Category Archives: Links
First Step
I’ve been thinking, as I would, about women’s empowerment. The question that always comes to mind is … Given unique cultural contexts, is there any one thing that can offer empowerment, even if just a little empowerment?
Empowerment is a very touchy subject, as it would be. Add in the word “women’s”, and you will find many an angry person coming at you. There are many reasons for this. First, we’ve got privilege and the reluctance to view the world as anything other than a zero-sum power struggle. Second, we’ve got those that feel empowerment is an imperialistic word meant to demean and homogenize the world. Third, as a result of destructive media manipulation, empowerment is often associated with a partial understanding of feminism as that which hates men (Just to be clear, this is a false and offensive conception of feminism).
It is with this in mind I ask myself, Self, what can I do to extend empowerment to the marginalized, while remaining respectful of their dignity and cultural constraints? Self, what is the real barrier to empowerment? Self, what is the root problem?
An answer to my query came while watching a recent NYTimes Short (I am literally obsessed with these!), Undaunted in Tahrir Square. In this video Nicholas D. Kristof interviews longtime activist Dr. Nawal El Saadawi. As Dr. Saadawi explained, the protests in Egypt are bringing the marginalized, previously hidden in the private sphere (aka home), into the action as active participants of the debate. That’s it!
I think I’m on to something here. Is the first step to empowerment literally stepping out of the private and into the public sphere? Finding the courage to exist in public may then lead to speaking one’s mind, to demanding one’s opinion is heard, to requiring that one’s needs are addressed. A sense of self builds. Empowerment is then both the means to and the end in and of itself.
Whiny Little Bitch
My friend, the lovely and talented Ms. Naima Khan, has written a hilarious guest post, which I am going to call The Rama Blog, on an up-and-coming blog, Stuff White Brits Like (Are there enough commas in that sentence?). Check it!
Please note that this site is meant to poke fun not reinforce stereotypes or cause offense. So if you feel yourself getting offended, stop being a Whiny Little Bitch, take a step back and have a good laugh at yourself. PS: There’s the mother site to this one, Stuff White People Like, target: White, yuppie Americans. Pure gold, all of it!
Fame
People, I am in The Guardian.
I’m spending my final days in the UK working for the UK Women’s Budget Group (WBG). We are a group of 200+ academics and activists that responded, using a gendered lens, to national budgetary policy in the UK. We’ve recently started working with Baroness Hollis (like a senator in the US) on the Women’s Income Network. Long story short, I am making my mark with the help of great mentors. Together we are trying to fight for the voiceless and marginal in the UK; a cause I think many can/should get behind.
Another Story from India
8-10 September 2010: Saharanpur, India
I knew Saharanpur was going to be interesting the minute someone asked to take my picture at the Delhi Train Station; this was the first of countless picture requests.
We arrived in Saharanpur 6 hours after the initial photo. Noteworthy adventures include accidentally purchasing the wrong train tickets which were meant to place us in third-class, non-AC (the hottest and most crowded compartment you have ever seen), meeting our new train buddies that helped us with our ticket madness, and sampling some train chai. Per directions from our Mimo guide, Shrikant, we were to exit the train station and head to our hotel, Hotel America, to check-in and acclimate to our surroundings. No problem, we thought. Right, first order of business was to find an auto-rickshaw to the hotel … no auto-rickshaws, fail. Ok, new plan, horse-drawn-sleigh … abundantly available, perfection! As Jens, our German intern, and I stood off to the side looking confused, Andy, my research partner, negotiated our price of 50 INR – bargain, we thought. 60 seconds later we arrived at our hotel. Apparently, we had tourist written all over our faces, having paid 50 INR to go about 500 meters in the sleigh. Not only did we get ripped off, but we also managed to enter the city in the most outrageous way possible. Hilarious!
Funny Story: We didn’t know this until a day later, but during the negotiations for this horse-drawn rickshaw someone snapped a shot of us on their cell phone. This shot was later published in the local paper announcing our arrival (you can see the shot in this post). The best part, other than being famous in this little town (little meaning only 2 million people), was that the paper cut out Andy from the picture because he looked like a local. This was but one example of the endless heritage-hunting that became a theme for our trip. Countless, and I mean countless, people were curious as to where Andy’s family was from and where he lived now and was he ‘returning to his mother’s birth place’.
Back to the story … Sadly, there was no room at the inn. No problem, Shrikant ordered us some transport to the office and off we went, bags in tow.
15 minutes later we arrived at the mansion-come-office that was the Mimo Saharanpur Regional Office. We met with Sanjay, Regional Director, who offered the very inspiring story of his choice to pursue microfinance as a social empowerment enterprise. To make a long story short, Sanjay was your standard after-the-cash, 9-5 type when one day he was out with friends. He had a few drinks and on his way home hit a pedestrian with his motorbike. They were both injured, but Sanjay thought nothing of the other man’s injuries. Hours later they happen to be at the same hospital when Sanjay overheard the man being refused treatment for lack of money. In shock, Sanjay ran out after the man and apologized, offering to pay for his treatment in exchange for his forgiveness. From this point forward, Sanjay has dedicated his career to empowering others. Mimo Finance is now home to this inspiring leader. Having only spent an hour with Sanjay, it became very apparent that his charismatic style of leadership was helping his community prosper.
The following day we began our client interviews. Our focus was clients that had voluntarily chosen to leave Mimo Finance. Specifically, we were interested in ascertaining why, when and how they left Mimo, and what, if anything, would make them return for another loan. There is so much to say here, but I don’t want to bore everyone so I’ll keep it to my favorite story. The first woman we interviewed was in a colony (suburb) of Saharanpur. We took motorbikes out to the colony and when we arrived the entire village came out of their homes and very, very slowly approached in amazement/curiosity. The kids were the best; hiding behind trees, peeking around corners, looking scared and excited all at once to have visitors. The Mimo staff talked to some of local people, as they do in India, and after about 20 minutes it was agreed that we would interview our first client in her home. We went in, sat down on a bench/bed and had a little chat. Almost immediately the entire village gathered in every possible space to watch the happenings of our interview. At one point I looked around and there were about 40 faces watching intently from the front door. The best part comes at the end.
We finished the interview and gave a ‘namaste’ (thank you). Right after I said namaste the entire crowd burst into smiles and laughter. In a flash the woman we interviewed grabbed me in a giant hug and asked me to stay for chai (tea) and food; so kind. I found the colony people to be extremely welcoming and giving; really a breath of fresh air.
Everything Tastes Better in Belgium
26-29 May 2010
Brussels + Bruges + Antwerp, Belgium
I have so many pictures (close to 300 in fact) from my recent trip to Belgium, so, as you can imagine, it was extremely difficult to decide which pictures would express all that is Belgium without reducing the country to a single lens. This is my attempt with a few reflections peppered throughout.
BRUSSELS
Aminta (fellow Rotary Scholar) and I decided somewhat last minute to travel to Brussels at the end of May. We took the Eurostar, which was the first sign this trip would rock my world – the Eurostar is so convenient and clean and fast. I think if I had my way I would travel by high speed train everywhere, forget those airports.
Our host, Lior (see picture below) met us at the train station with his car ready and waiting to take us to our new home for the weekend. The train station greeting and car waiting were the second signs that Belgium knows what’s up. This was also just the beginning of Lior’s hospitality (throughout our trip he drove us around, took us to eat with his family, and provided personalized tours of the cities). Lior gets the BHE, ‘Best Host Ever’, award for sure.
Back to Brussels. The streets are so clean. When the weather permits everyone sits outside to eat their meals on the restaurant patios. Dinner and drinks are served much later than I’m used to, around 9-10pm. Lior and his friends speak about a million languages. This left me wondering, does everyone in Brussels speak multiple languages? I felt like the naughty student only knowing English. I kid you not, Lior and his friend Dries (who is also my newest BFF) speak English, French, Flemish and few other European and African languages thrown in. Oh wait, don’t forget Spanish too. Lior even knows some remote tribal languages of Africa (Aminta told me this little secret) and is currently learning Italian. What the hell! I am so behind. Note to self: Learn at least 1 other language.
Aminta and I spent much of our time wandering around the city. A few days into our trip we learned that we were staying near the gay district. This came as a complete surprise to both of us as a result of Brussels’ hugely understated rainbow-ness. WARNING: I will be discussing sexuality in the next few sentences, hide the children. The most striking difference for me coming from the US to London to Brussels was the private nature of sexuality in Brussels. This gay district looked just like any other district in town. Also, there really wasn’t much PDA. Oh and the coolest gay bar in the world Macho Sauna was completely nondescript (which frankly added to the appeal and my desire to explore within). This concept is difficult to express in words because it’s more of a general vibe, but the public sexuality in Brussels is so diluted in comparison to what I’ve experienced in the US and London. It’s there, but almost as if it doesn’t matter. As you can imagine this creates confusion when one is trying to decipher gay or straight.
Lior took us to the best frites place in town. They offer a variety of 10+ different sauces. Yum! Love those little forks too!
BRUGES
Possibly the most beautiful little city in Europe.
Funny story: Before we left we wanted to experience the waffles in Bruges. We went into a place that showed pictures of waffles on their signs. Inside we told the server that we only wanted waffles, not dinner. He took one look at us and said, “Oh no, it’s too late for waffles.” Say what? It’s never too late for waffles.
Bruges is frequently called the Venice of Belgium
Me and our boat driver who spoke to the passengers in English, French, German, Flemish and Spanish. He also knew where Idaho was, having heard of the state because he and his wife owned a frites place (potatoes … frites … bam).
Aminta with the world famous Belgian waffles and hot chocolate. It’s never too late for waffles!
ANTWERP
Lior is from Antwerp, so on our last day we took a trip (30 minute drive) to visit his family, eat great food, have a little chat and wander Antwerp.
Aminta with the frites
Lior and his brother, Amiel
Antwerp had the best statues of our entire trip. This masterpiece depicts the myth of Antwerp with the hero on top and the dead toll-charging giant laying on the rocks below. Legion has it that the hero killed the giant and in turn freed the port of Antwerp which allowed duty-free use for all citizens.
