elle
Women aren't in the news enough. Wait, let's re-phrase that: women aren't in the news enough, unless it's to talk about how some new celebrity princess has had a nervous breakdown. The media seldom gives credit to women making a difference, and definitely doesn't cover some of the important issues affecting women today. So, we're here to help.
We bring you Elle, one of our grad students passionate about this issue. She plans to Take Back the News. This is her first segment.
Today Al Jazeera’s English language home page led with a call from the World Food Programme to recognize the increasing threat of widespread famine on the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somalia. None of the U.S. news sites I read even mentioned that the WFP has had to request naval escorts to PROTECT FOOD SUPPLIES getting into the area (although the Christian Science Monitor headlines were different and excellent as usual covering a standoff between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at Preah Vihear, an ancient temple claimed by both countries, and a new irrigation project that is a cooperation between the Israeli government and various NGOs in Senegal). In the coming months more than 14 million people in the Horn of Africa will require urgent food aid just to survive, as well as 6.5 million in Afghanistan and an untold number throughout the world facing food insecurity.
OK, OK, sad, shocking, etc., but how is it a feminist issue?
Food is ALWAYS a feminist issue because in cultures around the world the labor of women feeds and sustains us, because women and children around the world produce the majority of the subsistence food crops in the world, and because women and children eat last, have poorer nutrition, and are often denied opportunities for education and autonomy because of their agricultural necessity. In areas that have been mined girls are often sent to clear a field before the family’s livestock can be turned loose, and the “women’s work” of weeding and gleaning fields can make them more vulnerable to violence. Natural disasters have also had a devastating impact this year on women’s food production, particularly in Myanmar, where the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis left families starting from scratch. Additionally, because women start with greater food insecurity and nutritional deficiencies, food shortages and famine impact them faster and with longer-lasting effects.
As we look at rising food prices and the shifts in use of the world’s agricultural lands the effect on women has been profound. As more land is put under cultivation by men for cash crops — particularly corn for ethanol and corn based biodegradable plastics — the women who are providing food for their families are finding it harder to grow enough for themselves, let alone a small surplus to sell at markets to finance household improvements. Women and children make up the vast majority of the world’s poor, meaning that even in areas where food is available they are often unable to get it. Additionally, when families are forced to sell belongings for food, girl children are particularly at risk for trafficking into factories or sex work.
We must look at food within the broader context of the global economy, as part of the feminization of conflict, poverty, and labor as well as the role of the west in global food production.
More on Food:
The Original Article from Al Jazeera
World Food Programme
CARE
A few other world news links:
Here are a few things I found interesting. This is by no means an exhaustive list, please send us your tidbits!
Child Bride Gets Divorce After Rape, Beatings
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and Women
Iraqi Woman Protests Security X-Rays
Native Women Lead
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41 comments:
Heck Yeah Elle! You rock my world!!
I love that you are bringing these issues up. I feel that a lot of people forget about how all things are interconnected and especially how they effect women. A lot of people, (even sometimes those of us who consider ourselves socially conscious) live in a bubble and very often tune these types of things out. Nice work bringing it out in the open. I can't wait to work with you all!
I enjoyed your article; it's well written and well-researched. I also appreciate the link to the article about how the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy adversely affects women - I had not yet heard of this issue. I certainly believe it (and, of course, find it infuriating).
Tried to find a salient link to add to the discussion, but instead I can only say that this is an issue where feminist perspectives are key. I'll try to add something by promoting the useful UNHCR layer in Google Earth.
Thank you for the posts.
It is great that you're bringing up these issues, especially when they aren't generally thought of as important enough to be on our crappy news stations.
It's important to realize just how much our women and children of the world sacrafice for their men, their families, and for others and to ask why aren't males who are supposed to be the head of the family (in most cases) having to sacrifice more. In traditional families, it is the man's job to provide for his wife and children, so why not now? Awesome Elle... You should post more of these of BB!
B. Nichols
Good article Elle! I like how it shows the interconnectedness of a lot of the issues that women face. Like how food, poverty, violence, and education can all be connected. Again, great job!
E. Azorr
In addition to women not getting enough food, I'm worried about the children also. Why aren't the parents (Yes, Woman AND Man)not making sure there kids are provided for. That is their job. I think that the mom and dad should equalize there share of the food. If that means equal suffering, then so be it. Don't put it on kids who can't help themselves. Oh in a perfect world could a middle east woman suggest that to the man.
It blows me away that millions of people require urgent food aid throughout the world in order to survive. It amazes me how food is such a big part of the global economy and contributes to women and children in poverty. If women are producing the majority of food crops around the world and are not able to even eat themselves, receiving poor nutrition, this is sure to affect everyone else in our world. What about the children they give birth to? What is their future outlook and health outcome going to be? This could drastically change the quality of life for everyone.
I strongly agree with you about women and children getting less food then men. In my family, my mom works two times harder than my dad because she has to provide for the family and my dad. Although, this may seem like a small issue, this issue of women and children not getting enough nutrients is true. I am glad that it's brought up.
This was a great article. It is so true and I never really thought of food as feminist but it really does make sense! It is really sad, especially about the food shortages and that the US is not doing anything about it, even though we have more food then what we know what to do with. I really enjoyed this!
K. Gallop
You have broadened the perspective on world hunger here, emphasizing how women and children are the ones most affected in hunger stricken nations. This is a very important issue to write about, because you're right - it is an issue that is not discussed in the news, so how else would people know or think about these issues if people like you didn't do their part? I would also like to add that this very same issue affects women and children right here in this country as well, where women in poverty sacrifice their own nutrition for the nutrition of their children (and working husbands). It is profound that anyone should be in such a state with all the worlds resources available, and with the ability to easily transport food throughout the world. The problem here is policy. The worlds trade policies must be accommodated to meet the needs of those who are truly in need. No one should have to starve in this day and age - the interconnectedness of our planet should be recognized to its fullest, especially by those who implement these policies.
I think that because women are rarely mentioned in the news adds to our patriarchal society and it will never change the lens of future generations if things aren’t beginning to change now. It’s important for people and children to understand how significant women are in our cultures, and something like food is made possible because of women. It blows my mind that many people believe men have been providing for this world and do not know the fact that it is the labor of women that feeds us all. It is unfortunate that women and children make up the majority of the worlds poor because those are inherently the most important people of this country. I just wonder how we as society got to be that way in our mindset.
N. Storms
I thought this was one of the best topics talked about in class, because people do not realize the impact that food has on women in so many ways. It is a huge circle that all comes back to the issue. Its important to not only give the people knowledge who are unaware but remind people who forget the importance.
K. Main
I had never before thought about food and its relation to the issue of sex trafficking. Having learned about it, it seems so obvious! It is amazing how enlightened I feel after looking at issues with a feminist perspective. After class on Thursday, I was talking to my friends and family about looking at food through a feminist lens and it was incredible how many people were initially thinking, “WHAT are you talking about?” but once I explained it to them, it seemed so obvious to them, also.
I had never before thought about food and its relation to the issue of sex trafficking. Having learned about it, it seems so obvious! It is amazing how enlightened I feel after looking at issues with a feminist perspective. After class on Thursday, I was talking to my friends and family about looking at food through a feminist lens and it was incredible how many people were initially thinking, “WHAT are you talking about?” but once I explained it to them, it seemed so obvious to them, also.
This is a very interesting issue to me. I am glad that some people have been bringing hunger and food insecurity to the fore-front of the news. Thanks for helping me to see how much this especially effects women. T. Schultz
A wonderful article, and it does make you think about just how lucky those of us in the more prosperous parts of America are to enjoy such food security.
One rarely considers who food shortages and the like hurt the most, and I had not considered before your lecture and of course this article that it is women and children that are really most affected by food crises and agricultural disasters.
-E. Cahill
Famine is not only an issue for women's nutrition, it is a precursor for so many other problems in women's lives. Food is definitely something I think people in developed societies take for granted. We have limited views on what poverty actually means and we think it affects men and women equally. This was a great eye-opener! I definitely was not aware that food was such a larger problem for women and children.
It's sad that the US media feels that this is not an issue that we need to hear about, much less the feminist implications. Unfortunately, it's unsurprising, because any issue that deals with women's issues is going to be secondary to so-called "real news," and this is only a few poor women starving, right? They are the most powerless of all.
Previous comment about how the media won't cover women's issues is written by P. Bromley. Sorry!
I like how you showed that hunger is a global issue that we all need to think about and do something about. D. Shaffer
It is extremely sad that million of women and children with this issue. We are in the 21 century; nobody should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. It is also extremely sad that it is not seen on the news. This would seem like a pretty good topic to discuss on the news. It was great that you discussed the ramifications having a limited amount of food has on families. It is like a never ending cycle, and there should be an organization to help these families. Thank-you for bringing this great topic up, it needs to be recognized and helped.
Elle,
This was interesting information you provided us with. It is not a common topic that is discussed, which is ridiculous because this has to be something a progressive country like the United States could help with. There is no way that we are doing all we can to help these people in poverty.
-J. Goldstein
I think it is pretty unreal that in the year 2009 we are still having so many issues with food deficiency. Before class on Thursday, I had never really looked at the food distribution among impoverished countries as a feminist issue, though now after being reminded what feminism is, it makes sense.
Also, a really good point you make is how completely entwined all of these issues are and how difficult it would be to escape even one because they all control the other.
Great Article!
L.McGarry
I never looked at seeing food as a feminist issue. But thank you for opening my eyes, I can clearly see how it can be a feminist issue now. Very nicely said.
K. Staugler
It is really troubling that women around the world always end up the ones who are suffering the hardest from food insecurity. If the women are doing all of the subsistence farming, why are they always the last to eat? After all, the health of the women is what determines the health of the babies that are born in these countries. If people are not willing to try to improve the health and nutrition for women, then at least they could look at it in terms of securing the health of their future generations by helping the women who carry their unborn children!
S. Moyers
I had never realized how food and feminism coincided until you brought it to my eyes. I think that this is a very important issue that many other people don't make the connection between either. It is also quite frustrating how it is hard to find information on issues like this that are going on around the world. I am aware that you can find them but it is almost like you already have to know what is happening already so that you can search for it.
It’s amazing that a lot of people don’t realize how woman and children are affected differently by poverty than men. I was not aware of how the issue was feminist but it’s made very clear in the article that it is. Everyone needs to be aware of the problem and who is affected the most so that we can find the best solution. This was a great article.
E. Hernandez
What I find helpful about this article is that it puts issues of food scarcity into the context of a social structure. Yes, food is being brought into these areas, and not without its share of issues. However, we must consider how that food is being distributed and how it affects those within that social structure. It's not a simple equation in which adding imported food will solve the issues of food scarcity. Rather, issues of food scarcity must be examined within the cultural institution, with an understanding of who is producing the food, who is being feed, and why. I believe with a western point of view we tend oversimplifies global issues, which blinds us to the larger social context.
Wow. I never would have thought of this as a feminist issue but all you have said convinced me. Now that I think about it I don't see how I never noticed it before. I think it is great that you bring up things that normally wouldn't come to everyone's attention. It is also good to show that this affects everyone.
J. Coleman
How appropriate is it that the Western World news sources were more concerned with the aggressive acts over land than with the starvation of millions? I have noticed that in matters of food, the news that is "fit to print" concerns only with how the West is "helping" by trying to grow larger food (by way of GMO's) and not the acutal physical help delivered to people. Even worse, I have heard people on the street question why help those in need at all? After all they are not in our country and they probably did it to themselves right? I know there are those out there (such as the author) who know how intertwined the whole world is thanks to globization. The only way more things such as the WFP will make the news is if those who are in the know make it an important issue for everyone.
M. Jacobson
Something that I think is also relevant to the discussion of women and food supply is the growing popularity of the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel source. It is usually derived from crops like sugar cane, sorghum and corn. I wonder, is it immoral to divert crops from food to energy while there is so much starvation in the world? Not to mention that due to supply and demand, the costs of certain foods are increasing. Not that the crops that would otherwise be turned into ethanol would even go to where they are really needed if ethanol wasn’t used as fuel, but without a doubt land is being converted from crop use to energy products.
M. Braze
This is really interesting, I had never really thought about a lot of this. I was talking about this with my boyfriend and obviously he had no idea where I was coming from with any of it. I was just shocked to hear a lot of the things especially about trafficking young girls. I have done a lot of research about this stuff, so that was a shock. SO much of it makes sense and I almost think that I'm dumb for not seeing it before. Food issues hit everyone...especially women!
Elle,
The article was great. It lets people know about the underlying problem of food dependency. However, I am curious to know more about the people who are trying to fix this problem and the solutions being offered. How does social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy play a role in solving this issue? It is unfortunate that the culture in these regions are set up in such a way that it leads to a women and children last mentality.
Brad Lotz
Elle,
The article was great. It lets people know about the underlying problem of food dependency. However, I am curious to know more about the people who are trying to fix this problem and the solutions being offered. How does social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy play a role in solving this issue? It is unfortunate that the cultures in these regions are set up in such a way that it leads to a women and children last mentality.
Brad Lotz
It's just mind boggling to think about when another issue like this is simply overlooked. What is it going to take for change? This is another example of women being looked upon and there's never any news that covers the story and it's almost degrading.
A. Beyer
The interconnection of resources in the global community really do need careful balancing and consideration. In a race for alternative fuels, it is easy in our developed nation where food is abundant to forget that dipping into food crop for fuel affects food availability, and I am sure prices of food internationally. Such consequences need to be thought of, because globally, we really are dependent on each other. Thanks for connecting these ideas!!
Great article Elle! It really helps to illustrate the issues face by women throughout the world. Good food is the number one issue facing women living in the non-industrial world.
I think this is absolutely a topic that is not discussed enough. Women are able to bring a child into the world and yet are not respected enough often times to be fed. Unfortunatly the news does not spend enough time targeting the issues surrounding poverty, let alone women and children. Women and children may be low on the food scale, but they are also low on the "news worthy scale" unless they are prominent figures. It's about time we take the news back and put the most important issues out there- since there can still be gossip sites outside of the important issues.
K. Hinkes
See, I know the food is a problem in these countries. Now I am not for or against genetically engineered food, but don't you think that would help out the world's poor? Especially in places like Africa, where it is hard to grow practically anything?
This whole issue is a double sided blade, on one hand you have people suffering from starvation, and on the other you run the risk of health problems from genetically modified food.
And all this while, America is consuming a vast majority of the world's food. Capitalism at it's finest.
- I. Grogan
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