Comments on: The Girl Effect http://www.doublespeakshow.com/2008/06/05/the-girl-effect/ at the intersection of radio, blogs, and grassroots politics...you'll find DoubleSpeak. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:52:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Autumn http://www.doublespeakshow.com/2008/06/05/the-girl-effect/#comment-96839 Autumn Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:40:23 +0000 http://www.doublespeakshow.com/?p=1423#comment-96839 I completely understand that both of you probably have very well versed backgrounds in international causes, aide, and suffrage. You both have probably traveled to developing nations and felt the outrage that many feel when experiencing such injustice. You have probably studied these issues, economic and otherwise, that create such a corrupt and misappropriated society with regards to funding, laws, and government support -- So I can see where things can become muddled in that very hyper-chaotic video. I Agree that we that we should not look at this video and think it the answer to solve world humanity. BUT... I think that we need to refocus and see what this video is advocating for and that is... Educating GIRLS. The first step to providing MORE opportunities for these women. It isn't about cows, or herds, or city council, but it is about providing these young women with the same opportunities and ability to help themselves and their family, just as men do. I will ask you both -- If our society had never decided that girls deserved to go to school ... Do you believe that a woman would have even had the chance to run for president? Maybe that is where the focus should be on this video -- The possibilities for education for young girls who DO NOT have it. I completely understand that both of you probably have very well versed backgrounds in international causes, aide, and suffrage. You both have probably traveled to developing nations and felt the outrage that many feel when experiencing such injustice. You have probably studied these issues, economic and otherwise, that create such a corrupt and misappropriated society with regards to funding, laws, and government support — So I can see where things can become muddled in that very hyper-chaotic video.

I Agree that we that we should not look at this video and think it the answer to solve world humanity.

BUT…

I think that we need to refocus and see what this video is advocating for and that is…

Educating GIRLS.

The first step to providing MORE opportunities for these women. It isn’t about cows, or herds, or city council, but it is about providing these young women with the same opportunities and ability to help themselves and their family, just as men do.

I will ask you both — If our society had never decided that girls deserved to go to school … Do you believe that a woman would have even had the chance to run for president?

Maybe that is where the focus should be on this video — The possibilities for education for young girls who DO NOT have it.

]]> By: Jean-Claude LeBec http://www.doublespeakshow.com/2008/06/05/the-girl-effect/#comment-96828 Jean-Claude LeBec Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:22:01 +0000 http://www.doublespeakshow.com/?p=1423#comment-96828 I'm sorry but it just does not work like that. I am all for investing in women, in men, in good people, but this cute little video is making the situation a lot simpler than it really is. Read the book "Emma's War" to get a better sense of where international aid/funds go. I wish it were this simple, but the realities and social settings of many of these developing countries don't go from investing funds to changing humanity. "The Girl Effect" is one of the more naive things that I have seen lately. I’m sorry but it just does not work like that. I am all for investing in women, in men, in good people, but this cute little video is making the situation a lot simpler than it really is. Read the book “Emma’s War” to get a better sense of where international aid/funds go. I wish it were this simple, but the realities and social settings of many of these developing countries don’t go from investing funds to changing humanity. “The Girl Effect” is one of the more naive things that I have seen lately.

]]> By: sdale http://www.doublespeakshow.com/2008/06/05/the-girl-effect/#comment-96823 sdale Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:33:54 +0000 http://www.doublespeakshow.com/?p=1423#comment-96823 Although an interesting, well-produced, and powerful video, it is completely indigenousness to talk about supporting women's roles in the developing world while we ignore the larger issue at the root of not just developing countries, but our American social system. This video talks about a 'girl' going to her village counsel, gaining their respect, and using her intelligence and entrepreneurship to help her fellow townspeople. Yet there is no mention of a 'girl,' or woman for that matter, being granted the opportunity to sit on the village counsel, to make the decisions, and to be in the role that matters. We have an election in the world's leading country where for the first time, there is a glimmer of hope given to a woman holding that role. Yet she demeaned during her speeches as sounding like a 'nagging voice' telling you to take out the trash, told her pants suit make her 'too masculine' while her skirt suit means she's trying too hard, and berated as being 'fake' with her emotions. Until the Western world demonstrates that they are ready to let a woman sit on the village counsel, and not just appear before it, the ironic similarities between this video, and our American reality, will continue to ring true. Although an interesting, well-produced, and powerful video, it is completely indigenousness to talk about supporting women’s roles in the developing world while we ignore the larger issue at the root of not just developing countries, but our American social system.

This video talks about a ‘girl’ going to her village counsel, gaining their respect, and using her intelligence and entrepreneurship to help her fellow townspeople. Yet there is no mention of a ‘girl,’ or woman for that matter, being granted the opportunity to sit on the village counsel, to make the decisions, and to be in the role that matters.

We have an election in the world’s leading country where for the first time, there is a glimmer of hope given to a woman holding that role. Yet she demeaned during her speeches as sounding like a ‘nagging voice’ telling you to take out the trash, told her pants suit make her ‘too masculine’ while her skirt suit means she’s trying too hard, and berated as being ‘fake’ with her emotions.

Until the Western world demonstrates that they are ready to let a woman sit on the village counsel, and not just appear before it, the ironic similarities between this video, and our American reality, will continue to ring true.

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