stephenie foster » Archive
Home for the Holidays!
Well, not quite all of the holidays, but I was home and so enjoyed my time catching up with everyone and being part of a community of great people. I was struck by how much we all rely on family and friends and the importance of community and sharing. In the wake of the tragedy of Newtown, Connecticut, it seems even more important to keep our friendships and connections alive across the miles and time zones, and to continue to share what happens in our lives. At this time of year, may we all give of ourselves, support those who support us, and be kind to those around us. That is really the spirit of the season, whether we are together or separated by miles. To all, happy holidays. … Read entire article »
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Sitting Down with Olympian Lorrie Fair: Reflections on Afghanistan
This also appeared today on Huffington Post Sports: U.S. Sports Diplomacy Envoy, Olympian and World Cup Champion Lorrie Fair visited Kabul, Afghanistan over Thanksgiving to show her support for Afghan women, and particularly Afghan women athletes, who face cultural, economic and security challenges but are dedicated to their sport. While in Afghanistan, Fair hosted sports clinics and discussions to highlight the valuable skills athletes learn through sports such as teamwork, leadership and determination. She worked with the Afghan Women’s National Soccer team, as well as the Afghan Women’s National Basketball team, and spoke to a class at the American University of Afghanistan on the role sport plays in leadership for women. I interviewed her as she was departing Kabul to return to the U.S. Let’s start with the basics. Why is it important … Read entire article »
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Mohtarama: Glimpses into the Lives of Afghan Women
“What is happening with Afghan women?” is a frequent question. There isn’t one answer but the new documentary film Mohtarama provides some insight and context for any discussion of this question. Shot in black and white by Afghan filmmakers Malek Shafi’i and Diana Saqeb, the film gives voice to educated Afghan women, the issues they face and their perspectives on being a woman in Afghanistan. It will likely surprise viewers and challenge their views of Afghan women as the glimpses into these women’s lives reflect sophistictation and dignity in the face of difficult social norms and daily indignities. The film is shot in Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat and Kabul over the period of 2009-2011. The most familiar scenes may be of the 2009 protests in Kabul against the Family Law, which severely restricted women’s freedom, for example, making … Read entire article »
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Election Night 2012
Watching the 2012 election from a far has reaffirmed so much of what I think about the US and our still imperfect political system. On election night, I was struck by the remarkable nature of the American politics and political culture. Despite heated and partisan battles, we do (for the most part) accept the outcome and keep going, working in so many large and small ways to make our communities and our country a better place. We strive to include more voices in decisions that get made, so that those decisions reflect the reality of everyone’s lives. As someone who works on women and politics, I was especially pleased to see the number of women in the Senate has increased, and that New Hampshire’s congressional delegation is comprised of four … Read entire article »
Filed under: Elections, Latest, Women & Politics
Theatre & Art in Kabul
Helicopters fly over the heads of the crowd watching the Theatre Circus Afsana. What a contrast as the seven talented young Afghan men perform their blend of gymnastics, drama and acrobatics. The physical expression of their talent is accompanied by poetry by Rumi and is truly a delight to watch. This is the second remarkable cultural I have attended event this week, earlier listening to a concert by the Kabul University Orchestra. To me, both performances demonstrate the universal appeal of art and culture, and the bond it creates across differences, as well as people’s determination across the globe to express themselves, create beauty, and entertain. … Read entire article »
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Women Key to Shaping Afghanistan’s Future
This also appeared today on the Huffington Post: Afghanistan has made significant progress over the last ten years, and in particular, Afghan women and girls have made great strides. Millions of girls are in school; the maternal mortality rate has dropped; and health care is being delivered to many more women and children. There are women Cabinet ministers (three), women parliamentarians (27% of the Parliament), women judges (about 10% of the judiciary are women), and women business, NGO and academic leaders. Having said that, there are still large problems to address: low literacy rates among women, the need for more women teachers, more women business professionals, and better access to finance. The most common question asked is “What will happen to the women and girls of Afghanistan after 2014?” The concern about … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cross-Listed/Archives, Current/New, Women & Business, Women & Leadership, Women & Politics
A Gender Neutral Pronoun?
I must say, I love this story about a movement in Sweden to have a gender neutral pronoun, in addition to the pronouns “she” and “he.” It’s controversial, even in Sweden, but what strikes me as I read the story is the power of language to shape our views and our sense of possibility. We don’t always think about the impact of language. But, the power of what we say, and the messages that are sent with language are important. Think about the use of the term “girl” which used to be used to describe women even in their fifties and sixties. Using the terms businesswomen, police women, firefighters (not firemen) is sometimes made fun of, but these words help everyone see those jobs as options for both women and men. My … Read entire article »
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A Slice of Life: Kenya’s Highway B8
Driving north from the Mombasa airport was quite an experience. Frankly, I am sure that the staff at the car rental agency thought I was crazy to do so (and basically told me so). In my rented 4×4, I shared the two lane road with people, bikes, motor scooters, animals, buses, tuk-tuks, trucks, more animals, and some cars. People were out in force, moving around, many of them carrying large yellow plastic jugs of diesel fuel, as well as vegetables, firewood, pineapples, and anything else you can imagine. Kids in uniform were on their way to school, men and women were out and about, some in traditional clothing, some in western clothing, a few women in abayas, and men hauling huge parcels on regular bikes. I even saw some men stuffing a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Readings
Back from Chittagong
After a hectic week, I’m back from the Grassroots Women’s Political Forum in Chittagong. It was an amazing experience, and given the multiple languages being spoken, quite a communications challenge. But, with Urdu, Hindi, Dari, Bangla, Nepalese and English flying around the room, it also highlighted the importance of women moving forward together and discussing how to address common problems. The first few days focused mainly on skill building – public speaking, communications, advocacy and coalition building – and the next on topical areas such as fighting violence and trafficking and electoral challenges. It was a feisty group and a group that was also thinking about follow-up and next steps. I was glad to be there and look forward to following them over the months and years to come. … Read entire article »
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Grassroots Women in Central and South Asia Leading the Way Forward
The Asian University for Women in Chittagong, Bangladesh is hosting the first Grassroots Women’s Political Leadership Forum, being held in conjunction with the US State Department. I’m here with a courageous group of Afghan women leaders, who are participating along with other regional women leaders from Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, to focus on developing skills to become more effective and to learn from each other. This colorful crowd (literally) is full of smart, dedicated and diverse women. They are from countries at different stages of the democratic process and with challenges that span cultures and continents. But women in this region are leading, and we were all stunned to learn that India currently has 1.3 million women serving in panchayats, the very local councils that make a myriad … Read entire article »
Filed under: Cross-Listed/Archives, Regions, Women & Business, Women & Leadership, Women & Politics