Femme Focus – Page 4 – Femme International

International Women’s Day – March 8th 2014

Today is International Women’ Day. Today we remember that women are marginalized all around the world, in every country, in every sector. Today we amplify our voices in the fight for gender equality. The theme for 2014 is “Equality for Women is Progress For All”, and today we recognize that the world is not fair for everyone, and it will only be when women are empowered that society will truly progress.

“Countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better. Peace agreements that include women are more durable. Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support. The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all.” – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

International Women’s Day is a tradition that has been observed since the early 1900s, and actually originated in the United States during the suffrage movement. In 1908, 15,0000 women took to the streets of New York City to demand equal wages, better working conditions and the right to vote. In 1910 at the 2nd International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin, presented the idea for a day dedicated to the fight for women’s rights, a global celebration of women.

The following year, the first ever International Women’s Day was celebrated around the world, with over one million women taking to the streets to demand equality in the workplace, and the home. It wasn’t until 1975 that the UN officially recognized International Women’s Day.

Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day to remember the brave women that fought for their right to vote, to work, and to enjoy the same rights as men. The women of the first half of the twentieth century fought long and hard for us to have these rights, and it often seems as though gender equality has been achieved, at least in countries like Canada and the USA. We also celebrate today to remember that this fight is far from over.

In 2014, women continue to earn 20% to 40% less than their male counterparts in the same professional position. Women are massively under-represented on the political stage, and the laws around the world reflect this. According to the United Nations, women perform 66% of the world’s work, and produce 50% of the food. And yet we earn 10% of the income and own only 1% of the property. A woman is 30% more likely to be illiterate as an adult, because girls are routinely kept out of school to do housework, farm work, or be married off as a teenager. 39,000 young girls are forced into child marriages every year.

Domestic abuse is not considered a crime in many countries around the world, with spousal rape is the most common form of sexual abuse, because marriage is seen by most countries as the husband’s ownership over his wife’s body. It wasn’t until 1993 that marital rape became a crime in the USA.

A study in Asia-Pacific surveyed 10,000 men and found that 1 in 4 men admitted to raping a woman, and 1 in 25 admitted to participating in the gang rape of a woman.

Courtesy Women in Revolution

Here in Canada, it can be easy to forget these statistics, to think that this is something that should really just focus on women in countries like Afghanistan, India or the Democratic Republic of Congo, where women are treated as property and defined as such in the law. While these women do face unimaginable challenges in their daily lives, these issues affect every single woman in the world. The gender gap has not been closed in any country, it may be less obvious, but it always exists. Every single woman in Canada knows what it is like to be scared to walk home alone at night. You may poke fun at us for going to the bathroom in groups, and yet this became practice because of the number of times women are followed into public bathrooms and sexually assaulted. “Text me when you get home!” is not just a phrase we say to each other so we can pick up our conversation when we return to our respective homes after a night out, but it is to make sure the other made it home without incident. Feminism is as relevant to us today as it ever has been, and today is the day where women unite around the world to demand justice and equality.

The next generation of women in Mathare.

Time and again it has been proven that to invest in a woman is to invest in her community. Women are 90% more likely to re-invest in her family. An empowered woman is the most effective catalyst for sustainable change, and we need to do everything in our power to ensure that the next generation of young women no longer need to suffer.

Girls need to attend school with the same regularity as boys. Girls need to know that if they are sexually assaulted, the law will be on their side. Girls need to feel supported in the workplace. Girls need to feel safe when walking down the street. Girls need to have a voice in politics. Girls need to enjoy the luxury to choose when and who to marry. Girls deserve so much more than what the world gives them. We can do better.

Sabrina Rubli

March 8, 2014/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

Do You Know What Is In Your Tampon?

Aldicarb, parathion, and methamidopho are three popular pesticides used in cotton production and three of the most hazardous insecticides to human health as determined by the World Health Organization. Cotton is commonly considered the world’s “dirtiest” crop: Pesticides commonly used on cotton crops are broad spectrum organophosphates – pesticides originally developed as toxic nerve agents during World War II.

If we eat organic food then why not use organic menstrual products? Pesticides are not safe in our food and are not safe in our tampons. Our vagina is a mucous membrane – a quick entry point to the bloodstream – that sucks up pesticides, rayon, chlorine, bleach, fragrances, dyes, and other absorbent chemicals. Residual fibres remain in our vaginas after removing tampons potentially leading to a variety of vaginal irritations, bladder and vaginal infections and Toxic Shock Syndrome. We ask you to take a stand: question what goes in your box!

Hi! We’re Your Box Club and we sell organic and ethically produced period products. No pesticides, no rayon, no chlorine, no bleach. 100 percent organic tampons, pads and reusable menstrual cups, sold by women and sent to your front door. Join the wave, spread the word, and establish social and environmental responsibility in the production of your menstrual products. To learn more and become a part of the discussion, visit our website!

Guest Author: Charlotte Burke, Co-Founder of YOUR BOX CLUB

February 28, 2014/1 Comment/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

February 4th is World Cancer Day

February 4th is World Cancer Day. It’s a chance for us speak out together, with an amplified voice, to improve global knowledge on cancer and knock down common misconceptions surrounding the disease. I’ve had the privilege to work in the field of cancer care and control in Kenya and internationally, through internships with AMREF and the World Health Organization, respectively.

Did you know that cancer hits people living in poverty and in low-and middle-income countries the hardest? Cancer causes more deaths worldwide than HIV, TB and malaria combined, and two thirds of those deaths occur in developing countries. Cancer is not only a major health concern, but it is also an economic problem. Treatment and care for cancer is unaffordable to the world’s majority, and as a result, the probability of cancer survival is tied to level of individual or household income. The cost of cancer represented 1.5% of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008, a figure that does not include direct medical costs. The list of staggering global facts about cancer goes on.

The tagline for World Cancer Day 2014 is “debunk the myths”. Given Femme’s focus on gender equality and reproductive health education in Kenya, I’m going to knock down some of these myths, with a focus on women’s cancers.

Myth 1: We don’t need to talk about cancer.

The top three cancers in women worldwide are cancers of the breast, colorectum and cervix. These are not only the types of cancers with the highest incidence, but also those that cause the greatest number of global deaths. Out of the 750,000 women who die from breast and cervical each year, the majority occur during a woman’s reproductive and working years.

Cancer is always a painful, confusing and uncomfortable topic to address. Yet, discussing health concerns about your breasts, rectum, and cervix is frequently out of the question for women, particularly in countries where gender inequality and extreme poverty persist. The impact these cancers can have on a woman’s sexual wellbeing is devastating. I’ve met women in different regions of East Africa, who were bleeding and in severe pain from late-stage cervical cancer, or knew of their breast lump, but avoided going for screening or medical care. Why? Surely there are many reasons, but generally it boils down to a lack of financial resources, a feeling of obligation to take care of the family and not themselves, and the big one: fear. Yet, as addressed in myth 3, cancer is no one’s fate, it can be detected at an early stage when it is amenable to treatment and each person can take steps toward reducing their cancer risk.

Myth 2: Cancer… there are no signs or symptoms.

A sign is something that a doctor or healthcare professional will observe. A symptom is something that only you as the patient can feel or experience, such as pain or fatigue. There are many online resources that can be utilized to understand the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, cervical cancer or colorectal cancer, among other types.

Let’s talk about breast cancer. Girls and women must be taught breast self-awareness and how to conduct regular self-breast examinations. What does my breast usually feel like? When should I approach a healthcare provider? On top of that, clinicians should provide clinical breast exams (CBEs). I witnessed that CBEs are not provided nearly as regularly or widely as they should be in Kenya, although there are opportunities where this simple exam can be integrated into patient care. Acquaint yourself with your breasts, if you haven’t already, because it could save your life.

Since we busted the myth that we don’t need to talk about cancer, let’s go to our trusted healthcare providers and discuss irregularities we’ve noticed in our breasts, changes vaginal discharge that may be worrisome, and our overall health.

Myth 3: There is nothing I can do about cancer.

Did you know that about half of all cancers can be prevented?

In the developing world, 22% of cancers are caused by infections. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is linked to cervical cancer, and can be vaccinated against. Alternatively, condom use and limiting the number of sexual partners may result in a lowered risk for HPV.

Unfortunately there is no magic exercise or food regimen to prevent cancer, but you can significantly reduce your risk factors. Tobacco is the single largest risk factor. Smoking is a growing concern in low-and middle-income countries, as Tobacco companies have lost much of their market in high-income countries and are finding new prey elsewhere. Alcohol abuse is a risk factor. People who are overweight and obese are at a higher risk of developing different types of cancers. Leading a healthy lifestyle is crucial and you can reduce your cancer risk significantly by exercising, eating healthy foods, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.

Myth 4: I don’t have the right to cancer care.

Access to care for cancer is a social justice issue, as access to healthcare is a human right. Inadequate infrastructure for early detection and prevention at the primary healthcare level are the norm in low-income countries like Kenya. Furthermore, access to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, among other treatment modalities, are extremely scarce in the public sector, essential medicines are often out of stock, and if available, these drugs are mostly unaffordable. Due to gender inequities in culture, power and resources, women face additional barriers in accessing cancer prevention and early detection, or cancer care.

Every year 160,000 children are newly diagnosed with cancer worldwide. More than 70% of these cases do not have access to effective treatment, resulting a dismal survival rate of approximately 10% in some low-and middle-income countries. In comparison, the survival rates for childhood cancers in many high-income countries is about 90%.

We can do better. There is a moral imperative to do better and to reduce the outcome gaps in cancer survival rates across the globe. We can scale up early detection and care, and make cancer care accessible and affordable.

Shiba Phurailatpam, Director of the Asia-Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS has aptly said: “People died during long and hard-won battles for access to HIV/AIDS medicines; we will not stand by and allow this to happen again for people suffering from cancer.” We must take the lessons we’ve learned in the fight for access to essential medicines for HIV/AIDS and challenge the status quo on the provision, or lack thereof, of cancer treatments.

What can you do?

Sign the World Cancer Declaration: http://www.uicc.org/declaration/sign-world-cancer-declaration
Spread the word about existing inequities in cancer prevention and control through social media and word of mouth. Join the conversation on twitter: #WorldCancerDay
More info on advocacy and ways to do something: http://worldcancerday.org/dosomething

Jordan Jarvis holds an M.Sc. in Medical Biophysics/Cancer Biology from the University of Toronto and an Honors B.Sc. in Biology from Western University. She has a strong interest in global health practice, research and policy. Her work includes research, project design and management, and policy and advocacy relating to non-communicable diseases and health systems strengthening in East Africa. She has recently been named Executive Director of the Young Professional’s Chronic Disease Network and is based in Boston, Mass.

February 4, 2014/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

Meet Nelson Otieno: Femme’s Community Outreach Officer

Femme is extremely lucky to have a man like Nelson Otieno on our team in Kenya. Born and raised in the Mathare slum, Nelson has unique insights into the community, and is a wealth of knowledge about the specific challenges faced by residents. Beyond that, Nelson demonstrates a passion for changing his community that continually inspires us.

Unfortunately, in most all parts of the world, openly discussing women’s oppression, especially in regards to their feminine health and hygiene, is difficult for men. In Kenya particularly, these are subjects that are still widely considered taboo. What sets Nelson apart is his strong belief that to invest in women is to create social change. Nelson believes strongly in Femme’s educational programming; he understands the importance of keeping young women in school, and providing them with the means necessary to respectively care for their bodies.

Nelson is a shining light, a true community leader. His passion for change within his community defines him; he works with a number of local organizations to affect change among the youth of Mathare and has been nicknamed Nelson Mandela by local residents. In our opinion, he is definitely worthy of the namesake.

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your occupation?
My name is Nelson Otieno. I was born and raised in Mathare Valley slum of Nairobi, Kenya. I am an entrepreneur and a community changer.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I play boxing which acts as an inspiration to me; as I am boxing the bag it is my way of taking away my frustration and the challenges that I face.

What is it like to grow up in Mathare?
Life is not favorable in Mathare, there are a lot of both positive and negative challenges. I take being brought up in Mathare as a school. When you are mining for gold, you have to go through the troubles for to gain the glory.

When did you decide to focus on community development?
I can’t exactly remember because I had this push when I was still in primary school, and my mother was hustling so hard to see me through, provide for me an education, and give me that push to change my society.

What do you think are the biggest challenges facing Mathare residents today?
Lack of proper infrastructure and planning, ignorance and lack of proper education.

As a man, why do you think it is so important to focus on women in Mathare?
Focus on main issues but more so to build on the positive aspects of life, rather than dwelling on the negative sides. When you empower a girl, you build up the entire community. She will help her family, and not spend money on alcohol like the men.

What do you think about Femme’s programs?
They are doing a remarkable job because the issues Femme is tackling has been neglected and in my community of Mathare, young people cannot share the issue of reproductive health with their peers. Hence, Femme has been acting like a bridge between the young and the old, and the community at large.

Sabrina Rubli & Ella Marinic

January 29, 2014/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

Introducing Crankytown!

Crankyfest is an online film festival about menstruation and an off-shoot of Crankytown. Check out our first winning film, serendipitously titled First, by Laura Maxwell.

We launched Crankyfest with iThentic in 2013 as a way to to dispel stigma around menstruation, and encourage girls and women to direct films.

We’re honored to have received so much recognition in such a short time. We earned a Gemini nomination for Crankytown in 2011, and this past year were featured on media outlets such as CBS’s The Doctors, CBC’s Q, Cosmopolitan, Jezebel, and The Daily Beast (to name a few). We’ve also gotten the thumbs up from industry leaders like Denis Villeneuve, Emma Thompson, Feist, Jay Baruchel, and Rachelle LeFevre. But in spite of all this, we are often reminded that menstruation can still be a touchy topic, and that there is much work to do before all women and girls feel proud of their bodies.

Here are three recent challenges:

1. After being invited onto a popular morning show to discuss Crankytown, we were warned 30 seconds before going to air not to say the word “period,” because people were “eating their breakfast.

“(Lets not even get into the nutritional value of menstrual blood)!”

2. Crankyfest is collaborating with TAWC (Toronto Actra Women’s Committee) on their 24 Hour Co-op Challenge. Their theme is menstruation, and all films will be eligible for Crankyfest. However, our contact was recently asked by Actra Toronto to change the theme because of a complaint that the topic was exclusionary. Our liaison would not change it. She said that “seeing that more than half the population have their periods and that every single human being who is walking this earth comes from somebody who had their period, their problem with the topic is prejudicial.” She also mentioned that if the anonymous complainant wanted to debate the issue, they could contact Denis Villeneuve and Jay Baruchel who have agreed to be on the jury, though they themselves have never menstruated.

3. We were mysteriously denied entry to the Without A Box network. After multiple unanswered emails and phone calls, no explanation has been given. We can only assume it is due to our content. (WAB feel free to respond).

Photo by Kourosh Keshiri: Vanessa Matsui, Jenna Wright, Liane Balaban

But here are three recent successes. (These are the things that keep us going in the face of setbacks!)

Crankyfest’s launch party for wave two of the festival was voted one of the best thirteen parties of 2013 by She Does the City, along with Patti Smith at the AGO and Rag and Bone at Holt Renfrew!
Meeting so many incredible women who are working towards improving the lives of girls and women everywhere. To name a few: Femme International, Huru International, Your Box Club, and the creators of Question Period.
Our stellar jury: Denis Villeneuve, Anna Silk, Kevin Pollak, Jay Baruchel and Amanda Brugel.

Now here are THREE THINGS you can do to make 2014 more period-positive.

Make and submit a short to Crankyfest. The deadline is March 3, 2014.
If you are in Toronto on Tuesday, January 28th, hit up Question Period at the Drake, a menstruation themed trivia night raising funds for Mother Nature Partnership!
Donate to Femme International, Huru International, or any charity that supports the advancement of women.

Vanessa Matsui, Jenna Wright, Liane Balaban

January 23, 2014/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

2013 – Our Year in Review

Happy 1st birthday Femme! It’s hard to believe Femme was born just one year ago; she’s grown up so fast! When we first founded the organization, we weren’t sure what to expect in terms of growth and success and support. The last twelve months have been an amazing adventure filled with wonderful new beginnings and experiences. It has all far surpassed our expectations. Here are just a few highlights from Femme’s first year!

FHM Pilot Project
In April and May, Femme took its first strides in Kenya with a pilot project in the Mathare slum. Partnerships with several schools in the community were established and a needs assessment was conducted with 85 school-aged girls. The Feminine Health Management program was completed with 21 young women and our first batch of Femme Kits were distributed!

Pictured: Co-founder Sabrina, during a focus group with students from a partner school.

Femme International Benefit Concert
On August 17th, Femme proudly hosted its first concert fundraiser at The Handlebar in Kensington Market – it was a great success, with enough funds raised to provide over 60 Femme Kits to our girls. Many thanks to all those involved for donating their time and their talents! Acts included folk/root/blues band The Breaks as well as vocal powerhouse Ada Dahli, guitar/drum duo Crow Town and ambient folk band Weatherstone.

CrankyFest Launch Party
On September 13th, Board of Directors President Elenor Ball-Banting and Femme co-founders Ella Marinic and Sabrina Rubli attended the launch of CrankyFest, hosted by SheDoesTheCity. CrankyFest is an annual film festival dedicated to the topic of menstruation. Founded by Canadian actresses Liane Balaban, Vanessa Matsui, and costume designer Jenna Wright, CrankyFest has established itself as the first and only TIFF event dedicated to menstrual education.

Pictured: Ella Marinic, Vanessa Matsui, Sabrina Rubli & Elenor Ball-Banting at CrankyFest.

The Red Panty Diaries
On October 3rd, Femme hosted The Red Panty Diaries, a feminist stand-up show featuring Toronto’s sassiest comedians. Hosted at Baltic Avenue, the theme of the show was, of course, menstruation! We could not have predicted the enormous success it would be. The show featured comedic performances by Heidi Brander,  Zabrina Chevannes,  Jess Beaulieu,  Alannah Copetti,  Natalie Norman  and was hosted by Sarah Bruckschwaiger. Everyone is still raving about how talented these women are.

We are very proud to announce that The Red Panty Diaries will be returning on March 12th at Lula Lounge – so mark your calendars, you will not want to miss it!

A special thanks to Mishelle Menzies for the amazing artwork featured on our flyer!

International Day of the Girl Child
In honour of International Day of the Girl Child on October 11th, Femme partnered with YourBoxClub and CrankyFest to generate support for our shared cause. CrankyFest released an animated video starring Jay Baruchel which aimed to de-stigmatize conversations about menstruation. The video was released on October 11th and a Femme Kit was donated for every 500 views that week.

FHM Project
In November and December, Femme’s staff was in Mathare implementing the FHM program with over 130 young women. The project was a huge success, with a number of teachers asking that we return in the spring to work with the next cohort of students. Femme hopes to not only return, but to expand its reach in the community by partnering with additional schools and foundations.

Pictured: A participant reads her workbook during an FHM workshop.

All in all, it was a very eventful year – with the most important event being our achievement of charitable status! As a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, Femme International is sure to expand its reach and reputation in 2014. A big thank you to all those who made it the best first year we could have ever hoped for!

Ella Marinic

January 18, 2014/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

All About Femme Kits

Femme’s Feminine Hygiene Management program has two components – EDUCATION and DISTRIBUTION. Participants are first led through a series of interactive workshops which discuss topics such as female anatomy, reproductive health, essential hygiene, menstrual health, and menstrual management. The second component is the distribution of Femme Kits to all girls who have completed the educational workshops.

Femme Kits are designed to contain everything a girl needs to manage her period in a safe, healthy and effective way. They include a small towel, a bar of soap in a protective container, a reusable menstrual cup, a tin bowl in which to clean the menstrual cup, and a small calendar for her to track her cycle, all inside a small canvas bag. Combined, all of these items make a girl’s period easy to manage, and ensure she always has everything she needs to stay safe and healthy.

The key component to our Femme Kits is the menstrual cup. Menstrual cups are made of medical grade silicone, and are a much healthier form of menstrual management than other commercial sanitary products. It is inserted about half an inch into the vagina to collect, rather than absorb menstrual fluid. When inserted properly, menstrual cups provide comfortable, leak-free protection for up to twelve hours. The best part about these cups is that they can be re-used for up to ten years.

Menstrual cups are an ideal solution to menstrual management in communities like Mathare, where adequate latrine facilities are few and far between, and accessing potable water is a daily challenge. Menstrual cups require very little water – they can be removed, emptied and re-inserted without washing, if need be, since the silicone is anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. At the end of the period, they must simply be boiled in water for about 5 minutes before being put away until next month. When inserted properly, a vacuum seal is created around the top of the cup which prevents any leaking. It also provides twelve hours of comfortable protection, allowing girls to attend school and participate in daily activities without worrying about her period. The girls are most impressed by the range of activities they can enjoy while menstruating – running, playing football, swimming, dancing.

Femme Kits give participants a new level of independence. The menstrual cup removes the financial burden of menstruation, and allows her to spend her money on other essentials or activities. Having her own tin bowl to clean the cup allows her to do so without asking to borrow her families cooking pot. It is the unique combination of health education and the distribution of the Femme Kits that make our Feminine Health Management program so effective, and sustainable.

We believes that by providing participants with Femme Kits, we are enabling them to take control over their bodies and take advantage of all academic and professional opportunities they may come across. Femme Kits enable girls to stay safe, healthy, and in school – every day of the month.

We invite you to be a part of this change. Donate a Femme Kit! Each contribution will make a lasting impact on a girl’s well-being.

Sabrina Rubli

January 9, 2014/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

Female Genital Mutilation

One of the most shocking and destructive rituals in the world is the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), which is performed in varying degrees on little girls, mostly before the age of 8 years old. The operation removes part of, or all of, the external female genitals, in what many claim to be an attempt to control a woman’s sexuality. There are no health benefits to female circumcision. The tortuous ethnic rite of passage is tied to traditional ideas of honor, marriage, and purity.

FGM is practiced in 29 countries around the world, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most of these countries are in Africa – specifically North-Eastern Africa, East Africa and West Africa, but the practice is wide spread in the Middle East, South-East Asia, and among immigrants in Europe and North America. The WHO estimates that over 150 million world wide are affected by FGM.

There are varying levels of FGM, the least serious being the removal of the clitoris, and the most severe being the complete removal of all external genitalia, and the remaining parts of the outer lips are sewn shut, leaving a small hole for urination. This is referred to as “infibulation”. All levels of FGM are extremely dangerous for a woman, and lead to serious health concerns and pain throughout her life. Sexual intercourse and menstruation for these girls can be extremely painful, and child birth is often a fatal event, as her stitches must ripped open.

The practice is so embedded in so many cultures, that should a mother decide to let her little girl skip this painful ritual, she would be shunned by society, and never able to marry. This would bring shame to her family, apparently a far worse fate for a woman than having her genitals sawed off. A circumcised girl remains “clean” and “untouched” until her wedding day.

FGM tools found in Kenya

The procedure is traditionally done by a ‘circumcision expert’, which is usually an elderly woman in the village. Because it is most commonly practiced in remote, nomadic communities, the procedure is done without anesthetic, sterile conditions, or medical supervision.

Sadly, FGM is not confined to practicing countries, as immigrants have brought this aspect of their culture to new homes in Europe and North America. There are reports of families in the UK flying in doctors to complete this ritual on their daughters, or, worse, performing it themselves. In 1982, Sweden became the first Western Country to ban FGM. As of 2013, an anti-FGM legislation has been signed by 33 countries, including Canada. Canada became the first country to recognize FGM as a form of persecution when it granted refugee status to a Somali woman who was fleeing with her young daughter to avoid FGM.

However, it is believed that around 100,000 girls in the UK are currently at risk of undergoing FGM.

It wasn’t until the mid 1990’s that FGM was finally discussed in the open, and the campaign has been led by former supermodel Waris Dirie. Waris was born in Somalia, and lived as a desert nomad until she ran away from home to escape an arranged marraige at the age of twelve. She underwent infibulation as a little girl, and has suffered the painful consequences her entire life. “When they tried to convince me that God wants this, I said: Did my God hate me so much?”

Waris moved to London, England as a teenager, where she eventually became the face of Revlon, and a world-renowned supermodel. And she has put her fame to good use, becoming a vocal campaigner against the practice of FGM. In 1997, Waris opened up about her experiences in an interview with Marie Clair, and hasn’t stopped the fight since, despite receiving death threats from the Somali community. She has been appointed UN Special Ambassador, and has launched her own foundation, Desert Flower Foundation, to support survivors of FGM, as well as raise awareness and lobby policy makers against this practice.

In Waris’s native Somalia, approximately 98% of women have been affected by FGM.

Two brave film makers have recently released a documentary about the effects of FGM in Kurdistan, where it is widely practiced. It took them ten long years of research on the greatest taboo to put the piece together. Their film helped have the practice of FGM become outlawed in 2011, and in the past few years, rates of girls undergoing the procedure has fallen by around 60%.

Sabrina Rubli

October 31, 2013/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

The “F” Word

One of my closest friends has just started dating an amazing guy, and was telling me all about their conversations after one of their first dates. Now, this friend of mine is definitely a feminist, and has dedicated her life to helping women, and yet she hesitated, and said “But I don’t want him to think I am a crazy feminist.”

Both of us stopped and looked at each other, and we instantly realized something: when did feminism become a dirty word? Why on earth is advancing women’s rights something to be embarrassed about? Why does “feminism” hold such negative connotations, of crazy women who ought to be put in their place? It’s as though feminists are viewed as these radical beings trying to overthrow society as we know it. And while there has certainly been a revolutionary component to the feminist movement, particularly in some parts of the world, feminists really just want to see justice, finally.

When women identify themselves as feminists, people will often assume they hate men, burn their bras, among other dramatic personality traits.The mere fact that the term “Feminazi” exists is one of the most offensive things in the world – to compare a woman fighting for equality to a genocidal fascist movement? I mean, come on.

Feminism needs to stop being viewed as too radical, too uncomfortable, or too out-dated, because that is not what it is. Feminism has stopped being radical, and has settled into the exhausting task of making people (men) realize the inequalities that persist in our society. Women continually make less than their male counterparts. Women are not adequately represented in politics. Calling someone a “girl” is still a sign of weakness for men. Gender inequality is so entrenched in our daily lives we don’t even notice it anymore. Have you ever seen a laundry detergent commercial that does not feature a woman?

British soprano Charlotte Church recently spoke out on the subject of feminism:

“Women who say they are not a feminist annoy me,” says Church. “I don’t really understand why every woman wouldn’t consider themselves as a feminist. Because it’s not a radical thing, you know, this isn’t ‘revolution.’ It’s just to say, yes I’m a woman, I’m entirely aware that I can do everything that a man can do. And I’m proud of that, and I’m proud to be able to tell you about other women who are amazing and do phenomenal things…We were sold a lie a decade ago when everybody said there is no need for feminism: “all is fine, stop ranting and raving you crazy women.” But of course that’s not the case. And I actually think we’re going back, we’re reverting to ridiculous old-fashioned sort of stereotypes of where women should be and what their role should be: “you should just type and don’t make any decisions, just type what the men say.”

As women, we need to declare ourselves feminists. We need to stand up to oppression that has been built into our societal structures, to the point that we don’t even recognize it anymore. We need to stop thinking of feminists as annoying, useless, and whiny. A feminist is just someone who acknowledges that gender inequality exists.

Recent movements such as Everyday Sexism and Who Needs Feminism are helping to bring attention to the need for an updated definition of feminism.

Sabrina Rubli

October 22, 2013/by Sabrina

Femme Focus

What Does the Internet Think of Women?

UN Women has just launched a powerful online campaign which uses the world’s most common search engine, Google, to demonstrate just how wide spread gender inequality is.

The achievement of gender equality around the world would have incredibly effects on the global economy. It is no secret that empowering women and girls leads to an economic boost in their community – increased productivity and growth are just a few consequences of gender equality. And yet, women are woefully left behind around the world, and cultural and traditional norms continue to oppress women. Women lack access to medical care, employment, land ownership, and earn considerably less than her male counterpart.

While we may think gender equality only exist in other countries, UN Women’s latest campaign proves us all wrong.

According to the World Health Organization, one woman dies in childbirth every minute of every day.

In 2008, the United Nations reported that one in every three women is likely “to be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime

According to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Census, women earn just 77% of what men earn for the same amount of work.

The United Nations often cites the statistic that women do two-thirds of the world’s work, receive 10% of the world’s income and own 1 percent of the means of production.

Despite making up half the global population, women hold only 15.6% of elected parliamentary seats in the world.

Increasingly advanced health technology allows safer pregnancies, but it also allows people in countries such as India and China to abort pregnancies when they discover the baby is a girl. This has led to skewed gender ratios.

More than 1.5 billion people in the world live on less than one dollar a day, and the majority of those people are women.

Source: United Nations Women Search Engine Campaign

Sabrina Rubli

October 21, 2013/by Sabrina