This posting is posted on behalf of Dahlia Shaewitz:

Hi Daphne:

I just returned from Liberia & was thrilled to meet the first
democratically elected female head of state in Africa, Madame President,
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. (I am a self-declared "Ellen groupie") She is
working toward a less corrupt system that includes laws against rape,
including marital rape; however, changing cultural ideas and norms takes
time. I do not know how to go about changing the mindset of a people,
other than the people themselves must be of a mind to change things.
Good leadership and strong laws help too.  In the US I believe our legal
system has allowed us to sue the heck out of companies or people that
discriminate, and the Federal government promotes equal opportunity in
its workforce, but discrimination remains in large and small ways here
as well--and we are an "advanced" nation.

I believe that as women become leaders they can effect change and serve
as role models for other women. In Liberia I've been reading that young
girls now aspire to a better education because they see their president
is a woman & they now feel that they too can accomplish their goals. In
reality, though, many will not be able to afford a full education and
some of their families will not support this goal for economic or other
reasons.  

I'm leaning more and more toward the belief that a strong economy with
job prospects along with a strong, free educational system go hand in
hand to helping pull people out of poverty and increase their
opportunities--for women and men. But changing mindsets, well, I guess
this is something that sometimes follows change.  What do you think?

Best, Dahlia

dshaewitz at air.org  

-----Original Message-----
From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Daphne Greenberg
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 9:56 PM
To: povertyracewomen at nifl.gov
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 2011] Bias Against Women

According to a BBC article found at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7331813.stm

"Women are discriminated against in almost every country around the
world, a UN-commissioned report says. It says that this is despite the
fact that 185 UN member states pledged to outlaw laws favouring men by
2005. It adds that 70% of the world's poor are women and they own just
1% of the world's titled land. The report, which was prepared for UN
Human Right Commissioner Louise Arbour, says rape within marriage has
still not been made a crime in 53 nations."

The BBC article goes on to say:
".. even basic laws like the legal ages for marriage could have a huge
impact on women's lives. Many states still have different ages of
marriage for young women then they have for young men, and the age for
girls is always lower then the age for boys. This leads to violations,
for example of a girls' right education, if she has to leave school at
14 to get married, and this impacts upon her life chances. It ends up
being a life-long violation of her rights in terms of forfeiting
education, having children too early, possibly being damaged herself."

Anyone have any thoughts about this, vis-a-vis our learners?

Daphne