Through the Eyes of a Woman

    2021: A Defining Year for Accelerating Gender Equality, Equity, and Justice   Reflections on the 7th Annual Symposium on the Role of Religion and Faith-based Organizations in International Affairs Those gathered online focused on overcoming pervasive gender inequalities and discrimination as an essential contribution to reshaping the world as we recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching goal was to provide the opportunity to explore together ways to scale up work for gender justice, and to recommit to achieving it. Participants explored how faith actors and institutions can work in tandem with governments, the United Nations, and broader civil society to accelerate the pace towards gender equality, equity and justice.   One of the speakers was Ganoune Diop, Ph.D., a leading intellectual within interfaith circles who has been part of the G20 Interfaith Forum since its inception in 2014, focusing o

  The inauguration of Kamala Harris as Vice-President of the United States is a first in US history. She is the first in more than one way – first woman VP, first black VP, and first South-Asian VP. It is a step toward gender equality in politics and government. It has taken a long time for this „first“ to happen.   Other nations have had women as heads of state and government for a long time. Currently, there are 13 women in the world serving as heads of government and 11 as heads of state. European countries Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, Germany, Lithuania, and Serbia; Asian countries Bangladesh, Myanmar; the island nations of New Zealand and Barbados; African countries Togo and Gabun. These countries currently all have women who serve as heads of government. The female heads of state are very diverse, as well: Nepal, Taiwan, Singapore, Trinidad&Tobago, Ethiopia, Georgia, Slovakia, Greece, Kosovo, and Moldova. When we look at the whole history of women in power we

  After expressing some views on the political landscape, she said: „This is what is happening. My husband reads all the stuff and he must know. I don’t really follow these things.“ This was a good Adventist pastor’s wife in the United States, who did not bother to think for herself but accepted her husband‘s opinion on politics without reflecting. OK. Not everybody is interested in politics. But should she accept her husband’s opinion in all other matters as well? A subservient woman who looks up to her husband for guidance is a part of Headship Theology. After all, the theory that the man is somehow superior to the woman has crept into the thinking of so many conservative Christians. It is interesting that the rise of the modern Headship Theory (HT) happened at the same time as the Women’s Liberation Movement. Women started shedding the power of men who had been oppressing women for centuries, even millennia. I am using the word „theory“ on purpose because headship involves so mu

  Exactly ten years ago, in January 2011, The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, started its work for the empowerment of women. This new entity of the UN was intended to sharpen the focus and impact of the gender equality activities of the entire United Nations system. On September 14, 2010, it had been announced that former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet was appointed as head of UN Women. Various countries supported the creation of the body. During General Debate at the opening of the 65th General Assembly of the United Nations, world leaders commended the creation of the body and its intention to "empower women", as well as welcoming Bachelet's position as the first Executive Director and inaugural head. Michelle Bachelet was a former President of Chile. The current Executive Director is Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who served as Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008. She was the first woman