In truth, I am not even sure how to begin this post or what to write. I want to begin by saying that I am broken. My heart is broken and if I truly let the pain sit, I would not get out of bed in the morning.
I have thought of putting Half the Sky down or taking it back to the library because that would be easier than reading the stories and seeing the pain that exists in the world. I do believe though, that in order to truly serve you must be aware of the world that you are serving.
"Half the Sky" discusses the plight of women all over the world, because let's be honest... the biggest problem for women is not unequal pay or sexual harassment, it is the use of rape as a weapon, the prevalence of sex slaves, and it is the ignorance of the world to truly make a difference.
According to the Girl Effect, when a girl has a job and makes an income she brings 90% back to her family; whereas when a man has a job and an income (in many parts of the world) he brings back only 30-40% to the family. To me, this says that the world when change when women take action, are supported, and can pursue an income the world will change.
Unfortunately, the world is not tidy and it is not possible to say that women are oppressed because men oppress them. In many countries, it is common for women to be beat when they are "disobedient" and the women support this practice. Reading this book makes me thankful for my mother-in-law who never encouraged Ben to burn me with acid or beat me when I didn't wash the dishes. "This is not a tidy world of tyrannical men and victimized women, but a messier realm of oppressive social customs adhered to by men and women alike" (69 Kristof & WuDunn).
Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this book, is the inclusion of personal stories by women who have been raped, burned by acid, and oppressed in unimaginable ways. These women are the true pioneers of the movement and these women will be the ones to change things in the developing world. A final quote that I want to share is one the is brief but speaks volumes to what women experience in many parts of the world. "It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict" (Major General Patrick Cammaert, 84 Kristof & WuDunn).
