The Bed Rest Book Club
Share it!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Dining (Vegan and Nonvegan)
  • Running Stuff
  • Recipes!

Invest in Women

1/14/2011

1 Comment

 
Last night, I had a chance to attend an event sponsored through Junior League that brought newly elected officials together with JL members to mix and mingle for the night. It was a great opportunity to talk with public servants up close and personal and get a sense of what they are all about while letting them know where Junior League stands on important issues.

(in case you don't know, Junior League of Las Vegas is a volunteer organization of women dedicated to creating and facilitating projects that address the needs of the community. Some past projects have included Ronald McDonald House and Shade Tree Shelter.  Our current focus is health and wellness, particularly as it relates to women and children.)

The event was all very Betty Draper-esque with the politicians mingling with members, although no one was sipping vodka drinks (to my knowledge) and no plumes of cigarette smoke stuck in the ceiling. In the crowd was a representative from the Governor's office, current and past state senators, and various assemblypeople. I also ran into an old work collegue who didn't recognize my married name, but said I looked "beautiful" (::blush::) despite the fact that my suit was a little on the snug side.

Two state senators were honored for their work to help improve the conditions for women and children in the state. One senator played an integral part to help prevent against Fetal Alcohol Syndrome by passing a law requiring bars and restaurants to post signs in the bathrooms regarding the dangers of drinking while pregnant. The other senator was the youngest woman ever to serve in the Nevada legislature and was a part of numerous committees, including chairing the Clean Indoor Air Coalition. Hearing the accomplishments of both women was both inspiring and exciting.

During the speeches, I also thought about the current book on my nightstand: "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. They are a married couple (and recent Pulitzer Prize winners) that have traveled to terribly impoverished nations, looking for ideas to end global poverty, stop sex traffiking, and end honor killings.  Amazingly, they found an answer: invest in women.

Not only is it morally imperative, they say, but it's strategically necessary to empower and educate women. Women are naturally forward thinkers; we have to be. We are the ones that raise the kids, and as any mother would attest, planning your day/week/month is essential to just general survival. Women, more so than men, also need to be incredibly inclusive in their thinking, because their decisions immediately impact not only themselves, but also their children (who are more than likely with them for the majority of the day). Women tend to be more empathic than men, and are more likely to offer aid to another. Women who are well-educated and who have an independent income naturally find a voice in the family and in democratic society. They gain the power to speak out and resist the injustice they see around them, or are suffering themselves.

Therefore, by investing in women, you essentially invest in a better world.

I'm not done with the book yet, but the last section is called "Lifting Women Lifts the World." I couldn't agree more. I found this same sentiment echoed in a recent program on NBC called "Harmony." While it's main message was about finding new ways to combat climate change, it had a segment that examined the extreme poverty in some parts of India. And again, answer was the same: invest in women. While men struggle to farm and raise crops, giving a wife and mother a micro loan of $25 allows her to buy supplies to create wares. She sells the wares, is able to buy more supplies, sell more wares, and before you know it, she is feeding her family. The biggest benefit? Not only are the children fed, but they also gain important life lessons by watching their mother's success.

So as I was standing there in that room last night with all of these thoughts swirling in my brain, I couldn't help but look around at all of the intelligent, committed, and passionate women that were there. It made me so proud to think of what we can accomplish as a group, an organization that is directly affecting a community and changing lives for the better. We have the opportunity and resources to do so much, and to make such a difference.

So next time you're mulling over a problem, whether is global or very local, remember this: invest in women. It's worth its weight in gold.

For more information, please check out:
http://www.halftheskymovement.org.
1 Comment
katie
1/14/2011 08:35:49 am

James Dobson's new book Bringing Up Girls is another good book that focuses on the importance of women, and more importantly, raising girls that will someday be these invaluable women. I've only read some of it, but it seems to be a good read for any person involved in the raising, development, or understanding of girls.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About Me

    Think of this as the epilogue to Bridget Jones' story. Well, mostly. Bridget marries the handsome lawyer, starts a blog while on bedrest, and decides marathon running sounds like fun. Bridget goes through a divorce but keeps running. Hilarity ensues. 

    Archives

    September 2020
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    September 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009

    Categories

    All
    Adolescence
    Baby Activities
    Baby Care
    Bed Rest
    Book Reviews
    Bravo Tv
    Breast Feeding
    Cool Stuff
    Craftiness
    Craig\'s List
    Dogs
    Emma
    Ethical Dilemmas
    Family
    Family Relationships
    Food
    Football Season
    Friendship
    Google List
    Grief
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Bloggers
    I Hate Our Neighborhood
    Junior League
    Kernicterus
    Milestones
    Motherdhood
    Motherhood
    Movies
    My Bladder
    New House
    Numbers
    Pending Reviews
    Post Partum
    Potty Training
    Potty-training
    Pregnancy
    Relationships
    Reviews
    Running
    Scary Stuff
    School
    Scotty
    Sleep
    Sororities
    Sunshine Cupcakes
    Surgery
    The Bobby
    The Holidays
    The Miracle Blanket
    The New House
    Todderville
    Toddlerville
    Toys
    Tv
    Tv Review
    Tv Reviews
    Unpopular Opinions
    Vegas
    Weight Loss
    Weird Stuff Kim Says
    Work

    RSS Feed

Thanks for reading!