Post written by Christa Avampato. You can follow Christa on Twitter.
Last weekend, I went to 92Y to hear Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn discuss their new book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.
The book chronicles their travels through Africa and Asia, interviewing women who are enduring 
unbelievable circumstances and exhibiting equally unbelievable strength. It is filled with data, facts, and figures that methodically document the travails of women in the developing world. Their stories simultaneously broke my heart and lifted me up. They are issuing a call to action, today, to each of us.
At times, the talk was difficult to listen to. It was hard to imagine what these women are feeling and thinking in their everyday lives. It’s hard to imagine that they can continue to persevere. Any challenges I face are nothing compared to the daily existence that is thrust upon these women. I walked home that night realizing that I am no different from these women, I have the life I have and they have the life they have by pure luck of the draw.
How can I not help them? If I were one of them, wouldn’t I want someone to help me?
After an hour of listening to details about the main topics of the book such as gender-based violence and maternal mortality, it’s logical to feel as if this problem is just too big. It’s too much and I am not enough. Kristof and WuDunn did an excellent job in the last thirty minutes of showcasing that yes, you can do something. We can all do something – and we need to. The women of the world need us. We need to give them a hand up if this world is to have any hope at all for peace and prosperity.
They told stories of remarkable triumph, of women who have literally pulled themselves to safety for miles after being cast out by their families due to some horrible abuse, of aid workers in the field who have risked life and limb to get women out of danger. There are thousands of groups in the world making a difference in the lives of women and we can join them by making contributions of time, money, and effort. One small step at a time, if we all step together, can turn the tide. Kristof and WuDunn showcase this idea beautifully in Half the Sky.
Dan Rather did an excellent job of moderating the discussion. His final question to Kristof and WuDunn was simple and shows his continual grace and ease in the art interviewing. “What didn’t I ask you that I should have?” asked Rather. To my great joy, they both emphasized the value of education I creating a more peaceful world and in creating better circumstances for the world’s women. Give them the opportunity to learn and we will see the benefits come back to us tenfold. Something so simple and so basic that we all take for granted. The opportunity to read, to express ourselves, to be curious and creative.
Yes, the world’s women need medical care and housing and food and water that they are not getting now in too many areas of the world. No one’s denying that. We’ve got to meet their basic needs first and foremost. What’s remarkable about education is that when given in conjunction with basic necessities, it ignites within people the desire and ability to help others and to help themselves. There’s a multiplicative effect of goodness that arises when education is viewed not as a privilege but as a necessity. Kristof and WuDunn reminded me that if we are to save lives, then we must save hearts and souls and minds as well.
Half the Sky is now available for purchase on Amazon, in hardcover and for the Kindle. The last chapter is entitled “What You Can Do: Four Steps to Take in the Next Ten Minutes”.
We’d love to hear how this topic and this book inspire you to take action to help the world’s women.
You can also participate in the Half of Sky Movement at: http://www.halftheskymovement.org/ and join Nicholas Kristof on Facebook and Twitter.
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Christa Avampato works in the field of innovation and product development and is a graduate of of UPenn (BA) and the Darden School at UVA (MBA). Her writing focuses on curating a creative and original life, drawing inspiration from a variety of topics including the arts, books, travel, new technology, and New York City.
In addition to being a the managing editor of TJCC, Christa writes abouts creativity and hope at Christa In New York and about entrepreneurship at Examiner.com. You can also find Christa on Twitter.
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Christa – wonderful article and am so glad I had to chance to hear the talk with you. We both took so many notes I'm sure we could write a book on how great it was. They are both truly inspiring! I hope that by supporting the various causes we are active in – through volunteering or just by writing about them on TJCC – will help inspire action personally and for all of us.
This is great! I really feel inspired after reading this and I'm looking forward to checking out the book.
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