Book Review: "Half the Sky"

The book, "Half the Sky" by Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn (both journalists for the New York Times as well as husband and wife) comes with my highest recommendation. It is a call to arms regarding the oppression of women and girls in the developing world. It focuses on three particular abuses: sex trafficking and forced prostitution; gender-based violence, including honor killings and mass rape; and maternal mortality, which surprisingly and needlessly claims one woman a minute.

The global statistics on the abuse of girls are numbing. More girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all the battles of the twentieth century! While gender discrimination may not be something we have to worry about much in the United States, it is RAMPANT in other parts of the world. Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen states that more than 107 million women are "missing" from the globe today, with 2 million per year added to this total every year. These women are missing because of gender discrimination using sex trafficking of children, forced prostitution, honor killings, and in China girls that are murdered just for being female.

What I liked about this book was that it not only calls attention to the horrific injustices to women around the world, but succinctly explains the complexities of how and why these things came to be. It was fascinating to me to learn how interconnected the problems of gender inequality are with all of the other issues facing the world; wars, and the failing economy for example. It shares inspirational stories of the amazing resiliance of women and ends by giving simple ideas that every person can do to help.

I am a firm believer that ignorance is NOT bliss, so one thing I do is teach all of my children (even our 5 year old) about different things plaguing nations of the world. They have learned about the genocide in Darfur and the Congo, about the extreme poverty in India, and even gender-selective abortions in China. (maybe not the 5 year old for this one) Everyone can do something, even if it's simply educating yourself on these injustices going on every day in our world.

Here are some quotes from the book that stuck with me:

Goldman Sachs concluded, "Gender inequality hurts economic growth."

"Women's empowerment helps raise economic productivity and reduce infant mortality. It contributes to improved health and nutrition. It increases the chances of education for the next generation."

"Are women human yet? If women were human, would we be a cash crop shipped from Thailand in containers into New York's brothels . . .? Would our genitals be sliced out to "cleanse" us . . .? When will women be human? When?"

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."--Mahatma Gandhi

"It is impossible to realize our goals while discriminating against half the human race. As study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women."--Kofi Annan

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."--Derek Bok