The March 2000 issue of Response cries out for gender justice. This term may be new for many readers, but the need to work for
women's full rights has long been at the heart of United Methodist Women's mission outreach. Response Editor Dana E. Jones writes:
"This issue reveals the many places where women continue to suffer discrimination that denies them jobs, education, health care,
adequate housing and self-esteem. Some articles reveal a backlash against women for gains or perceived gains in their social political
and economic status."
Working for justice for all women and girls is not easy. This issue shows there is still much to be done.
On the Cover: Girls, like the one pictured on the cover who is from near Arequipa, Peru, often must help care for younger children.
For many, this means they cannot attend school. ( click here for larger photo of the cover ) Photo by Beryl Goldberg
Women In The Beginning
by J. Ann Craig
In the Bible Study, Women's Division Executive Secretary for Spiritual and Theological Development J. Ann Craig looks closely at traditional interpretations of the story of Eve and Adam, which have been used to justify oppression and subordination of women. She reveals new understandings of the Creation story.
Seeking Gender Justice
by Vahida Nainar and Pam Spees
These authors define gender justice by sharing examples from around the world. They open with a story of how Afghan women's basic human rights are being violated -- an extreme example of gender discrimination. They show how violations of women are multiplied during times of war.
The authors explain the effort to get the United Nations to name sexual and gender violence as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The authors advocate for gender justice because:
"Male bias in government, justice and economic systems means women's concerns are viewed predominately through men's eyes, leaving much unseen."
U.S. Women
by Yvette Moore
Work and parenting are a balancing act for many U.S. women. In the midst of that, Ms. Moore warns that U.S. women must be vigilant and politically active if they don't want to lose hard-won gains like Affirmative Action and the right to control their reproductive process. She shares facts from The American Woman 1999-2000, the seventh volume in a series of books that look at women's health, wealth, educational and political status.
Women of Sierra Leone
by Battu B. Jambawai
The author tells us how the women of Sierra Leone, after nine years of war, are on the front lines when it comes to making peace even in the face of the military junta. Some women had to flee the country. Many have been raped, maimed and forced into marriages with warring factions. The women of Sierra Leone continue to struggle through women's organizations for their rights and active participation in the government. Many women are jobless, penniless, homeless and without much hope. They know the future is their children so they sacrifice to make sure the children survive.
Brazilian Women
by Rosangela Oliveira
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We meet Maria da Fezinha, a single, African-Brazilian mother of two boys and grandmother of two girls. Her
name means faith capable of great things. She works in a public school; lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and is active in the Methodist
Church. She also works with several popular movements and community services. She is thinking of running for city council. This
article details the obstacles she'll face including the feminization of HIV/AIDS.
Haitian Women
by Tequila Minsky
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Klinik Fanm is the first health clinic exclusively for women in Haiti. The clinic is in Martissant, a working-poor neighborhood in the
capital city of Port-au-Prince. This neighborhood was targeted for violence in the 1990s by military and civilian opponents of Haitian
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Close to 200 women in Martissant were raped. The clinic was located in Martissant to serve the
women who were raped. Now offering a wide range of services including health-care and education, the clinic served 3,000 women
in 1999.
Beijing +5: Assessing Progress On Women's Concerns
by Janice M. Fett
A comprehensive Platform for Action came out of the 1995 U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. What's happened since then? Are women of the world making progress?
These questions will be discussed June 5-9 in New York City at a special session of the U.N. General Assembly. Entitled, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century," the special session is also known as Beijing+5. The author writes:
"Changing deeply entrenched attitudes and elevating women's issues to top priority will help every woman on the planet."
It is governments who are responsible for implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. Women can impact this work by monitoring progress at every level of society. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can take the lead in such monitoring.
The author concludes: "Review of the Beijing Platform for Action is a crucial step in women's movement toward equality, development and peace."
Women's Convention
by Cristina Casado
The United States is among a small number of U.N. member states that have not signed to ratify Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, also known as the Women's Convention. The convention, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1979, seeks to eliminate discrimination against women by providing them with equal civil, political, economic and cultural rights to those provided men. It is often described as the bill of rights for women. Find out how you can push for U.S. ratification of the Women's Convention.
Sex Tourism Plagues Central America
by Paul Jeffrey
The author illustrates how girls, boys and young women in Central America face the danger of sexual exploitation by tourists from wealthy countries. North American tourists often find their way to such activities over the Internet. The author tells us:
"An entire subculture consisting of North Americans buying and selling children for sex has developed."
Governments are getting on board to fight sex trafficking of children but, its an uphill battle.
Women and Trade: Waking Up in Seattle
by Marilyn Clement
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World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Seattle collapsed without accord. What happened? Women's groups, church people, farmers, students, environmental and peace activists, and steel workers were among demonstrators. Ms. Clement reports:
"Demonstrators came in opposition to a 'new round' of trade negotiations by the WTO. They came seeking drastic change or
disbanding of the WTO."
Gender Training Manual Takes Shape
by A. Victoria Hunter
Women around the world identified gender training as a priority to the Women's Division at the conclusion of the 1990s working conferences. After women from Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East shared their stories and ideas, a resource is beginning to take shape.
Women Behind Bars
by Ife Williams
Kemba Naimbi Smith had no prior arrests and was not a drug user, but the college student from a middle-class African-American home was sentenced to 24 years in prison. She was involved with and protected Peter Hall, a drug dealer. Her 2-year-old son is being raised by his grandparents. Why is this happening? She delivered money, guns and possibly drugs, and she withheld information about Mr. Hall's whereabouts from federal officers.
Md. Smith is one of a rapidly growing number of women locked up under federal drug-trafficking laws that carry harsh mandatory sentences. More women are being incarcerated and their sentences are getting longer because of mandatory-sentencing laws. Incarcerated women are mothers to more than 250,000 children under 18. Children have become the silent victims of the U.S. justice system. The author argues:
"Reassessment of drug laws, mandatory sentencing and three-strikes statutes is needed with an eye to eliminating the racism inherent in these measures."
A Mission Legacy
by Heather Smith Xie
The author portrays the story of four generations of women in her family committed to mission in China. Her great grandmother was a member of the Methodist Church and the American Christian Women's movement, which raised $3 million in 1923 to establish seven Christian colleges for women in Asia, including three in China. Her grandmother was a missionary to China. Her mother, blocked by U.S.-China political relations, could not travel to China as a child or young adult, but did serve as a missionary to Korea and as an adult has been involved in mission with the Chinese people.
The author lives in Hong Kong and is married to a Chinese man. She concludes:
"It is important for us as Christian women to heed Jesus' command to love one another by giving of ourselves to serve others,
whether or not we ever see the results of that giving, believing in faith that God will use our service for good." See also: E-mail: umw@gbgm-umc.org Response magazine is published by the Women's Division, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church.
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