“Women hold up half the sky,” reads an old Chinese saying.
Indeed, women have traditionally been the world’s farmers, child bearers, and caretakers of young and old – the backbone of families and societies. Women play a central role in the effective development of families, communities, nations, and regions.
Yet, despite their vast contributions to humanity, women continue to suffer from gender discrimination in much of the world. Being born female in most of the developing
world means a lifetime as a second-class citizen, denied most of the opportunities
available to males in the areas of health, education, employment, and legal rights.
In many less developed countries, girls and women do much of the hard labor of running a household and a subsistence farm. In rural areas where homes lack indoor plumbing and electricity, it is not uncommon for them to spend hours each day gathering water and firewood and carrying these items long distances. Most of this work is unpaid, domestic labor that takes a toll on women’s bodies.
With little formal education and large families to tend, women are often not able to be employed outside of the home.
Cultural traditions often dictate what jobs are appropriate for men and women. Where women are able to attain an education and learn job skills, they help their families and communities prosper.
credit: www.worldof7billion.org
First, watch this (3.34) short video,
"What Are You Carrying?" in which the creator learns first hand how difficult a woman’s burden can be in the eastern Congo.
Then, watch (1.30) “Smart Girls,” and (3.40) "Global Voices."
Comment on the blog:
What surprised you or did you find sad or interesting in these videos?
What surprised you or did you find sad or interesting in these videos?
The videos saddened me, but they encouraged me too. These girls have to work so hard, 24/7. But they are so determined and ambitious, and never seem to complain. I am saddened by the fact that their opportunities are so few, but they encourage me because they keep persevering. I was surprised that their were barely any school that had any textbooks!
ReplyDeleteThe videos saddened me, but they encouraged me too. These girls have to work so hard, 24/7. But they are so determined and ambitious, and never seem to complain. I am saddened by the fact that their opportunities are so few, but they encourage me because they keep persevering. I was surprised that their were barely any school that had any textbooks!
ReplyDeleteI think that it is super sad that the girls are forced to do all the lifting wile the men do nothing. The smart girls video was also really sad. The girls were being killed and poisoned.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed on how strong the women are. It is sad that the women are not given a proper education, they seem like very wise people.
ReplyDeletei am really surprised how strong the girls necks are!!! mine wold nap in half that grown man couldn't even lift that wood.
ReplyDeleteThe videos just shocked me. They were all sad and surprising in a way. I don't know how people can sit back and watch women being treated in the way they are in some places of the world, and contribute to that.. It was interesting to see the girls effortlessly balancing 40 pounds of whatever on their heads, and carrying loads heavy supplies for miles while the men just drank beer.
ReplyDeleteI found it shocking that the women worked so hard to support themselves and their families. It’s sad to see women being treated that way. They should be respected. Like Emma said, it is even worse that the men are doing nothing. Its makes sense that the women should work so hard if the men are working equally as hard, but they are not. If both sides needed to work hard to survive, it makes sense, but it makes me want to go over there, take the men’s beer bottles, put the women’s loads on their backs, and let the women rest for once.
ReplyDeleteI found it cool how the women in the Congo (or somewhere in Africa) were able to balance the containers full of concrete mix on their heads! It's amazing how skilled they are to do that, but I didn't like how the video said that some had some sort of disease or something, and still had to work.
ReplyDelete