Can Women's Rights Really Make That Much of an Impact?

In the past few years I've found myself identifying more and more as a feminist despite its negative connotations (over-sensitive and angry, anyone?). I blame college and the awesome, "lightly feminist" Jezebel. Naturally, I found myself enamored with the NYT Magazine's article a few Sunday's back entitled "The Women's Crusade”:

"In many poor countries, the greatest unexploited resource isn’t oil fields or veins of gold; it is the women and girls who aren’t educated and never become a major presence in the formal economy. With education and with help starting businesses, impoverished women can earn money and support their countries as well as their families. They represent perhaps the best hope for fighting global poverty."

The article outlined the injustices being committed against women in the developing world (including physical abuse and an extreme lack of education and support) and what great repercussions can come from focusing aid on females. Foreign aid all too often appears futile, the money disappearing without lasting effects. Authors Kristof and WuDunn explain the three key areas that will make an impact: health, education, and micro financing (read the article for a great example of how this can work). According to them, these areas have shown the best results when directed towards women, who will be more eager to take advantage of a rare opportunity given to them to improve their quality of life and prove their self worth.

There are a few inspiring stories and of course some startlingly sad statistics, although I found myself especially moved by this great story about Bill Gates, of all people:

“Bill Gates recalls once being invited to speak in Saudi Arabia and finding himself facing a segregated audience. Four-fifths of the listeners were men, on the left. The remaining one-fifth were women, all covered in black cloaks and veils, on the right. A partition separated the two groups. Toward the end, in the question-and-answer session, a member of the audience noted that Saudi Arabia aimed to be one of the Top 10 countries in the world in technology by 2010 and asked if that was realistic. “Well, if you’re not fully utilizing half the talent in the country,” Gates said, “you’re not going to get too close to the Top 10.” The small group on the right erupted in wild cheering.”

While I can’t say I’m convinced that the improvement upon women’s rights worldwide will solve all of the problems authors Kristof and WuDunn claim, I’m naturally all for doing whatever we can to eradicate notions of gender inequality. All in all, a great read, and I’m all for supporting these programs.