Are we waiting on Superwoman?

First, I would like to say I am extremely grateful to be among great women and people in this experience. I am sure like most of us in the practicum that we are experiencing some great feelings about where we want to go with this advocacy. For myself, this experience has cemented a lasting impression where we, as women, need to go and are going.

As the UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, stated on Consultation Day, it is not enough that we are 1 in 5 in parliament or the legislature. We must continue to do the work needed to bring a voice to the many issues affecting women and girls. As a panelist also stated, we can no longer hold the line but must take the next steps. This is where we are at, taking the next steps.

Today was technically the first of the CSW58. I originally set out to go to the Engaging Boys and Men for Gender Equality event. But, stupid me, I thought it was being held at the Church Center, where most parallel events are being held. So, when I arrived at the Church Center, I was pleasantly surprised it was not there but at the Armenian Center. Therefore, I decided to try another event.

I went to an event entitled “From Higher Education to Women Leadership.” It was not disappointing at all. In fact, I learned lots of great information and enjoyed hearing the passionate responses of the panelists and audience. The following is my observation and takeaways from this event. Many others may have different views.

I realized how privilege we are as American women, as the stories I heard through my time at CSW58 from this weekend, to date, show me that there are things that other women are still struggling to achieve and we must help others to achieve that equality. Educating a woman increases the chances of survival for an entire family.

The panelists provided valuable insight into why educating women and placing them into leadership roles were so important. The work is not done by simply educating the woman, as the panelists found that they would provide education for women but the women would return to their home countries and may find little help in getting opportunities, especially leadership opportunities. But, Open A Door Foundation has diligently broke down those barriers by remaining in constant contact with partners who could help in their mission.

There were discussions about why certain communities blocked women from educational and leadership opportunities. Some reasons were that men feared that women would not want to marry the men once women were educated. We also learned that this was not necessarily true, as these are merely fears and not reality. While there are misunderstandings and fears around educating a woman in some countries, educating a woman can have tremendous benefit to the woman’s family, community and nation as a whole. Also, I took away that to hold back that woman also holds back that family, community and nation.

This event made me think about the possible consequences that the denial of an education, leadership and career opportunities would have on men, communities, nations and families as a whole. In some instances, what if the male could not provide for the family and the woman has not been allowed to work or use her education to fullest and best extent? Moreover, what if the male, her family, nation and/or community could gain recognition and privilege from the woman’s leadership opportunities? In essence, denying a women’s right destroys society as every action has a reaction.

The event and days preceding this event has emphasized to me that we still have work to do, so let’s do it! What are we waiting for? Superwoman? If we are waiting on Superwoman, this is not going to happen. We must be the Superwoman that we are seeking--that fierce and unafraid person who can stand up and be the voice of the minority such as women and not be a bystander.

Brandy G. Robinson, J.D.