The Elders Call for Women’s Equality
by: Nancy Vedder-Shults on January 12th, 2010 | 6 Comments »
Nicholas Kristof wrote his Sunday NY Times column this week about “Religion and Women.”It’s both a discouraging overview of women’s oppression here and abroad and a hopeful look at how many of the best-known leaders of our time are beginning to agitate for women’s equality, and very specifically, their equality within religion. Following up on his links, I discovered that The Elders, a group including Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, Mary Robinson, Gro Brundtland, and Ela Ghatt (founder of SEWA) began an initiative this summer called “Equality for Women & Girls” that states:
Religion and tradition are a great force for peace and progress around the world.
However, as Elders, we believe that the justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a higher authority, is unacceptable.
We believe that women and girls share equal rights with men and boys in all aspects of life.
We call upon all leaders to promote and protect equal rights for women and girls.
We especially call on religious and traditional leaders to set an example and change all discriminatory practices within their own religions and traditions.
The Elders are fully committed to the realisation of equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
The Elders, 2 July 2009.
This is joyful news to my ears! And even more joyful is the fact that this eminent group recognizes that women have been struggling for their iberation for many years, but that it’s not just a women’s issue — that, in fact, it is a fight that should not be left to women and girls alone!
But there are, too, signs of hope. We want to point to the progress that is being made to lift this inequality and the impressive results such action brings. During the lifetimes of the Elders, in almost every society and in every area, women are breaking down the barriers which have held them and their daughters back for so long.
There remains, however, a long way to go until we reach true equality of opportunity. And this is not a fight which should be left to women and girls alone. It is up to all our leaders, particularly male political, religious and civil leaders, to challenge and change those practices and attitudes, however long-established, which allow and foster discrimination and unfair treatment.
When I was a young feminist in my 20s and 30s, I believed that we could change the US in my lifetime. Not knowing about the long history of misogyny, I thought that women would attain equality without 30 or 40 years. That obviously hasn’t happened. But in my 40s and 50s I would have had trouble believing that the people I named above would “spend their politcal capital” on women. I guess I have to rid myself of the cynicism I didn’t even know I had.
I, too, am heartened by this development, but perhaps not as much as you are.
1. Like you, I had not heard of the statement before I read about it today. That indicates that the world’s media do not think it is very important, or else that the issue is not of great import. Without wide publicity, such sentiments will not persuade.
2. You write about those signing the statement are spending “their political capital.” As far as I can see, none of these people are currently in positions of political power, and are therefore unable to institute or carry out policies. There statement is merely advisory, or exhortatory. So, I wonder about how important “political capital” is to them, or to anyone else.
So, their statement might persuade some, if it were known, but probably not those who hold positions of religious or political power. Those in such positions seem singularly immune to words which carry moral authority without the political, economic or military power to back it up.
Much work still needs to be done.
As a photographer/artist I can’t help noticing that in the photograph of the Elders, the women are all in the back row.
Annie Omens,
Two of the three elders in the front are women. Perhaps you need to adjust your “depth of field.”
Gene and Annie –
You’re both right that my optimism needs to be tempered by the reality checks you suggest. Annie — I, too, noticed the women in the background, and I know the reason behind that: The most famous people in that photo are the men. And, you’re right, Gene, there’s not enough PR about this initiative — nobody knows about it, and the Elders are all retired. I guess it could be similar to the situation in the peace movement — when the generals retire, some of them realize the error of their way and become peace activists. However, I still think it’s still good news.
When I was a young feminist, I believed the Republican Party would cease to exist in my lifetime. 2009 was the year my remaining hope and optimism was destroyed.
Jim, I’m afraid that your idealism outdoes mine. When it comes to political conservatism and its economic backers, I’ve always been much less hopeful. In fact, even when they messed up big-time and blew up our economy last fall, we didn’t reign them in with the necessary regulations to temper their greed. And that means that it will happen again.