if you have a moment, please read this wonderful post an old co-worker of mine from the womanstats project wrote. it expresses so many of my same feelings. this is all so important to me, and i'm sad to be far away and swamped in unicef work. but i'm happy the call has gone forth and the response has been so strong! it shows how critical this issue is, and how deeply so many care about it. which is fantastic news. (as an aside - some of the bloggers etc. have taken this to an erroneous level, however, that i very much disagree with. this decision does not negate the doctrines of our church. remember, the WRI was founded by apostles. and i agree with what elliott wrote in the comment below, that this is in many ways a reflection of the short-sighted action of a handful of professors. it still needs to be protested, but i sincerely hope it does not cause undue wrath. passion, yes, but thoughtful, intelligent passion.)
also! i have to mention quickly the golden moment of my week: last winter i was asked by some lawyers here in new york to write an expert affidavit for a nigerien woman who was seeking asylum in the US from her family who would force her to undergo FGM and forced marriage upon return to niger. i met with the woman and the lawyers many times, wrote my bit, and found out yesterday that her asylum is now granted! huzzah! she's safely installed in new york, under the care of catholic relief services, and her life is truly beginning.
so it is a good week for women after all :)
8 comments:
and all of this on your birthday. :) love you jooj!!
way to go, jooj. don't work too hard today! love you.
awesome poster! That's great about the nigerien woman. happy birthday!
That's cool about the woman from Niger. What's that quote from the Talmud? Something about how when you save one life you save the world? Case in point.
Happy birthday Jooj!
ugh, Jooj, this is so upsetting. Brooke, my sister, just declared her minor as women studies so she is really disappointed in BYU. She and my brother actually joined the gender equality club and are getting really involved in the efforts.
Also, happy birthday, my love! I miss you!!
JULIANNE! I just found your blog through all of the hoopla about the WRI. I was so excited when I realized whose blog I was reading. It sounds like you are doing amazing. I am so glad I found your blog, I've often wondered what you were up to. Oh, and now that I've said all this I hope that you remember who I am :) We had that AIDS class together and I was Bonnie's research assistant at the WRI for a few years. Have you heard how the Women's Stats is doing?
thank you for helping me maximize the skill i've been given.oh, & alerting the masses was my birthday present to you :) i am optimistic, jooj. this is going to make a difference. love you. so much.
yay for speaking out and making a difference. I hope this will help the WRI!
And way to go in helping the Nigerian woman. I am so proud of all you are doing! I love you!
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