouroorthisyearhangingup

curtainswidth-wisewithherITunesturnedtoaLatino

radiostation.Ms.Burkeintheroomnexttominehung

upchartswithherstudentsnamesonthemandwroteor

homework,orclasswork,ortests/quizzes.Mr.Rob-

ertsroomwasjustlikemine.Wehadpilesoungraded

worknearthewindowsillsandwhenitwouldrainonthe

weekendswewouldcomebacktondtheletsidesothe

stackssoakedandthekidswonderingwhytheirAlgebrahomeworkwaswet.

Wegotnewcomputersupromtheonesthatwere

builtin1995,in2010andwestoredthemattheendo


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theyearinMr.Allotscomputerclassroomsclosets.WecouldgetonYouTube,accessthewebrom

UnitedStreaming,andusethemonsomeotheteacherswhiteboards.MichaelevenhadanLCDpro-

jectorthathecapturedandkeptinhisroomortheentireyearthatheusedorPowerPointwarm-upsat

thebeginningoclasses.TherewasnoheatbutIborrowedspaceheatersoneyearandIshotouthalomyroomselec-

tricalsocketswhenItriedtoaddamicroridgenexttomycomputertable.Imanagedtogetamicro-

waveintherethatIhidromthekidsbetweenaslidingcabinetdoorandaredtableclothnapkin.All

theteacherswouldcomeinandsecretlyuseitontheirlunchbreaksandplanningperiods.Theydstrike

upstutotalkaboutitheyhadntusedupalltheirenergytryingtogetthekidstobequiet,orrom

chasingdownDariusinthehallwaysohethathewouldntbeseenbythesecondooradministrator.

Noneousreallyexpectedanyonetoleave,wedeachalwaysseparatelytalkedaboutgettingotherjobsbutwedneverreallyheldeachothertoit.Sowhenourschooladministratortoldusthat

wewereallboundtohavetoleaveourjobsandapplyornewoneswewerentreallyshocked,just

dismayed.Wedstoodinlinesbehindeachother,witheachother,oppositeeachother,orthesame

EnglishorMathorSocialStudiesjob.Wehadtosignuporthevoluntarytranserairatalocalhigh

schoolandwhenwecametherewasnoairconditioningonsoiyouhadlonghairorhaditdownto

yourshoulder,itstucktothebacksoyourneck.Therewasbottledwaterbutmostoithadbeentaken

bytheteacherswithniceprospectswhodhadgoodinterviews.

Someousthrewouteverythingwhenweletandsomeouskeptstuinthethinplasticbags

thattheSpanishspeakingcustodialworkerstoreoonarollandgavetous.Dianehadaeamarket

inherroom.Sheletnewnotebooks,highlighters,pens,andpaperclipsthatshehadneverusedout

oranyoustograb.Someotheotherteachersdidthesamethingstoo.

Wehadabarbequeaterschoolwasoveratoneoourteachershouseswheresomecame

whomadethecutandwheresomecamewhogotjobsatotherplaces.Michaelgotajobteaching

elementaryschoolandIgotajobteachingmiddleschool.OuracademyprincipalJoseygotajobas

alibrarianandweallcametondoutthatshewasgoingorherlibrarysciencedegree.Wewerekinda

shocked.Someoushadboughthousesbecausewethoughtthisjobwouldbealongtermgig,so

someouswerestruggling.WestillkeepintouchonFacebookbutIguesswecanallsaythatnoneo

ushasoractslikewevereallymovedon.


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Tip! Tip!



faccum vendaeped.



faccum vendaeped.

DontMessWithUsKirthiJayakumar

Whenanimageoagirlbeingbeatenupandstrippedby

soldiersonastreetdidtheroundsontheinternet,itwasnosurprisethatitwentviral.Activistsworldoverwereabbergasted

atthesheercallousnessothesoldiersorputtingthegirlthrough

that,peoplewereoutragedatthedisplayoippancyinthe

soldierstreatmentothegirl.Thebiggestdisplayoantagonism

cameromthousandsowomeninEgypt,demandingtheendo

militaryruleinthecountry.

Andwhatamovementitwas!

OntheeveningoDecember21,2011,thousandsowomenwalkedthestreetsoCairo,shoutingouttheirangerattheagrantdisrespectowomenanddenouncingthebrazeninde-

cencyinthesoldiersbehaviourexhibitedinthebeating,stripping

andkickingoemaledemonstratorsatTahrirsquare.Dragme,

Stripme,MyBrothersBloodwillcoverme,theyshoutedaloud.

Demandingtoseethetopmilitaryofcerinthecountry,Moham-

medHusseinTantawi,thewomenshoutedout,WhereistheField

Marshall?ThegirlsoEgyptarehere!

Notsince1919,hasEgyptwitnessedsuchalargescaledemon-strationbyitswomen.About82yearsago,amarchagainstBritishcolonialismwastheonlyotherinstanceoamassivedisplay

owomensactivisminEgypt.Theburstooutrageisparticularly

commendableasbeingararityintheArabworld.Egypthasbeen

strictlyrootedinpatriarchy,initscultureandsocialsetting,to

theextentthatseveralattemptsthroughthisyearinthehopeobringinginwomensprotesteventsintoruitionactuallyzzled

outbeorematerializing,andtheonlyonethatdid,actuallywound

upendinginphysicalharassmentothewomenprotestersbya

biggergroupomen.


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Women

Power

Tip!



faccum vendaeped.

InEgypt,womenwerejostledoutopoliticsalmostentire-

ly.Evenwhenthewindsochangeblewoverthecountry,

swingingitintoactioninoverthrowingitsdictator,wom-

enwhowereatthehelmoaairsduringtheinitialrounds

otherevoltwereewandarbetween.Revolutionaryco-alitions thatsprangup in theatermatho the despots

ousterdidnothaveroomormanywomeninprominent

roles.Thedemonstrationsagainstmilitaryrulethathave

comeupinthewakeothemilitaryauthoritysobduracy

in thewakeoa ull-blownafnity orpowerhavehap-

penedtodescendintochaosasghtseruptbetweenthe

youngstersandthepolice,asrocksyullarcsbetween

bothactions.

ThemilitaryruleinEgypthasbeenthedenouncedbymost

displeasedobservers. Human Rightsgroupsdenounced

themortheirridiculousinvasivevirginitytestsonwomen

whoweredetainedateraprotestinMarchthisyear.How-ever, despite thegross violation o their rights through

these disgustingmeasures, only ew women spoke out

againstthehumiliation.Thisisevidentlybecauseothe

hotbedoconservatismthatEgyptis.

ThedemonstrationbytheFeminineFaceoEgyptisntjustarepresentationinanopenchallengetothemilitiaater

theirhero,ananonymousemaleprotesterwasstripped

andbeaten,andanotherwhoattemptedtorescueherwas

brutallybeatenandnowremainsinacoma.Itisastrong

messagethattheysendtothemilitia,thattheprotesters

wantedmorethananything,todentthemilitarycouncils

eortstoprojecttheprotestingmassesasmerehooligans

andarsonists.


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POWERTOBELIEVE


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Power


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Thewomende-mandedaplace,avoice,areservedrightinpoliticsinEgypt.

Thisdemandhitsthe

recentelectionvicto-

riesotheconserva-

tiveIslamistactions

squarelyintheace.

Themarchbrought

outsuchamassive

rangeowomenout

tothestreets-house-

wiveswhocameout

intothedemonstrat-

ingarenaorthersttime;motherswith

newlybornchildren,

younguniversitystu-

dents.Mostwomen

hadthetraditional

Muslimheadscarin

place,somehadveils

coveringtheiraces

entirely.Theassem-

blagewasreplete

withchantsdemand-

ingempowerment

andgallantryrom

theirmalecounter-

parts.

Theconagrationooutrageburstoutinresponsetotheshamelessindecency

onpartothesoldiers

inEgypt.Videoater

videostreameda

similarscenesetin

dierentpartswith

dierentofcers-

demonstratingand

protestingwomen

weregrabbed,beaten

andstripped.The

mostprominentand

hauntingpicture(andvideo,ocourse)

otheentirearray

wastheonewhere

awomanlaysupine

withapairosoldiers

grabbingherarms

upwards,andoneo

themrippingoher

veil,revealingablue

bra.Thevideogoes

ontoshowoneo

thesoldierskicking

thewomaninher

chest.Theincident

wasexplainedin

gorydetailatapressconerence,whenthegirlsriendcalledHassanSha-

hen,narratedthathe

hadtoldthesoldiers

thathewasajour-

nalist,andshewas

agirl,andhewould

takeherawayrom

there.Butthesoldiers

wouldntlisten,and

oneothembegan

beatinghimwitha

baton.Forherpart,

thepoorgirlhasremainedobscure

soarasheridentity

isconcerned,andis

knownonlyasthe

bluebragirl.

Ontheonehand,therearepeoplelikeyou,meandKath-

erinewhodenounce

thischeapbehaviour.

Ontheotherhand,

therehavebeenabunchoridiculously

parochialthinkers

whohaveactuallyquestionedthegirlspresenceatTah-rir,goingontosug-

gestthatsheshould

havebeenkepthome

intherstplace,and

someotherswhohad

thegalltoremark

thatshewouldhave

wantedtheexpo-

surebecauseshe

woreancylingerie,

andstillotherswho

believedthatshe

shouldhavewornsomethingunderher

veil.

Asi.


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On19thDecember,2011,GeneralAdelEmara,oneothemembersothemilitarycouncilinrule,acknowl-edgedtheincident,butlaidclaimthattheincidentwasblownoutoproportionandstudiedwithoutregardtobroadercircumstancesthatwouldexplainwhathappened.Almostimmediately,astunningrepartee

stungbackromaemalejournalistwhodemandedanapology,warningthatawomansrevolutionwouldnt

betooaraprospect.TheGeneralbrushedherremarkasidelikeonewould,astraythreadontheirjacket.

Thisisaterriblysurprisingandcallousmentalityonpartothemilitarycouncil,andreectsalthysetodoublestandards.Whenaboutamonthago,AliaaElmahdyandherriendKarimAmerpostednakedpicturesothemselvesinanattempttousetheirbodiesasasignoprotest,allhellbrokelooseandthetwo

girlswerechastisedverbally,byorthodoxclericsdenouncingthemasviolatorsomoralityandinciterso

indecency.SomewantedtopunishthetwogirlsbasedontheirConstitutionwhichisbasedonIslamicLawandIslamicSanctions.Andyet,itisthepeopleromtheverysamebrandomentalitythathavebeatenand

strippedwomen.

Inmyresearch,Icameacrossthiswebsite.ItexplainedtomethattheQuransays,Womenhavethesamerightsinrelationtotheirhusbandsasareexpectedinalldecencyromthem,whilemenstandastepabovethem.Sura2:228.Thisonlyspeciesthedegreeoresponsibility,notprivilege,inmansroleasprovider,

protector,maintainer,andleaderotheamily.Furtherdowninthesamearticle,thewebsiteexplains,During

thereinoUmar,womenparticipatedinlawmaking.Umarmadeaproposaloacertainregulationconcerning

marriage.Awomaninthemosquestoodupandsaid,Umar,youcantdothat.Umardidnottellher,Shutup,

youareawoman,youhavenothingtodowithpolitics,etc.Heasked,Why?Shemadeherargumentonthe

basisoQuran.Inrontoeverybody,hestoodupandsaid,ThewomanisrightandUmariswrong,andhe

withdrewhisproposal.ThatwasthespiritintheearlydaysoIslam.Inthemostauthenticcollectionohadith,

HadithBukhari,asectionisdevotedtotheparticipationowomen,notonlyinpublicaairs,butinthebattle-eld,too,andnotonlyaslogisticalsupport.Womencarriedarms,andwhentherewasgreatdangertothe

Muslims,theyvolunteeredtoparticipateeveninthebattleeld.

Anotherwebsiteexplains,Accordingtoit(TheQuran),bothmanandwomanhavebeencreatedorthesakeoeachother.TheQuransays:They(women)areraiment(comort,embellishmentandprotection)oryou,andyou(men)areraimentorthem.(Surahal-Baqarah:2:187).


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WhatIslamicLawallowsorthis?WhatIslamicLawsayswomenshouldbedisrespected?WhatIslamicLawallowsmentoshamelesslybeat,stripand

kickwomen?Whyaretheredoublestandardsinthe

understandingomorality?Whenonehanddrums

abeatsayingthatwomenshouldabidebyacertain

morality,howcantheotherhanddrumupadier-

entdrumandsaythatitisokayorasoldiertostrip

awoman?UntilthiswarpedunderstandingoIslam

ideologychanges,itispainullytruethatwomenwill

alwaysbeunderthethumbomaledomination.

Truepowerissincere,itknowsresponsibility.Allpowercorrupts.Butabsolutepower?ItcorruptsAbsolutely.

The Power Within


22/29

MargaretMeadoncesaid:Everytimeweliberateawoman,weliberateaman.IwonderiMs.Meadwerealivetoday,ishe

wouldchangeherwordstoincludenotonlymen,butalsoentirecommunities.Ms.Meadobviouslysawwomenspotentialto

makeachangeinthosearoundthem.Sheidentiedwomensabilitytopositivelyaecttheworld.Thiscapacity,thisspecialpower,isuniquetowomen,andespeciallyadolescentgirls.

Everyadolescentgirlonourplanethasthepowerwithinherseltochangetheworld.Inact,somearguethatiyouwantto

changetheworld,youshouldinvestinanadolescentgirl.Whengirlsreachadolescence,theyreachapointintheirliveswhen

decisionsabouttheiruturesaremade.Unortunately,manyactorssuchasearlymarriage,earlypregnancy,orcedlabor,or

plaingenderdiscrimination,getinthewayoadolescentgirlspotentialorachievement,andorchangingtheworld.

Theexistingresearchonthepotentialogirlsislimited.Thisisnotduetolackoevidence,however,butsimplyareectiono

howmuchimportanceandvalueoursocietyhasplacedonadolescentgirls.Theexistingevidence,nonetheless,suggeststhat

whenadolescentgirlsarenotorcedintoearlymarriages,butinsteadallowedtostayinschool,toremainhealthy,andtogain

realskills,theywillmarrylater,haveewerandhealthierchildren,andtheywillearnanincomethattheywillverylikelyinvest

backintotheiramiliesandcommunities.Itistrulyamazingtothinkaboutthepowergirlshavetomakesuchahugeimpacton

theircommunities.Atthemacroeconomiclevel,educatingagirlandarmingherwithskillsresultsinamorecompetitivelabor

orce.Ithoseinchargeorunningourworldwereullyawareothepotentialogirlsorimprovingacountryseconomy,they

wouldprobablybeinvestingmoremoneyintheirgirls.However,itheykeepignoringgirls,overhalothecountryspotential

willbewasted,andthecountrywillcontinuetoallbehind.

ThePowerWithinPaola Brigneti

The Power Within


23/29

ThePowerWithin

Theevidenceavailableregardingtheimpactoenablinggirlstosucceedshowsthatacountryspercapitagrossnationalproductrises

whengirlscompletesecondaryschool.Whenagirlinthedevelopingworldreceivessevenormoreyearsoeducation,shemarries

ouryearslaterandhas2.2ewerchildren.Anextrayearoprimaryeducationincreasesagirlseventualwagesby10to20percent.

Anextrayearosecondaryeducationincreasesheruturewagesby15to25percent.Themostvaluablendingshowinggirlspower

tomakeachangeisthatwhentheyearnincome,theyreinvest90percentoitintotheiramiliesandtheircommunities.Men,incom-

parison,onlyreinvestbetween30to40percent.

However,iagirlisorcedtoollowthepathopoverty,shewillprobablyhavetoleaveschool,getmarriedandhavechildren.All

aroundtheworld,thishappenstomanygirlsataveryyoungage.Asayoung,unskilledmother,shewillnotbeabletousethepower

shehaswithinherseltoreachherullpotentialandtohelpthosearoundher.Asaresultothissadturnoevents,herchildrenwill

likelybeorcedintothisdownwardspiraltriggeredbypoverty,andbypracticesthatoppressanddisenranchisethem.

Therealityisthatgirlshavethepowertoshapeuturegenerationsandtohelpendthecycleopovertyintheiramiliesand

communities.Thewelareogirlstodayshapestheprospectsorutureamilies.Thephysicalandintellectualhealthotodaysgirls

directlyaectsthehealthandeducationalachievementouturegenerations.Aneducatedmotherismorelikelytoensurethatherchildren,boysandgirls,willbeeducatedaswell.Andthecycleoeducation,success,healthandgoodchoiceswillcontinue.Thisisthe

poweroadolescentgirls,thepowertheyhavewithin,evenitheyarenotullyawareoit.Knowingthepowergirlshavetochange

ourworld,weshouldbedoingeverythingwecantoallowgirlslighttoshineinourworld,andtoturnitintoabetterplaceorthem,

orus,andortheuturegenerations.

Paola Brigneti

ForS l h


24/29

SolongsheHadadheredintoperect

Place~AninvisibleshieldoeminineArmor~Whatlaybeneathhadalwaysbeen

Perceptibletomeneaththelayersoarticulation-

Careulconsideration~BoundtightlyinoceanesqueHuesoblue~ShehadalwayskeptasilenttremorO-limitstoentry~Pleadingmetophysically

Forceitromher~ToexorcisetheExtractionoherpain

ForthesakeoOnemore

Day

OComposure~Brokenmomentsoreleaseindisguise~Aconstructivecamouage

Forherliberation~Shehadbecomeimmobilizedbyherrestraints~Meticulouslymummied~Therepressedtensiono

Everyemotionalinjury~BreakingwasaNecessitybackthenButitwas

NeverreallyaboutTheexercise~

BothoUs

WrestlingsuchSimilardemons~Wewerethe

Perectbalanceoorceandreason~FireAndice~AstrongtoniccocktailosweatandProanity~Endorphinprovokedjunkiessting

Oursel-imposedarchetypes~Itwasneverabout

ThecontrolItwasabouttheeuphoricmomentsOlosingit~ThecrashandcrawlintoblissulDepletion~Clawingthroughpsychological

Fevers~DelineatingwoundsletDeniedandunspoken~

EquipmentAndSpace

WereonlyaBackdroporourtraining~

Oursolidaritywasatherapyoadierentkind

PoemsoAWomanSolidarityLeila A. Fortier


25/29

Tip! Tip!



faccum vendaeped.



faccum vendaeped.

Power:BreakingtheCultureoSilenceLylinAguas

Manywomentoday,despiteallthesophisticationtheworldhas

tooer,continuetosuerinsilenceromdomesticviolence.They

livesecretlivesoabuse,dysunction,poverty,sicknessordepres-

sion.Theyarebeingbeatenbyapartneroraamilymember,an

unortunaterealitythatviolenceexistsevenathome.Thismakesitdoublyhardtocontainandaddresstheproblembecauseitis

viewedasaprivatematter.

Therearetwomajoractorswhydomesticviolenceinthehome

istolerated:(1)ABSENCEORLACKOFEMPOWERMENT;and(2)

CULTURE.

ABSENCEORLACKOFEMPOWERMENT

Mostwomenwhosilentlyacceptdomesticviolencehavetotal

dependenceonpartnersoramilymemberswhoabusethem.For

howcanawomanspeakoutieverythingsheneedsisprovided

orbyherhusbandoramily?Herdependenceonothersorher

andherchildrentosurvivepreventsherromstandinguporher

rightorwhatshebelievesin.Themomentsheargues,hermeans

osupportiswithdrawnandsheandherchildrencanbeletempty-handed.

Beingdeprivedoaneducationurtherweakenswomenschances

oempoweringthemselvestobecomeindependent.Itlessens

theircapabilitytoexploreopportunitiesorthemselves.Theyre

letwiththeirownsimpledevicesborneromliesexperienceso

howtobesttakecareothemselvesandtheirchildren.

Itisthereorecriticalthatwomenobtainaneducationtoempowerthemselvesandhavethenancialmeanstobeindependent.They

willhaveabetterchanceodeendingthemselveswithoutearo

beingletoutinthecoldwhendoingso.


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Leading

Article

CULTURE

Thoughthetimesshowamarkedimprovementonthestatisticsoeducatedwomen

andwomenintheworkingorce,onecannotsimplysaythattheycannotbevictimso

violencewithinthehome.InNigeria,morethanhaloallwomensaytheyareabused

bytheirhusbands.A2010studyconductedintheLagosandOyostatesrevealedthat

nearly65percentoeducatedwomensaidtheyhadbeenbeatenbyapartner,boy-

riendorhusband,while56percentolower-incomemarketwomenexperiencedsimilar

violence.

Itisevidentthatsocioeconomicstatuscannotalwayspreventdomesticviolenceinthe

home.Thereisacultureosilencethatexistsanddemandsobedienceromwomen.

Thiscanbetracedbacktoyearsopatriarchaldominancethatwomenshouldobserve

obediencetotheirmalepartners.

Societyspressureorwomentokeepthemarriageandamilyintactdespitebeing

batteredandbeatenurtheraggravatestheviolentsituationinthehome.Societynor-

malizesactsoviolenceinthehomeandgivesalsehopesthatitwillend.Thepressure

makesithardtowalkawayromthecomortooneshome.Butcanonecallitahome

whenmemoriesaredrenchedwithvividpicturesobeatingsandviolence?

BREAKINGTHESILENCE

Goingoutsidethenormandbreakingthecultureosilencecanseemaormidablestep

orwomenwholiveinasocietywheremarriagegivesthemanthelicensetodominate

womentothepointobatteringthem.Butsuchviolenceshouldneverbetolerated.

Itisimperativethatassistanceorthevictimsbemadeavailabletoimmediatelyarresta

worseningsituation.Knowingwomenhaveahaventoruntoorprotectionmakesabig

dierence.Itcangivethemthecouragetostanduportheirright.

Womendeprivedoaneducationsincechildhoodshouldbeoeredlivelihoodpro-

gramsthatcangivethemopportunitiestoearntheirownlivingandbenancially

independent.Theydenitelyshouldhaveasayinthedecision-makingwhenitaects

theirlivesandhomes.

Throughtheyears,morewomenhavemadetheirpresenceelt.Manyhavebeen

involvedinimprovingwomenslivesandhavegivenpositivecontributionseconomi-

cally,politicallyandsocially.Somehavebecomeworldleadersandearnedtheirplaceinsociety.

Womencannotsimplybeignored.Anditiscertainlytimetobreakthecultureosilence.


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Editor: Elaheh Zohrevandi

Production Coordinator: Elsie Reed

Designer: Elaheh Zohrevandi

Proofing: Kirthi Gita Jayakumar, Aanchal Kumar

Photographer: Effat Allahyari

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