Chapter 11: Microcredit: The Financial Revolution

I would first like to talk about the interview with Malala Yousafzai that was posted under these weeks’ materials. I was speechless when I first listened to Malala speak about what happened to her and about why she stood up for herself and others. She spoke with such intelligence and dignity. Not many women would have stood up to the Taliban like Malala did which caused her to make a difference in her hometown. It gave me chills to hear her say that instead of reacting with violence towards the Taliban, she would try to speak to them through peace, dialogue and education. If she were to react with violence, then there would be no difference between her and the Taliban. At the of Malala’s interview, she spoke of a solution that she believes will help cause the violence to stop. Education is the solution. Malala said, “I support the idea of sending children to school because it is the best way to fight terrorism.” She also said, “I think issues and problems are enormous but solution is one and that is simple, that is education.” What do you guys think? Do you think this is a good solution? What other solutions is the best way to fight terrorism?

            In this week’s readings, we read about Saima Muhammad and the struggles that she dealt with for a while. We learned that Saima and her husband were very poor which lead to her husband beating Saima out of frustration. Saima’s mother-in-law told Saima’s husband that she should re-marry someone who will give him a boy because she stated that Saima would never have a son.  This clearly upset Saima which lead to her finding a way to make an income for her family. On page 187 it says, “Sharifa even allows that Siama is now largely exempt from beatings by her husband. ‘A woman should know her limits, and if not then it’s her husband’s right to beat her,’ Sharifa said. ‘But if a woman earns more than her husband, it’s difficult for him to discipline her.’” There are so many women’s issues in countries like the one Saima lives in. Why do you think her mother-in-law (who is clearly a woman) would think it is okay for women to be beaten? Do you think it is because that’s what she has always known as being normal?

            Because of Saima’s successes, she is now a participant in the microcredit revolution. This provides a system to help people help themselves. On page 187 it says, “Microfinance has done more to bolster the status of women, and to protect them from abuse, than any laws could accomplish.” This is great to hear! Finally, after reading all of these depressing chapters, we are starting to read about the solutions and we are starting to see a change in these women’s lives. 

Chapter 11 Microcredit: The Financial Revolution

It was pleasing to read about Saima’s success in micro-finance and the fact that she could proudly support her family. However it was upsetting to read that her husband suddenly became submissive once Saima started making money and suddenly changed his mind about the importance of women because of money. Aren’t being a loving and caring mother and wife enough to earn respect? It was revolting that in the eyes of Saima’s mother-in-law Saima was worthless but then as she earned money she was, “an exemplary daughter-in-law.” It was particularly sad to me when Saima said, “We have a good relationship now” because it showed that Saima was willing to forget about the previous judgments to be seen as a respectable woman. I think we all know that the husband’s change of mind is superficial and solely influence by the amount of money Saima is earning.

I think that making women and girls the focus of antipoverty programs is extremely important because as the chapter states, “females tend to suffer the most from poverty.” I would like to see women in discriminated areas of the world become more independent and successful so to escape the tyrannical rule of men. It is also clear after reading this chapter that men in these areas need to be educated about the importance of sensible spending of the family’s finances. I was surprised to read about the studies which indicate only 2 percent of the family income goes towards education.

I come from a family shaped by strong independent women as well as compassionate and unselfish men. It is difficult to put these readings into context because here in the U.S. men and women have so many choices. If we do not like the way something is going we simply standup and demand change or create change for ourselves. My Americanized beliefs lead me to the question; Is it a good idea to barrow money at 20-30 percent rate to try and make money? Nicholas Kristof said that Saima’s success was unusual and research in the U.S. shows that new businesses have less than a 50% chance of surviving. When these odds are compared to a study done by UCLA on the odds of winning in Las Vegas it is clear that there isn’t much difference in the likelihood to make money. I support the idea of micro-finance in impoverished countries however I do not support gambling and in a way that’s what it comes down to when you barrow money to make money. If the money invested in entrepreneurship is money that was either saved or donated and not barrowed then I think it is maybe worth the risk. However if money is barrowed at a high interest rate to try and better the families’ financial situation and it fails I think it would make families’ (particularly the women’s) situation at home even worse.

Micro-financing is a great way to empower women and help them feel the importance of respect and independence. Ultimately it can lead to women taking part in leadership roles, not only in domesticity but also in governmental roles as well and ss equally important, is that women entrepreneurs will educate men of the importance of gender equality.

Websites that quantify the risk of starting a business and the odds of winning in Las Vegas.
http://www.ats.ucla.edu/stat/mult_pkg/faq/general/lasvegas.htm
http://www.businessinsider.com/startup-odds-of-success-2013-5

Chapter 10: Education is Critical

 I thought this chapter was a tiny bit of fresh air in comparison to previous topics because it shows that there is hope to solving major issues women face.  Education is a critical component in improving the lives of not just women but their families as well.  I thought it was interesting that women were more likely to use their education to get a good job and reinvest their earnings into their families whereas men would keep the money for themselves.

It was disheartening to read about the shortcomings in school systems abroad and considering how little attention is given to changing the education system in America I can’t imagine things improving there.  It is important that the government and community put an emphasis on the importance of education because there is a mountain of research and examples that show how education (especially of girls) leads to lower birth rates, healthier children, an improved economy, etc.

            Something in particular that I found interesting was learning about the Oportunidades program in Mexico.  We had discussed previously in class how bribing parents to keep their children in school by paying them or providing school uniforms showed success and this program supported that idea.  I found a short youtube video that reiterates how it has been successful.  I think it’s a great program because it breaks the poverty cycle.  Its critical that people in poverty are given the tools to improve their lives and not just a quick-fix like free food every once in awhile.  Do you think this type of approach works well in fighting extreme poverty?  What other methods have seen success? 

Chapter 10 (week 8) Investing in Education

“One study after another has shown that educating girls is one of the most effective ways to fight poverty.” this quote is in our book, Half The Sky. According to the article, Education: It’s Not Just about Boys Get Girls into School, the reason educating girls fights poverty is  because girls give more money back to their families than boys do. Another reason educating girls is a good idea is because the more educated they are the more likely they are to marry later in life and they have fewer, healthier children.

The story of Dai Manju amazed me. When reading about how $10,000 was donated (it was meant to be $100, but there was an error by the bank. The bank was nice enough to honor the mistake) to educate Dai, and how it ended up being used to build a new school and educate other girls in the village it astounded me. The thought that they could build a new school and still have enough money to give scholarships to the girls in the area is amazing. This made me think of the amount of money that is spent here to build a new school and it is overwhelming, or the fact that we spend close to that for one year of college. It was encouraging to read that Dai and others benefited from this and they were able to help pull their families out of poverty.

Sex Trafficking Seminar

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Education in Today’s World- I Had No Idea (Week 8)

 

            After reading both of the articles for this week, the only thought that truly came to my mind is reflected in the title-I had no idea. I had no idea that while a country’s educational system appears to be functioning and making efforts to expand it is in fact alienating its lower class and depriving its teachers of pay. I had no idea that while young girls appear to be bettering themselves by getting an education they would also be selling their bodies just to make ends meet. I simply had no idea of how, while we would like to believe we are making advances in education, we have in fact not nearly begun to scrap the surface of achieving worldwide education.

            The article “Education: It’s Not Just About the Boys. Get Girls Into School.” made some crucial points about the importance of educating girls. One fact that resonated with me is that “Women in the developing world who have had some education share their earnings; men keep a third to a half for themselves.” I cannot say this surprised me, but to see it written in black and white somehow made it hit home. Thinking back to the numerous organizations we have discussed, I realized that women like Suri Man, Sunitha, and Usha Naryane are all examples of women who have given back to their communities. I imagine that, if these women had all received a higher education, they would indeed be sharing their wealth with their community. It seems so obvious, and yet I had never stopped to think about what education, something so easily taken for granted here in America, could mean for these women and others throughout the world.

            Another factor that encourages the education of girls is the health benefits. The “Education” article also stated that “When girls go to school, they marry later and have fewer, healthier children. For instance, if an African mother has five years of education; her child has a 40 percent better chance of living to age 5”. 40% is a huge percentage, and could mean the reduction of so many of the health risks women face in other countries when bearing children (such as fistulas). The education of girls would also reduce the rate of infection from HIV/AIDS, because educated girls are, “three times less likely to contract HIV/AIDS.” I mention these facts not to convince you that the education of girls is important (I feel that, as a class, we generally share this belief) but to reiterate some of the immense benefits education would have for girls and women, benefits I myself did not think about until reading this article.

            While we all may be on the same page in terms of education being essential for the development and improvement of countries the world over, there are many challenges that I for one was not aware of. The article “The Decay (or Disintegration) of the Educational System” relays some shocking information about how far the educational system has to go in many countries. One challenge to the educational system was particularly surprising to me because it relates indirectly to education. According to the article, “the fall in the prices for tropical products on the world market - like coffee, cocoa, tea and cotton - has either directly or indirectly affected the families because the state's revenues have decreased and civil servants can no longer be paid.” It makes sense- if a country or states income is drastically reduced, any state-funded programs will suffer as a consequence. Yet again, I simply had no idea that the prices of certain goods could have a direct correlation to the diminishment of the education system.

            The final piece of information I would like to discuss is the treatment of teachers that is highlighted in “The Decay” article. While I knew American teachers were not the best treated professionals in the world, I had never stopped to consider how much worse it could truly be. For example, the teacher on the outskirts of Cameroon told the reporter of how “he had not seen his salary for the past months” and went on to describe how his teaching relies on three old books and his memory from his own education. On top of this massive challenge, the teacher also discussed how he could no longer visit the families of his students because the also-unemployed parents of his students would “regard such a visit like begging”. The stories of this teacher and others made me extremely sad; I could not imagine being completely broke because the school I was employed at could not pay me. In addition, many of the teachers interviewed for the article maintained that if they asked about the money they were owed, or if they stopped working due to lack of payment, they would simply be fired and would never receive their pay anyways. As a future teacher, I hear many warnings about how little I will be paid. However, I am fortunate to know that I will be paid, and that there are unions and laws that protect me and my colleagues from suffering as these teachers in other countries do.

            My question for you this week is this: If you were a teacher, and the American government decided they could not afford to pay you for an undisclosed amount of months, would you continue to teach? How would you survive and provide for your family while waiting for a paycheck that may never come? These are questions I have considered after reading these articles, and I’m interested to hear what others in the class think.

Sources:

Berstecher, D. & Carr-Hill, R. (1990). Primary Education and Economic Recession in the Developing World since 1980. New York: Unesco.

Education: It’s Not Just About the Boys. Get Girls Into School. Sep 19, 2008 8:00 PM, Newsweek

UNFPA Chapter 8

The UNFPA is an organization that works to promote family planning maternal health, and newborn survival. In 1969 President Nixon was a strong supporter of UNFPA. The United States was the biggest donor to them at one point. In the 1980s the UNFPA was targeted by antiabortion activist because they supposedly gave China advise on population issues. First Ronald Reagan reduced the funds then both of the "Bushes" got rid of the funding period. The UNFPA didn't have anything to do with China's abuses. UNFPA actually came up with the Copper T, which is a better type of IUD. UNFPA has prevented nearly 10 million abortions in China. Family planning programs are also working to prevent Aids and HIV. Women are twice likely to be infected than men.George W. Bush announced that the United States would withhold $34 million that would go to UNFPA. George W. Bush started the abstinence only program. Bush's program believes in talking about no sex instead of telling them that abstinence is the safes way, but condoms also prevent Aids and HIV also. He restricted the talk of how condoms are used in schools in Africa. Studies shows that this program halted sex but when these kids did have sex they more likely did not use protection. The result was more pregnancies, more abortions, and more sexually transmitted disease. Also the women that did use protection was contracting HIV from their husbands. In 2009 Obama announced that he was refunding the program.

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 Half the Sky brought up federal polices to the forefront for this first time. There will always be debates on Capitol Hill between left and right ring politicians. A big piece of legislation that was passed by the Bush administration was the Gag Rule. The Gag Rule held foreign aid to countries that counseled women about abortion options. Do you think it’s a women’s right to hear options of abortion? In 1985 president Regan reduced funding in China because UNFPA was advising China to control its population. UNFPA main tasks are to provide family planning and maternal health. The problem of contraception leads to out of control population in China. The book says 122 million women can’t get the contraception they want and need.

Should the government have a say of a child inside a women? Should the women have the ultimate fate of the child there carrying? And finally how can passed legislation be implemented worldwide?

Week 7

While I do understand why the government may be opposed to funding organizations that perform abortions, I cannot seem to understand why some politicians or political figures would take issue with birth control because it "promotes" sexuality. This is such a naive idea, especially when considering the many health benefits that have driven women to take the pill for reasons other than the prevention of pregnancy (seriously guys, google it). One reason many women take the pill is because the Estrogen found in birth control can eliminate or reduce problems with acne. Another reason many women take birth control is because they experience severely painful menstrual cycles due to conditions like Endometriosis. Birth Control can reduce or eliminate the number of periods a woman will have, while decreasing the amount of hormones that cause many of the problems/symptoms of Endometriosis. Perhaps pharmaceutical companies should cater to the irrational individuals who find birth control morally wrong by renaming the pill "Acne Control" or "Cramp Control" to make it seem less taboo (Ha, just kidding!)

This week's readings remind me of a quote from last week's readings:

"The neglect of women's issues does reflect some level of unconscious bias against women at every level, from the community to high-level decision makers. While we may ignore it, maternal health does involve sex and sexuality; it is bloody and messy; and I think many men (not all, of course) have a visceral antipathy for dealing with it" (p116). Women and men are sexual by nature, and this idea seems to make a lot of people pretty uncomfortable. However, we should not be denied the things that we need in order to be healthy, safe, sexually active beings just because it makes other people uncomfortable. I am not discounting the opinions of any individual who disagrees with this idea. I am simply stating that while our opinions may differ, they should never play a role in deciding what family planning resources should be available to men and women....because they're opinions. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Chapter 8

As I was reading about this chapter, a lot went through my mind. One of the biggest things that was going through my mind was my religious aspect of it. I personally do not believe in abortions but I also do believe that we can’t just stop talking about safe sex anywhere. People are going to do it whether or not we tell them. Reading about how some men in Sudan only receive 1 condom in every five years is awful! When it said “Someday people will look back and wonder: what were they thinking?,” I definitely wonder what the heck they were thinking about only giving them one condom every five years.

Another part that really bothered me was when it talked about abortions. As I said earlier I do not believe in abortions. I feel that you are killing your unborn child is not okay. Do you think it is okay for you to do that willingly but when someone else kills you and your unborn child they go on trial for 2 murders instead of one? This link shows what I’m talking about. I know it is a little unrelated to the book but it gets my point across. If everyone who thinks abortions are okay, then why in one part of the government do they think that killing a pregnant person who does not want to be killed is not okay?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2465636/Anthony-Ruiz-killed-pregnant-ex-Jennifer-Zacarias-dumped-smirks-court.html

When George Bush implemented the abstinence only program, I felt that was kind of stupid. People do need to be educated about it. With education it will help a little bit of stopping AIDS. In the chapter when they showed the students the brief video about the dangers it changed everything. The girls stopped going out with older men and also started using condoms. It might not have been 100% but it definitely got through to a lot of schoolchildren.

I also loved where Jane Roberts helped support UNFPA by emailing her local paper. That was very inspiring and I couldn't believe that the UNFPA didn’t believe them at first. It was amazing to see what happened and eventually getting all those letters with money in it. It’s amazing to see what one person can do!

Chapter 7!!

“Women are not dying because of untreatable diseases. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving.” This statement was noted by the journal Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, this was on page 116 in our book and I thought it well represented this chapter. This book just keeps surprising me with all these statistics and horrible stories. I thought it was shocking that only five percent of local women (in Africa) deliver in a hospital. They have no voluntary blood donations! We do a ton of blood drives here, even in my own experiences; they came to my high school and put them on almost everywhere. When I really think about it though, it does make sense because a lot of people in their other countries that we have read about so far, are probably not in the best condition to “voluntarily” give blood. But still, this is still shocking. The story about Prudence was very upsetting; the fact that a doctor would not help her in any way in spite of the husband was disgusting. Her baby had died inside of her and was poisoning her, I can’t even imagine.

                As I keep reading about all the stories Nick Kristof tells, I come to admire him. What he does is amazing and unbelievable. In the story I mentioned above, he paid the doctors money to do the surgery and him and his camera man donated their own blood! In another story I remember he paid a brothel owner close to $300 I believe for him to take the girl home. He does not give up on these women; he reflects hope for them and shows them that there is another way. For someone to devote their life to helping people, it just shows that there are good people out there.  It is sometimes a little hard not to be a frustrated with men after reading these stories, but look at who wrote this book, a man. I think it would be really neat to meet him and just have him personally tell you some of his stories and how it has changed and shaped him.

Chapter 7: Stereotypes and Education

One of the solutions that is continually suggested throughout this book is giving these women an education. Education is not the only solution but it is one that can fix a lot of the issues these women are facing. Even a small amount of schooling can change these women’s life forever. One women, Mamitu Gashe, suffer a fistula during her first pregnancy. After making her way to Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and receiving treatment she began to work there. She started out as an assistant. She would make beds and help during fistula surgeries. Soon Mamitu was entrusted with small surgical procedures such as suturing wounds closed. Eventually she learned how to do fistula repairs and was allowed to do them on her own.  Addis Ababa Fistula hospital does the most fistula repairs in the world and a woman with absolutely no prior knowledge of biology was able to learn and became a master surgeon. This women who was denied a basic elementary school education was a master surgeon who eventually taught other to do fistula repairs. She took charge of the training program at the hospital and even began taking classes to learn how to read. Mamitu should not only be a role model to women in these circumstances but she should be to every women. She picked herself up and made something of herself in a world that believed women were to weak or incapable of accomplishing such a task.

Our society had its civil right issues supposedly fixed in the 60s with an amendment being placed in the constitution. Unfortunately a piece of paper has lacked the power to change some people’s points of view. American women are still looked down on in many aspects of our society. Women’s wages are less than that of a man because we may not be able to handle the work load or because one day we may become pregnant and they have to pay for maternity leave. In sports, occupations, and marriage all have traditions. These roles, however, are not traditions they are stereotypes. There should never be assigned roles or specific jobs that only one gender can do.  Not only are women facing this stigma today but the next generation of children are being raised with the same gender discrimination.

 

http://www.azfamily.com/news/Phoenix-school-refuses-to-play-baseball-against-a-girl-151049865.html

 

This video hit me especially hard because I play softball and there is a stigma that it is not really a sport. Even when it was proven it is harder to hit a softball then it is a baseball men still believe there sport is harder. We have come a long ways in our thinking by allowing there to be female sports but there is still the sigma that male athletes are stronger then female athletes. This girl broke out of the social taboo just like Mamitu. With a little education and self-respect both of these females have become role models. It is really amazing what a little education a can do for self-esteem. It may even push you to learn to read like Mamitu or play a sport that is male dominate. Everyone believes our education system is broken and in some ways I believe it is but I challenge you to find something positive education has given you.

 

Chapter 7- Childbirth & Death...It Doesn't Really Have To Be This Way

     I continue to be both troubled and inspired as I progress through Half the Sky. Chapter 7 looks at women's mortality during childbirth, the major factors involved in these alarming rates and the success that Sri Lanka and Edna Adan have had in increasing health care to this population. The story of Prudence and the circumstances surrounding her death are heart wrenching. It's troubling enough that she received no prenatal care throughout the course of her pregnancy but the callousness with which she is treated by the doctors and nurses was too much. These women already have so much working against them...poverty, lack of education, basic health care... but to be treated with such disregard in their time of most need left me with a sick feeling. It seems that the medical staff has literally grown numb to what they see around them and that is troubling to me. If they, the very people who live and breathe this and have been entrusted to care for the least of their brothers (and sisters), can so easily look the other way and leave a woman to die a preventable, painful death, why then would the rest of the world care to make a difference?
     Fortunately there are people that have made it a priority. Sri Lanka has made a concerted effort towards improving health care and education to women. The combination has drastically reduced the number of deaths during childbirth. Edna Adan refused to be deterred in creating a maternity hospital that bears her name. The lives that have been saved between these two efforts are literally life changing. But this is because Sri Lanka and Edna Adan WANTED to make deaths during childbirth a priority. How can we make it a world wide issue that calls more people to action?
     Circumstances surrounding women's mortality can bring out the best and worst of humanity. I choose to believe that the best will win out and more Edna Adans can make the difference that these women so urgently need.

chapter 7

After reading the chapter, I feel that I don’t agree with the opinion that the world stand by if there were men who died just for completing their reproductive functions. Women need not die in childbirth. We need to give young woman information to support her needs to control her reproductive health, to help her through a pregnancy, and also take care of her and her newborn well into childhood. The vast majority of maternal deaths could be prevented, if women have access to quality family planning services and skilled care during childbirth. The working health system is a key to save these women's lives. On the other hand, the lack of education also directly improved the chances of women’s death in childbirth. And in today's society, there are still many people disregard for women. One reason for women’s death is because they are not thought as matter. There is a strong correlation between the countries where women are marginalized and the countries with high maternal mortality. I think this is not a necessarily truth, because the second element may due to medical issues. Only a few women know their own specific conditions, so they can take care of them. We should change this condition to help more women realize that the importance of understanding their own situation. I know one reason women die in childbirth has to do with anatomy, arising from two basic evolutionary trade-offs. When I was reading this chapter, I was reminded of my mom in the pain of childbirth. I just want to say thank you to her, and take care of her during her rest of life.

My question is “why can't women die in childbirth?”

Chapter 6 Im/Press/Her

I'm going to blog about this chapter from the context of helping the oppressor, based on the actions of the oppressed young girl. Mahabouba is an example of someone that can survive anything. Her acts are something that an oppressor should identify and become encouraged. In the world of survival, people tend to do whatever it takes to live, such as gaining wealth and power from abusing another person.

I want to share a few points of survival that Mahabouba overcame. She first had to deal with not being educated and given to an aunt that treated her like a servant, as a young girl. Then she was deceived into thinking she could find better work but was sold for money, she got no part of. She was beaten and raped by the man she was sold to to also suffer additional abuse from another woman. Mahabouba. Now, facing all of this oppression, abuse, and despair, things got worse before they got better for her. She was now a pregnant girl that had to run away from the abuse to protect herself and her unborn child. As she was running she even went back to her native village to have backs turned on her for being a pregnant runaway. Because of complications and not having proper medical treatment she lost her baby and caused crippling nerve damage to her body. Her only hope left seemingly was her uncle, to only be denounced and literally thrown to wild animals. While Mahabouba was crippled and in serious pain she was able to fight off hyenas from attacking her and possible devouring her.  Once again she was only a fourteen year old girl. She later got the help she needed to continue to live while still suffering from bodily injuries.

I'm speaking to the man or woman that feels to choose to commit an act of slavery or abuse towards another human is not the only option you have to survive. No matter how hard things are for you we have the ability to survive if we choose to fight to live like Mahabouba. For the last time she was only fourteen years old at the time.  1Love!1Life!

The Power of Educational Voices

While reading chapter six and previous chapters in Half The Sky, I noticed education has a huge impact on so much in many countries. On Christy Turlington Burns website there is a International Day of the Girl Child Day in India where their main focus is young girls to get the education they want and deserve instead of being forced into a marriage they aren't physically and psychologically ready for. Having an education can prevent many things from happening not only with women, but young girls as well. Being educated can help prevent women and girls from prostitution, trafficking, being sold by family or friends, maternal issues, sexually transmitted diseases and physical injuries such as fistula. 

"I raise up my voice - not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard"- Malala Yousafzai

This quote means so much to me! This can be directed towards us! Yes you reading this! One person can make a difference just by speaking up and letting your voice be heard because there are many children, girls, and women who have no voice and need us to do something to be the change and difference that is needed. After I read a chapter in the book I want to do something then after awhile I get sad because I feel like it's not much I can do other than donate and host events to educated people. I'm a poor college student with a loud voice, but at times I hope and believe me hosting events and educating people will inspire someone with more power to make a change or do something bigger than I do. That's in my dreams and one day it will be a reality. So I ask these questions.... What can we do to help educate? Individually? As a class? 

Reading this chapter in Half the Sky I realized how far medical science has come in America. Today when women become pregnant there is very rarely a fear that a woman will die in pregnancy unless there are serious complications. My aunt is a nurse in a maternity ward and has never taken care of a woman who hasn't lived through her pregnancy. Unfortunately for Mahabouba, a young woman from Western Ethiopia a pregnancy is not a risk free part of life. As a thirteen year old girl she was sold into a marriage with a sixty year old man. The man beat her, raped her and controlled her until she finally escaped his clutches. Reading this I tried to put myself in Mahabouba's place and I couldn't imagine being abused and forced into marrying at thirteen. At thirteen I was still a child and I can't concieve how Mahabouba must have felt. (Do many of you ever wonder how strong the human spirit is to survive through these terrible hardships these women in Half the Sky have had to endure?)
 Before reading this section of the book I didn't know what fistulas were. After reading about Mahabouba's experience I felt her pain. How she was excluded from the other members of her village, she couldn't use the restroom of her own accord, she had to defend herself against hyenas. Later on Mahabouba rises out of her situation and becomes a head nurse. It really shocks me she was able to overcome her hardships. Most people would not have gone on, they would have given up. I really admire her for making the very most of her situation.
I was left wondering if Jiad, the man who had forced Mahabouba to marry him, had faced any punishment for the cruel way he treated her. I also wondered if Simeesh, the woman who couldn't move her legs, had progressed further in her physical wellness. Most of all after reading this chapter I realized how strong people are to live and thrive even through horrible situations.

Chapter 6: Maternal Mortality - One Woman a Minute

After watching the videos and reading the chapter for this week, the most profound point that stood out to me was Mahabouba’s story. This woman is truly remarkable, in my opinion. As a thirteen-year-old girl she was sold to be a second wife, then was impregnated by her owner, and eventually suffered fistula due to her lack of medical care during her delivery process is a horrific situation to go through. All of these terrible things happened to her completely out of her control, and I think that’s what makes this so upsetting to me. She thought she was choosing a better life for herself by working for a man and earning more money, but instead he put her through agony. What really stands out about Mahabouba is what she makes of herself after everything she had gone through. After being unable to walk and fighting for her life against hyenas, she makes a significant turn around and works her way to the position of senior nurse’s aide. Mahabouba’s story is so inspiring and empowering. To be able to make such a huge improvement in her life is something that I think everyone can admire.

            When Nick Kristof says that statistics have more of a dulling effect but hearing individual stories is what really urges people to do something about what they’ve heard: I completely agree. While reading the chapter I found that the parts when statistics were being listed off and large numbers were written on the page, I had no real emotion or feelings towards the situation or the number of people in that situation. On the other hand, reading the stories of Mahabouba and Simeesh I was better able to understand to their circumstances and get a more realistic feel for what they went through. (Note: Obviously not being able to fully understand or feel what they actually went through.) Does anyone else feel this way? Are there ways that you are able to get more knowledge just from reading statistics?

            Another point I thought was interesting from this chapter was towards the end when it talked about some of the most effective approaches to improving mortality rates were not medical related. The statistic stated that a way to reduce pregnancies in young girls was to subsidize school uniforms for them, thus keeping them in school longer which then means that they would delay marriage and pregnancy until they are more suitable to do so. I think this is a valid point and has the potential to really work in many places, but there are several areas that would not be able to afford a uniform even if it was only $6. Does anyone else agree or disagree with what the book said? Any other comments on school uniforms potentially effecting girl’s later lives?

All references from Half the Sky, by Nicholas D. Krisof and Sheryl WuDunn, Chapter 6: Maternal Mortality – One Woman a Minute (p. 93-107)