Cyber-Assignment (Freewrite)
Summaries for Half the Sky
Summaries for Half the Sky
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 8:39 AM
Thursday, February 04, 2010
About Me
- Name: Professor Wanda's Posse
- Location: College of Alameda, Alameda, CA, United States
I have a Master's Degree from the University of San Francisco in Writing, and an undergraduate degree from Holy Names College in Humanistic Studies. I write a weekly column for a local newspaper, San Francisco Bay View. I also have an Internet Radio Show: Wanda's Picks http://wwww.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks
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57 Comments:
Andrew Yount
Half the Sky summary
English 1A 8AM-8:50AM
In Harvard Magazine, Rohini Pande writes a glowing review titled Women in a Woeful World; Coming to terms with oppression, of the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. The review starts out by telling the reader what the book is about, which is the sadistic treatment of women in developing countries. They describe the authors’ writing method of giving statistics along with devastating true stories of people that have lived through such tremendous tragedies. The authors also give useful information to not only remedy these situations but to stop them altogether. The review points out the authors’ bravery and honesty for calling out corrupt governments who do nothing to end the sex slave trade and compare it to America’s slavery issues concerning African Americans. In the book it is clear that the two authors truly care as they describe their attempts to free the women they encounter and help rehabilitate them back into society. Pande argues ways to help such as using Americans god given right to free speech to use it to speak out against these corruptions, by supporting those who have spoken out and bringing these travesties into the light of day so that the world can see them and not ignore them any longer.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/book-review-half-the-sky?page=0,3
Juan Li
English 1A
Summarizing the phblished revew
Feb/04/2010 8:00am
Editorial Reviews,
From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. New York Times columnist Kristof and his wife, WuDunn, a former Times reporter, make a brilliantly argued case for investing in the health and autonomy of women worldwide. More girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all the wars of the twentieth century, they write, detailing the rampant gendercide in the developing world, particularly in India and Pakistan. Far from merely making moral appeals, the authors posit that it is impossible for countries to climb out of poverty if only a fraction of women (9% in Pakistan, for example) participate in the labor force. China's meteoric rise was due to women's economic empowerment: 80% of the factory workers in the Guangdong province are female; six of the 10 richest self-made women in the world are Chinese. The authors reveal local women to be the most effective change agents: The best role for Americans... isn't holding the microphone at the front of the rally but writing the checks, an assertion they contradict in their unnecessary profiles of American volunteers finding compensations for the lack of shopping malls and Netflix movies in making a difference abroad. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Summarizing published review
The published review from
Publishers Weekly Starred Review point out the main purpose of why we have to pay attention to the women issue. Why is it important to us and what causes this problem is still keep happening in some countries for example China and Idia. New York Times columnist Kristof and his wife, WuDunn, a former Times reporter, make a brilliantly argued case for investing in the health and autonomy of women worldwide. the authors posit that it is impossible for countries to climb out of poverty, but how we protect women and what we can do about it. This book will make American to think about The best role for Americans... isn't holding the microphone to talk. We need really to understand it and start to do something to help.
Ivorionda Owens
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-*:50am
4 February 2010
Summary of the book review (Half The Sky)
My review argued on the health of women and the way they are treated due to the laboring of them. stating that many women are killed because of their gender, meaning that if they were a man no one would think about touching them. Also they gave the percentage of women who work in pakistan which was at a mere 9% other than in china where they stood at 80% due to there power to stand up and be heard. They end the review saying that the change of women is most effective today in this world, and that there role does not deal with them being housewives of any sort that they have the right to make a difference.
http://www.amazon.com/Half-Sky-Oppression-Opportunity-Worldwide/dp/0307267148
Victor Guerrero Jr.
English 1A
2/4/2010
8:00am-8:50am
Half the Sky Summary
The position and female roles in developing countries are that they are being opposed of everything they can do. Females are beaten up, raped, and forced to prostition. A lot of women don’t have the same rights as males do and if the females get more atthority the males in a society feels threaten. The government don’t help and women often commit suicide. Some women don’t mind things like this happen they just say this is a part of our culture and you cant do nothing about it. Some women would try to buy slaves out of prostition and restoring to a normal everyday life is difficult. The laws don’t help if talked about the person will just get looked at and get silenced like it doesn’t matter. Women get denied for medicare and potentially getting an education. Some women who get raped often jump starts their life and turn it back aroung into something positive. They would make organizations and speak out nationally and internationally and make a difference in the world.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/book-review-half-the-sky
Daniel Begazo
English 1A
8:00AM
Professor Sabir
The Half the Sky review talks about the novel which is a series of short stories about oppressed women all around the world. It delves into the world of how women are treated so differently in other places of the world, things we consider taboo. For example, the author writes about how rape is considered a form of discipline and done to keep women in check.
The second part of the article is about how to aid women. The author gives an example "This our culture!' a Sudanese midwife declared angrily when asked about cutting. 'We all want it. Why is it America's business?" (Pande 2), as this why helping women in these places can be so hard. However, women are not without a voice. For example, women such as Mukhtar Mai, Usha Narayane, and Sunitha Krishnan are women who spoke up even with an oppressive government. In conclusion, oppression plays a huge role in these countries and women not being able to speak up is another. Ignorance is the key role that allows these events to unfold.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/book-review-half-the-sky?page=0,3
Jeff Cornelius
Professor Sabir
English 1A 0800-0850
Feb 4 2010
Summary of Published review of Half the Sky
I found this review online at www.nytimes.com. It was written by Irshad Manji and published September 20 2009. The article is called Changing Lives. In this article Mangi pays homage to the authors of the book Nicholas Kristof, and Sheryl WuDunn. For their award winning work for the New York Times.
Mangi goes on to describe some of the stories of rape, murder, torture, and neglect that women go through in parts of the world. He also tells us that it is not only men exploiting women that sometimes it is women on women, and family member to family member. Then he tells of the success of some of the women through perseverance.
In the article Mangi also states that with help from every day citizens like you and me. Weather it be through financial aid or volunteering our time we can make a huge difference in the lives of these struggling women. He goes on to say that if America only would bring these atrocities to light and put some pressure on the countries where these things occur, that too would make a large impact.
Finally Mangi expresses disappointment when he feels that the authors didn’t go far enough into the inequalities that women face in the Muslim world with their lack of equality and civil rights. Mangi states “Clearly a connection can be drawn between global security and certain cultural customs in the Middle East. In that case, Muslim women’s problems are everyone’s problems.”
Valeria Ramos
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50
4 February 2010
Summary of Book report:
The person that reviewed Half the Sky is named Stephanie Finigan. I found this book on www.thejcconline.com.
The summary of the book review was basically what i really thought of the book. It's true that no one really wants to hear about women being oppressed in third world countries but things like this have to be heard. The media isn't giving these women the attention that is needed to help fight oppression against women.
Although this book is some what harsh and very sad, it's important to know these types of problems that are occuring because not only are these women females but they are also human beings. Human beings regaurdless whether they are men or women, when they are in need of help, should be helped and not ignore.
This issue should be handle globally and not nationally because just like women in the middle east feels sorrow and joy, women in the United states feel the same emotions.
The review of the book metioned something that i think was the most important thing about the whole book. Reguardless of the race a woman is, when a woman suffers, we all suffer.
Summera Farooq
Wanda Sabir
Eng 1A 8-8:50am
2/4/2010
Summary Book Review “Half the sky”
In The New York Times on September 17, 2009 “Changing Lives” Irshad Manji brings the big issues of women’s rights in some countries. He tells the readers what the book is about and then how the authors gave examples of some brave women’s lives. The authors also said in the book that more women and girls have been killed in the last fifty years than men. In many countries women are still treated as slaves. In China women get abortion when they find out they are having a girl. In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to drive. In Pakistan acid have been thrown on women’s faces. In Quran women have the same right as men. But some times men are too afraid to send out their wives out side because they think that the woman might change or something else might happen to them. Many countries girls have been force to be a prostitute. Women should be treated just like men, because they are as strong as men and they can do anything. We need to solve this problem and think about it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html
Jonathan Howell
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50AM
4 February 2010
“Changing Lives” The New York Times, September 20, 2009, Irshad Manji
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html
In summary:
Kristof and WuDunn are Pulitzer prize winners for their coverage of China for the New York Times. Half the Sky comes from an ancient Chinese proverb that says women hold up half the sky. Their latest work is a call against what they call “Gendercide” in the third world. They refer to women’s equality globally as the “paramount moral challenge” of our century.
The stories touched upon in Half the Sky are the stories from survivors of atrocities such as sex trafficking and genital mutilation. The book speaks highly of a few other Westerners in the developing Eastern world. Kristof and Wudunn are convinced that the traditional and nontraditional will have to join together replicating a time when “liberal deists and conservative evangelicals joined forces to overthrow slavery.”
The authors talk about how genital mutilation laws in Africa are rarely enforced. They do not ever talk about Saudi-Arabian in-home servants, who are mostly women and whose condition is widely recognized as modern slaves. They also draw parallels between the rise in global terrorism and the status of Muslim women in middle-eastern countries. They insist Muslims must be more liberal in their interpretation of the Koran. A lot of the questions the writers ask seem to fall short. Half the Sky constantly reminds us of the interdependence of humanity but fails to really build confidence in left-leaning readers.
Crystal Cortez
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50AM
Feb. 4th, 2010
Summary of book Review (Half the Sky)
In Harvard Magazine, Women in a Woeful World; Coming to term with oppression by Rohinin Pande, describes that Half the Sky wrote by a couple Nicholas D. Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn. He explains how this book is a serious of essays that have more than one part. It is divided into two parts the first part explaining the lives of woman and how they live in developing countries and the struggle they have to go through simply because they are women. It also includes short stories of woman and young ladies lives and what they went through, basically explaining there terrible situation they were put in just because they are woman and have no say or authorities don’t really care and act as if nothing happen, just because they are woman. The second part of this book is mainly about the ways one can try and improve the ways these woman live. The authors of this book are very much involved in woman’s rights; Kristof being a New York Times journalist and her husband WuDunn was working with Times overseas, but is now working on multimedia projects about woman’s problems around the world. They both focus in woman’s abuse, rape, and many other terrible things that happen to woman today all over the world. Pande points out that the others after the story explain what has occurred in the story to the woman which is good because it helps you understand what is going on in the story. Overall Pande describes how these two authors a very dedicated in helping these woman and they describe how everyone can speak out and try to help. I like the last part of this review that Pande says about the two authors and how they involved this in there book, “It may also be achieved by using our positions as citizens of a rich and powerful country with relative freedom of speech to speak truths and make moral arguments that others don’t have the influence to make or freedom to say. In this book, Kristof and WuDunn have done exactly that.” I believe that if the author’s courage to speech out for those who can not this is a powerful book.
Joshua Duong
2/4/10
Eng 1A 8-8:50 am
Summary: Half the Sky
Article: Review of "Half the Sky", Harvard magazine, http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/book-review-half-the-sky
A Pulitzer prize awarded novel, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, is a book written by husband and wife, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. This biography of women's studies intended to convince the readers to take some sort of an initiative of an underlying issue that has been plaguing this world for centuries.
This book is separated into two parts to defend their argument. The first part talks about how the abuse of women in growing countries has grown along with it. The authors explain the lives of these women and what they have to go through on a day-to-day basis. The authors also talk about some campaign group in those countries, desperately trying to fight off these thugs and pimps plaguing the rural areas, where the law has no authority over the criminals. The second part describes different approaches to solidifying laws that were already passed, into the parts of countries where most of the police are corrupted and rarely obey the law.
This book is a series of short, summarized stories of women living in these extreme conditions. Most of these women are forced into prostitution at and early age. they were promised by untrustworthy people that they would get those women jobs. Instead, those people sold these women into brothels. The reason why there isn't much opposition to this abuse is because, no one, not even the women themselves, stand up against the thugs and pimps. After those women are raped, beaten, and drugged, they lose the will to try and escape because of two reasons. The fist reason is that, to get rape brings upon shame to your family and yourself. Second, the methamphetamines and other drugs that those people force into the women becomes an almost uncontrollable addiction. Usually, women that escape from these brothels often return back, because of their built up addiction to the drugs.
Lisa Huey
9:00-9:50AM
English 1A
Summary of book review (Half the Sky)
Half the sky is an eyeopener on women issues in developing countries. Women are being forced into prostitution, dying of gender discrimination, and dying shortly after giving birth. These are very serious issues and are happening at this moment. Half the Sky tells us that we are all the same. The book tells us that this is not just women issues or issues of the developing countries, but issues that have an impact on all of us. The book was written as a cry for help to readers who would like to do something about it. Half the sky helped you understand the issues and make a difference by showing you the way.
Finigan, Stephanie. "Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide." The Journal of Cultural Conversation. 11 Dec. 2009. [3 Feb. 2010] http://www.thejcconline.com/book-review-half-the-sky-turning-oppression-into-opportunity-for-women-worldwide/
Chelsea Eomurian
Professor Sabir
Eng 1A 9-9:50AM
4 February 2010
Book Review Summary of "Half the Sky"
Author and scholar Irshad Manji reviews "Half the Sky" written by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Manji touches on a few very important topics throughout the book as well as the overall theme. "Gendercide" is the main reason for the book being written. The "daily slaughter of girls in the developing world" is a "gripping call to conscience" when reading the book. The authors won the Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of Chine in the New York Times.
The book encounters Dalit women, Indian untouchables,and Pakistani victims of gang rape. The atrocities from sex trafficking, acid attacks and genital mutilation. These stories put a face to these horrible things that are happening in our world. Kristof and WuDunn "show faith in the capacity of ordinary citizens, including Americans, to initiate change". It is a bold task because many Americans have been accused of interfering. At one point on their journey, Kristof received a "scolding" from a group of Muslim women. They told him "they're our problems, not yours". This shows the hold that the Muslim culture has on its people.
Action is necessary to overcome the horrendous evils that are occuring worldwide. American diplomats "spurred the Cambodian police to crack down on brothel owners". It is very sad that someone has to actually say something to try and stop this. The people should already see how horrible the mistreatment of women really is.
"Clearly, a connection can be drawn between global security and certain cultural customs in the Middle East." The problems Muslim women face are everyone's problems. Without trying to help everyone, we cannot successfully help anyone. If the people of the world come together, there is a huge potential for progress.
Works Cited
Manji, Irshad. "Changing Lives". New York Times. 20 Sept 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html?scp=1&sq=irshad%20manji&st=cse. 3 Feb 2010.
Phillip Redd
MTWTH 8-9am
Eng 1a
Information is gathered from Amazon.com customer reviews. (I can not limit myself to mainstream, or one single persons view. I am expecially distrustful of printed reviews, on other printed material. Too often a good review can be bought, or promoted by a fellow publisher. As soon as I found out this is a bias book, of a political nature, I needed to seek out both the positive and negative perspectives of it. I also updated the information I found into wikipedia, so some of you may be using me as your source.)
Half the sky appears to be a book for people who enjoy reading about barbaric torture of women in poverty. Its goal is to be eye opening and shocking. Some people view this as a glimpse into the world of women who are suffering from some sort of oppression, rape, abuse, and shame.
Few of the stories have been classified as uplifting or motivating women’s success. Most stories do not have a happy end. At the end of each chapter, however there is usually one token story of survival and people making a difference.
Others see this very book as exploitation of these women for policial agendas and profit. Some of the statistical figures in the book have recently come under scrutiny, because Census data has disproved many of the claims.
Also this book is of a bias perspective. A good deal of commentary has been dedicated to bashing George W Bush, Condalezza Rice, Ronald Reagan, the Pope and praising people like George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Ben Affleck.
The theme at the end of the book is the author’s suggestions on what the reader should do to contribute to the their cause.
Adriana Ultreras
English 1A
Feb 4, 2009
I wanted to comment on Andrew Yount's SUmmary review. i think he did a really good job and really liked his review. :)
Julian Shipnuck
Professor Sabir
English 1a 9-9:50
Feb, 4,2010
Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn is a book about what the authors call “Gendercide”. “Gendercide” is the destruction of women, emotionally, physically, and mentally in the developing worlds. The book is filled with stories about the oppression and inequality, not to mention the violence towards women that Nicholas and Sheryl have searched the world to find.
The article explains that even though most of the culprits of these tremendous atrocities are men, there is still women participating in beatings and even killings, this reminds me of slaves who would oversee other slaves on the plantation fields in the African American slave era.
The article however is filled with little stories about the triumphs and tribulations of those caught in these lives. Some like Harper McConnell left safety in the states to go help her church with a hospital for women in the Congo. Or Mukhtar Mai who after being gang raped exposed her attackers and tried to get help from her president Pervez Musharraf, who in turn got his henchmen to abduct her. After all that she still had the courage and strength to open up a school. Amazing stories like these need to be told because the people that can help may not be aware of these things. After reading this article I am excited to read Half the Sky not so much because what’s in the pages but because I want to be aware of what the world outside the USA is like and the problems that we as a global community can solve.
Manji, Irshad.” Changing lives” New York times. September 17, 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html. Accessed 3 Feb. 2010
Peter Kortmann
Professor Sabir
English 1A
M-TH 9-10
Book Review Summary
In the book review of Half the Sky, by Irshad Manji, she gives a glowing review of the authors’ most recent work. Manji sheds just enough light that the reader gets an understanding what the book is about, but not too much so the reader is anxious to go out and read it. The review discusses many of the atrocities accounted for in the book, and cleverly analyzes what might be the cause of these “indignities” (Manji 1) .
I completely agree with her opening paragraph that mentions the gripping story told that opens the book. In the introduction of Half the Sky, the authors, Kristof and WuDunn, start off with a tragic story of a Cambodian girl who was sold to sex traffickers and even once more after she escapes the first time. The authors refer to today’s treatment of women as “gendercide”; ranging from “sex trafficking to maternal mortality, from obstetric fistulas to acid attacks” (Manji 1). Kristof and WeDunn not only address some of the tragedies occurring around the world, but a positive outlook that can help those women turn their lives around for the better. Manji accounts many of the authors’ feeling, hopes, and beliefs about female intolerance and hopes that Americans can speak up for those who stand silent overseas.
Works Cited
Manji, Irshad. "Changing Lives." New York Times 20 Semptember 2009: BR6.
James Barker
Professor Sabir
English 1A 9-9:50
4 Febuary 2010
Summarized Book Review
In Irshad Manji’s review of “Half the Sky”, she lays the foundation of the review by informing the readers of the Chinese proverb “Women hold up half the sky”. This was significant because of the authors of the book are a married couple Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Kristof and WuDunn come out guns blazing, pulling no punches in their approach and account of the lives of the many woman they encountered. Their book earned them the Pulitzer Prize. In their stance for globalizing women’s rights with a strong focus on the abuse, neglect of women from Asia to the Muslim world. Critcizing the western world for not bring to light these atrocities. Indignities such as; sex trafficking to maternal mortality, rape, murder and physical abuse, just to name a few. Covering the life’s of woman like Mukhtar Mai, who was a gang-rape victim. As Mai stands up and speaks out against this lawless act she encounters oppression from her countrymen including their countries president. Through it all Mukhtar preservers and started her own school. This is one of the many storylines in Kristof and WuDunn’s book “Half the Sky”, as they try to mobilize the world not only to speak out but to act immediately when abuse takes place.
Work Cited
Manji,Irshad. “Changing Lives.” New York Times. 17 September,2009. 3 Febuary, 2010.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html?_r=1
Christopher Kerr
English 1A
9:00-9:50a
Book Review: Half the Sky
[http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2009/dec/19/book-review-half-sky/] 3 Feb 2010
According to Natalie Hilzinger, the novel "Half the Sky" is not going to give you a book made for light or easy reading, however it may make you re-think your life and morals. The point of the book was to make the reader aware of issues facing women in developing countries. Some of the topics brought up in the novel were: women being oppressed and giving power to women both economically and socially. Ethically, this should be an issue that is corrected, however the writers of the book felt that this would bring the most to the topics and help eliminate them. The authors themselves discuss the issues of enforcing prostitution, violence against women, and motherly abuse. From the different reports and extreme numbers of the women who told their story, and how they really were able to overcome in their situations. Natilie went on to say that when she was reading the book it made her want to learn more and the characters and the read on for how they ended up in such situations. Natalie states, "Half the Sky is not a book that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. But the stories are triumph, hope and inspiration"
Sideeq Islam
Wanda Sabir
English 1A 9:00 – 9:50
February 4, 2010
News Review of “Half the Sky”
Martha Nussbaum gives praise as well as caution to the authors of “Half the Sky”, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDun. The columnist explains how important, difficult and challenging the effort is of trying to present such serious worldwide issues when audiences simply want to be entertained. One of the difficulties and criticisms is that for those who take the global abuse of women seriously, any statements by Kristof and Wudunn can be misleading if not offered carefully. Nusbaum cautions that the authors could lead readers in to believing that Muslims and Islam are the source of the problem for the most part. She does however; give them a tremendous amount of credit for the exposure and education on such horrible events taking place in our world’s modern societies as well and underprivileged areas. Overall the review was good and encourages the reading of “Half the Sky”.
Kyle Williams
February 4, 2010
English1A, Wanda Sabir 9-9:50
Manji, Irshad. "Changing Lives." ,New York Times. September 17, 2009; http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html?_r=1, February 4, 2010
From the article I read on the New york Times about Half the Sky, this book is great in telling and illustrating the struggles of women in soo many cultures. The first story illustrates how, a women is brutally raped and mistreated but still goes on to tell her story and raise her child. The article by Irshad Manji shows the massive distrust and misuse of women, throughout this book. Such as human trafficking for prostitution, slave trade, and other means. The article/ review demonstrated the lack of women's rights and equality in other places versus here, in the US.
Taiisha Davis
Professor Sabir
English 1A 9-9:50am
February 4th, 2010
In the HuffPost Review, Bill Gates Sr. gives his opinion on Half the Sky, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. He was given an advanced copy of the book and was quickly impressed. Gates Sr. explains, “The book belongs on the ‘must-read’ list because it offers perspective, insight, and clear-eyed optimism for why and how each of us can and should meet one of the great moral and humanitarian challenges of our times.” Gates Sr. connects with the book so closely because he compares it to how strong his first wife is, and how she raised their children to believe that women can do anything Power couples Barrack and Michelle Obama, and Bill and Melinda Gates (his son and daughter-in-law) are also examples of how strong women hold their part in the world. Furthermore, Gates Sr. stresses his point that when women are denied the opportunity to grow and show the world what they can do, society misses out. Gates Sr. restates the Chinese proverb from which the title came from “Women hold up half the sky”, and feels that if people all around the world really analyzed this quote and made it a part of society that women in every corner of the world would have a chance to show their true potential, and in turn everyone would benefit from their ideas.
Works Cited
Gates Sr., Bill. "HuffPost Review: Half the Sky." Huffington Post. 14 September, 2009. accessed 2 February, 2010.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-gates-senior/huffpost-review-ihalf-the_b_286227.html
Brittany Tuazon
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A 9- 9:50
4 February 2010
Half the Sky: Why you must Join the Global Movement to Emancipate Women
http://www.thewip.net/contributors/2010/01/half_the_sky_why_you_must_join.html
In the non fiction novel, Half the Sky, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn- Determined activists fighting for the liberation of women around the world. They traveled around the globe gathering compelling stories from women faced with deep oppression. Girls and women of all ages kidnapped and drugged sold into sex slavery.
Among the authors, many people and organizations such as Women’s International Perspective, Inc or WIP for short are spreading the word across the nation of these women’s lives. The article, “Half the Sky: Why You Must Join the Global Movement to Emancipate Women [4 January 2010],” written by the executive editor Katharine Daniels proclaims people of America must join the movement against human rights. It’s found that not only women are outraged but men as well when they read what these women face every day. She urges us to band together and acknowledge this issue to use our liberties to fight for human rights.
The author ‘s of the novel Kristof and WuDunn wrote to the book to compel American to the lives of these women. They write to reach people on an emotional level to recognize this issue as our responsibility. We must urge our society to help these women with savior and education. To empower these women is the most effective way to assist their community and government. It is written that, “If you want to fight poverty you’ve got to empower women.” To further work on other issues, a society must first free their women from the bounds of slavery.
Phil Redd
mtwth 8-9am
eng1a
comment for Juan Li.
When they said we need to do whats right as americans, do you think he ment private orginizations or the government? Also I would disagree that it's impossible for a country to pull itself out of poverty if it can overcome greed and govern fairly.
Also I would like to mention the number 1 thing we can do around the world to stop this inhumane behavour. It's so simple, but everyone seems to over look this.
Start raising your children better, so they don't turn into monsters as adults. Its someones offspring commiting these crimes. If they were better parents there would be no sex trafficers, exploiters, or oppessors.
Ruby Holt-Roth
English 1A
9:00-9:50am
Summary of book review of Half the Sky (Changing Lives by Irshad Manji, New York Times)
Irshad Manji writes a very articulate and insightful review of Half the Sky. Manji first describes the manner in which Kristof and WuDunn chronicle the everyday brutality of women in foreign countries followed by multiple examples from the text. Manji describes the shocking facts detailed in Half the Sky that are meant to appall readers into taking action. Manjii writes, “Kristof and Wudunn repeatedly invoke the abolitionist project. Besides stirring emotions, the antislavery lens permits Americans to see an urgent obligation.” Manji views Half the Sky as a book meant to serve as a catalyst for Americans to take action against the “gendercide” being committed daily in foreign countries. Manji then states “So it comes as a disappointment when Kristof and Wudunn seem to cut short their own questions. They entitle one of their chapters “Is Islam Misogynistic?” Their answer: Because ultraconservative Saudi Arabia has outlawed slaves, the Koran must be open to progressive interpretations on other human rights issues, like women’s equality.” Manji recognizes that Kristof and WuDunn fail to put the emphasis of importance on cooperation from the government and enforcement of laws that are meant to protect women. Manji writes, “The trouble is laws ring hollow if not enforced, something Kristof and Wudunn robustly recognize about female genital mutilation in Africa’…could their silence be traced to the “scolding” that Kristof received from a group of Muslim women in Riyadh?” Manji’s review is unbiased and makes very valid points. Manji closes by stating “In confronting the failings of multiculturalism, secularists could move forward with evangelicals, as abolitionists did almost 200 years ago. Imagine the potential for progress.” Manji clearly believes that everyone who is capable should take action against the social injustices going on in other parts of the world and although Half the Sky has brought many of the hidden atrocities to light, it is only the beginning.
Manji, Irshad. “Changing Lives” New York Times. 17 Sept. 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html
Danielle Jabson
Professor Sabir
English 1A 9-9:50
4 February 2010
Works Cited: Manji, Irshad. “Changing Lives.” New York Times. 17 Sept. 2009.
[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html [3 Feb. 2010]
This article was written in the New York times on September 17, 2009 by Irshad Manji. He covers the book “Half the Sky” in his own words. Manji explains how Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s novel called “Half the Sky” proves women’s equality in the world is today’s biggest moral dilemma. Both journalists write about women catastrophes in foreign places such as Dalit and Pakistan. The intense stories these authors tell bring about truth and invoke unimaginable feelings in which can not be minimalize. These stories also give incite into an array of solutions and show no boundaries. The authors’ cause for the book is to arouse change within people to join in and help the oppressed woman of today. The authors explain that the knowledge of these stories could bring about change in people and bring hope to others. Manji also points out “Half the Sky” says America must work together in order to become successful in helping women worldwide. The two journalists, WuDunn and Kristof, write that if America is just as public about women’s oppression as other things America deems important that would make women’s equality more known and questioned. Manji finds it discouraging when Kristof and WuDunn do not fully answer their own questions. Not only does he find that discouraging, but also the authors’ failing in an opportunity to help progress in Saudi Arabian situation they were placed in. Despite that one opportunity missed Manji still believes in the message of the book, which is hope for the future.
Abtisam Kaaid
English 1A
2-4-2010
Book Review
In this book Half the Sky written by Nicholas D. Kistof and Sheryl Wudunn describes the hardship, women in third world countries face as a daily issue? How education is the biggest part in society. If women worldwide were educated many women would understand the difference between right and wrong. In this book Nicholas D. Kistof and Sheryl s Wudunn guides us through Africa, Asia and Middle East. The authors encounter Women struggling through rape, poor health, and human trafficking. In India women are burned to death, in most Middle Eastern countries women are stoned to death for disobedience of family honor. Girls face uncertain difficulties by families, getting married to men as old as their fathers and grand father.
Many people have read Half the Sky, In the Sunday Book Review in the New York Times, by Irshad Manji, she writes about how Kistof and WuDunn witness the bold truth what women are going through and, in their beliefs indeed, women hold up half the sky. Manji, Talks about how Nicholas and Sheryl want that to be appreciated. The first couple of pages bring attention to bringing attention to gendercide. This book has reports of an Indian girl forced into prostitution, female genital mutilation in Africa, and also immigrant Arab girls threatened by honor killings. Throughout, Kistof and WuDunn show faith in the capacity of ordinary American citizens to initiate change. And explain how tragedy can spawn opportunity. Their hope: “To recruit you to join an incipient movement to emancipate women.”
Work Cited
By: Irshad Manji “Changing Lives”
Published: September 17, 2009
The New York Times: Sunday Book Review, “Half the Sky”.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/manji-t.html
Cristian Barrionuevo
Professor Sabir
English 1A from 8AM to 8:50AM
4th February, 2010.
Summarize:
The book “Half the Sky” written by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sherly Wudunn illustrates basically the discrimination that women must struggle nowadays. Althought the book was written several years ago, it clearly reflects what we are going through in the xxi century. Many people may reckon that we have a retrograde mind when we think that women have not got freedom at all but the whole true is that discrimination against women is one of the main issues that the world has been trying unsuccessful to overcome. There are even some remote places around the globe in which women not only suffer discrimination but also they are victims of unfair punishments and treatments. Despite the globalization, the world has showed incredible advancements in different aspects such as technology, medicine, etc but we are still far behind in many other issues. The population world must take immediate concern and take quick actions to prevent women from being castigated. This brilliant book has attracted people’s attention around the world. On top of that, it has opened people’s eyes and made people realized that the world we are immerse in does not have anything to do with what the media show all the time. People like Nicholas and Sherly see the world from a different perspective. As a consequence, they set a good example to us at the time of realizing how much discrimination women are suffering in the actual world.
Romina Sarmiento
Professor Sabir
English 1A 9a-9:50a
4 February 2010
See, Carolyn “They Can Do It: The Third World’s Untapped Power”
Washington Post 4 February 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091004106.html
11 September 2009
In the Washington Post, Carolyn See describes the content of “Half the Sky” as shocking to her. She tells a little bit about the authors, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn, a married couple and also journalists who wrote about the Tiananmen massacre. During their journey to different countries, the couple uncovered a more frightful discovery amongst the women in these places. See shares some of these stories like, how Chinese women represent great strength because of the young ladies who started working in factories and began making changes. Women who left the house were raped, beaten, sold, or married off at a very young age. She describes how women in India are burned, stoned, and have acid thrown at their faces for going against family rules. These are just a few of the many horror stories the women share while being interviewed by the authors. The purpose of these examples are to give readers detailed insight to the suffering these women in third world countries experience. See also includes the success stories that many of these women have. In this review, See wants readers to know that although these women have had to endure so much pain, it didn’t stop many of them from founding such establishments as a school, hospital, or small business. Such was the case of a girl who was raped and sought reparation from, Pakistani President at the time, Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf sent the girl money to keep her mouth shut but instead she used the money for a school where she and students could be taught to read and write. Musharraf sent the authorities to harass her for bringing awareness to people about rape. Although Musharraf is gone, the school still exists. Women share similar stories in other third world countries, such as, Ethiopia and China. Solutions and progress continue to grow in these places more and more everyday. All thanks to charities, governments, and activists who were all willing to take a stand to stop the violence against women.
Cortny Lozano
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50am
4 February 2010
Cortny Lozano
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50am
4 February 2010
Changing Lives
The article I chose was "Changing Lives" by Irshad Manji. "Women hold up half the sky" is a chinese proverb which means as well as men, women hold up the other half of the sky. In Half the Sky, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn want to aware the readers of what is happening to women everyday. This married couple is a writing team who discusses the vanishing population of women in certain countries. Kristof and wife WuDunn were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for the global struggle for women's equality for The New York Times.
In "Half the Sky", stories are told of women who have been a victim of unequality. For example, Mukhtar Mai, a Muslim village woman who is the victim of a Pakistani gang-rape. Mai did the unthinkable, she exposed herself but also went against her country's president,Pervez Musharraf, and started a school.
"Half the Sky" includes horrifying situations women have had to experience, acid attacks, rape, and abuse. This book will reveal the obsticles these women had to face among their harsh experiences.
In some cases men are not always the blame. Kristof and WuDunn report of an Indian girl forced into prostitution in "Meens's brothel". Ainul Bibi, the tyrant was the family matriarch. Ainul would sometimes beat the women up herself or have her daughter-in-law or her son's do her dirty work for her.
Kristof and WuDunn inspire in the awareness of ordinary citizens and Americans to initiate change for these victims. Throughout, their hope is for you to join this movement to save women.
"Half the Sky" is created to be effective on behalf of invisible women overseas. This book should teach us from whats right and wrong. Female genital mutilation in africa is something these writers'recognize, law's need to be enforced. A clear connection can be made between global security and certain cultural believes in the Middle East.
This article "Changing Lives" explains the importants of "Half the Sky" and the meaningful outlook on what some women in those countries go through. Kristof and WuDunn wrote "Half the Sky", an eyeopener, to reveal what occurs in these types of society.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html
Jennie Lo
9:00 – 9:50am
English 1 A
Summary of Half the Sky review
The writer of the review has credited the Pulitzer Prize-winning husband-and-wife reporter team, Kristof, Nicholas D. and Sheryl WuDun with their passion and contribution to change the oppression to opportunity for the women in the developing countries. The authors have travelled around and interviewed the victims of sex trafficking, forced prostitution and other various forms of violence and brought the real stories to the reader. The authors could able to get the women openly talked about their lives. They are using powerful voices with honest words with meaningful examples to share with the reader. They also pointed out the important of women work force in a society with the economic data in China. At the end, authors also listed out the channels for the readers who want to participate the support of the action to change the women lives in the developing countries.
Works Cited
"HALF THE SKY: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide." Kirkus Reviews 77.12 (2009): 646. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 4 Feb. 2010.
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=43466759&site=ehost-live
Veronica Flores
Professor Sabir
English 1A
M-TH 9-9:50
Half the Sky Summary (Pandi, 2009)
In Rohini Pande’s article Women in a Woeful World, she reviews the book Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Cheryl WuDunn. She discusses the piece as an argument of two parts. This book consists of a series of personal stories and experiences of women around the world. These stories give us a better understanding on the oppression of women in developing countries. The first part may argue that the sexual abuse these women undergo is a form of slavery. In any case, the issue doesn’t the recognition it should. Many are unaware of the problem, mostly because women’s lives are threatened if they ever do speak about their encounters. The second part of the review discusses ways to help the issue get exposure, and to possibly find ways to help these victims and produce change.
Pandi says the authors’ tell stories of how women seeking work were tricked into prostitution. How they were physically abused, violently and sexually, if they tried to refuse the men who bought them. These women are exposed to sexual transmitted diseases because of unprotected sex, which would likely cut their lives short. In some countries, men were allowed to force women to marry them, often times raping them first. Many women lack medical care or education and usually end up dependant on a male because they have nothing else.
In the second part, Pandi points out the authors’ determination to help bring aid to those in these foreign countries. Kristof and WuDunn themselves attempted to buy some of these women out of slavery. Sadly, these women were so emotionally traumatized; it would be challenging to bring them back to normalcy. They bring attention the instilled fear of these victims, and what a change they could make if they actually spoke up. Pandi says the authors are best at helping improve education for women. “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”, Pandi points out.
The authors end the book by encouraging readers to help take action. Hearing stories from person experience rather that statistics is a more effective way to grab attention from those who can help. There is truth to these stories; people need to realize that. They numerously emphasize on the fact that many aren’t aware of this oppression of women. Victims need encouragement and support to speak about this. Hopefully after reading this book, you will be motivated to do so.
Work Cited
http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/book-review-half-the-sky?page=0,3
Emmily manown
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50 AM
4 February 2010
In the book review of “Half The Sky” by Amitrajeet A. Batabyal on www.curledup.com he starts of by saying how problems like this needs to be confronted head-on in order to have any kind of chance in stopping such horrific acts. He first gets into the topic of prostitution; There is a large population of sex-trafficking “with the most straitlaced and sexually conservative societies...” (p. 6). The reasons that the authors give to this because men who are married do not usually sleep with their girlfriends, so instead find release to their sexual frustrations with a prostitute. When people think of prostitution, they usually would not put it into the same category as slavery. But in many countries today if you’re a prostitute, you’re basically enslaved. But, even trying to rescue a girl from a brothel is very complicating and very hard. Many women will not ever stop prostituting, and some are brave enough to try and escape to get out of such a slave like environment.
The next topic to be discussed is rape, which is a horrific act that tends to happen in poor countries. Like in Ethiopia, the law is that as long as a man is married to her, he can rape, beat, and violate her all he wants. Another problem with rape is the fact that it is used as a weapon in many countries and terrorizes women who cannot do anything about it, but fight and resist. This is usually a one way ticket to get severely beat and raped even worse.
Kimthuy Tran
Professor Sabir
English 1A ( 9-9:50 AM)
Summary Review of Half the Sky
Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
According to G. Stephen Goode, “Half of Sky” is a meaningful book that is about discriminating issues which women and girls have to confront such as killing and rape. He believes that this book will change our thoughts and behaviors to women and girls around us. It also is women’s voice to our community and society because “Half of Sky” is about real stories of African and Asian women who were oppressed and treated unfairly. Women such as Rath, Ummi, Naeem, and many others have been abducted, forced working as whores, and even throw acid to their face. More importantly, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn write these unbelievable stories in this century, the age of civilization, and this event only surprise but also break readers’ heart.
Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, “Half the Sky
Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” 2 November 2009. [5 February 2010]
http://www.ywam-mercy.org/reviews/book/half-the-sky/
Zaidea Magpoc
English 1A 9-9:50am
Summary for the book review of Half the Sky
Pulitzer Prize winner book Half the Sky, written by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn was reviewed by Rohini Pande; a professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. This book review was taken from the website of Harvard Magazine.
Pande discussed two arguments in the book. She said, “The first part argues that the oppression of women in (mostly) developing countries is a devastating and under-recognized injustice that’s the equivalent of slavery, and that demands a moral and political movement as focused and principled as the campaign against slavery to bring it to an end. The second discusses practical ways to created this movement and effect the change that’s needed.”
The authors of the book mentioned how families and the communities neglected the women’s need, both in education and healthcare. It reported that women are promised to work but were introduced to prostitution. And if they oppose, they will be beaten and given drugs. In case they fled from the brothels and go to the police, the police would chastise them, send them back to the brothels or sell them in a different gang.
Kristof and WuDunn explained that those who want to provide practical assistance were sometimes turned away by the society. They said, “The institutional, social and financial problems can stop the help effort.” It’s very seldom to get a victim to speak up because of the shame and fear that lies ahead. The community is trained to abandon the victim.
The problem here is that people are not seeing that oppression is wrong. People are created equally and should be treated equally and fairly. The oppressed might not have a voice or say in the issue, but the authors were able to speak in their behalf.
Mulugeta Mahray
English 1A
Saving the world women’s
Summary
According to The New York Time, women and girls are confronting in the last two centuries across the world. Even though in this current century, in some developing countries women and girls are suffering from violence behaviors, conservative religion and gender discrimination.
Especially some cultures or religions believe that women and girls are problem creator in the society or community. As the result they don’t let them go to school as well as to work. In addition they treat them badly. However based on most world organization study, they were contributed efficiently to their family and society. So that most aid recommended investing on women and girls, in order to fight poverty around the world. On the article stated that,”Girls are just as good as boys.”
Published review from: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-t.html#
Ryan Mah
Professor Sabir
English 1a 8-8:50am
4 Feburary 2010
Half The Sky
In the Newyork times review of Half the sky, written by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn, they are praised for how they were able to wrtie a book that shows the global struggle for womens equality.
Half the sky touches on many taboo topics that most people do not like to talk about or even think about. Topics such as sex trafficing, maternal mortality, obstetric fistulas, and even acid attacks. Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn write about how women are not meeting there full potential as people because of the atrocities they endure. Through out the book Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn talk about how men and women are treated differently. Men will receive health care and educations over a women.
The second part of the article is about what Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn talk about to help women. The say this is our culture and women are not meething there full potential as people because of the way they are being treated.
Ryan Mah
Professor Sabir
English 1a 8-8:50am
4 Feburary 2010
Half The Sky
In the Newyork times review of Half the sky, written by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn, they are praised for how they were able to wrtie a book that shows the global struggle for womens equality.
Half the sky touches on many taboo topics that most people do not like to talk about or even think about. Topics such as sex trafficing, maternal mortality, obstetric fistulas, and even acid attacks. Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn write about how women are not meeting there full potential as people because of the atrocities they endure. Through out the book Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn talk about how men and women are treated differently. Men will receive health care and educations over a women.
The second part of the article is about what Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn talk about to help women. The say this is our culture and women are not meething there full potential as people because of the way they are being treated.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html?_r=1
Carmella Montes
Professor Sabir
English 1A
4 February 2010
8:00-8:50AM
Summary of Book Review for “Half the Sky”
Irshad Manji writes a review in the NY Times that praises, and at the same time, questions the authors of “Half the Sky”. They describe the compelling story that Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have written. The book tells stories of women that you would never imagine to be true. Manji talks about different women’s stories in the book, such as Mukhtar Mai, who was gang raped and an Indian girl who was forced to be a prostitute.
The authors believe that miraculous changes can happen and sometimes with the help of regular people. Manji says, “Mingling tales of woe with testimonials to people power, the authors explain how tragedy can spawn opportunity.” These brave women risk their lives and never look back.
However, Irshad points out rules don’t mean anything unless they are enforced. Manji compares the women’s equality movement to a movement hundreds of years ago, the abolitionist movement. They offer the idea, “Imagine the potential for progress”. If we could put an end to slavery many years ago, why can’t we change womens lives throughout the world?
Tia Gusman
Professor Sabir
English 1A
7 February 2010
8-8:50 mon-thur
Half The Sky Review Summary
New York Times columnist Kristof and his wife, WuDunn make a brilliant arguement for investing in the health and autonomy of women worldwide. More girls have been killed in the last five years precisely for being girls. Men were killed in all the wars of the twentieth century. The authors posit that it is impossible for countries to get out of poverty if they only have a fraction of women participating in the labor force. 80% of the factory workers in the Guangdong province are female. The best role for Americans isn't holding the microphone at the front of the rally but writing the checks.
http://www.amazon.com/Half-Sky-Oppression-Opportunity-Worldwide/dp/0307267148
Adriana Ultreras
English 1A 9-9:50
Summary of Half the Sky book review
Even though Bill Gates Sr. does not normally do book reviews, he decided to do one in Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Someone told him he might find the book interesting, and he did. He believes that it must be read by everyone because “it offers perspective, insight, and clear-eyes optimism for why and how each of us can and should meet one of the great moral and humanitarian challenges of our times”. Even though Bill Gates Sr. isn’t a professional at writing reviews for books, he found that the book was great and wanted to give his personal opinion as a husband and father. Bill Gates Sr. agrees with the message of the book. He believes that the authors wanted to show readers cases of why “empowering women in the developing world is both morally right and statically imperative”.
Bill Gates has been around a lot of women all his life and thinks about them a lot. He is 84 now and has been married several times and has seen the role that women play in society. His wife demonstrated to him that women can achieve anything they want to, and passed on that mentality to their children. He believes that women can be very strong with or without a husband in their life. He has seen this with many people that he knows. A lot of people around the world are not allowed to do what they choose, but that only makes the men weak. Everyone benefits from the strength of a strong woman. Some examples of men benefiting from great women are Obama, Bill Gates, and Bill Gates Sr. He believes that women worldwide should be given the opportunity to try and make this world a better place. Everyone would benefit from this. Raising a successful family also starts with a strong woman.
Work cited
Article. 9 Sep 2009. 4 Feb 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-gates-senior/huffpost-review-ihalf-the_b_286227.html
Mokhtar Mohamed
E 1A 8-9 AM
Sabir
In Washington Post Carolyn See wrote an article titled Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. This article was a review of Half of the Sky by By Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. First of all the See told the reader that Half of the Sky is the most important books that she has ever reviewed.
Additionally See indicated that the book illustrated women position around the world. The writer also told us that she admired the stories in the book because hey show how women are treated in many parts of the world. They face many difficulties such as racism, rape, hardworking, and beating. Moreover See explained how women are important for any society in the world; women form half of any society in the world.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/10/AR2009091004106.html
SunJungPark
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8:00-8:50
7 February 2010
Summarize
I thought this book, half the sky, had so much to offer by NicholasD. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. I learned so much about what is going on around developing the world and the discrimination against women and feel emotion about female of courage. It really gets you motivated to get up and do some good and try to help.
Cultural and societal attitudes must be changed in order for things to progress around the world and better the lives of women and girls. It was also great to see that there were grassroots efforts in combination with government agencies that came together to help better the lives of women and girls around the world. They want to change in the unequal gender world and surprise this story.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Half-the-Sky/Nicholas-D-Kristof/e/9780307267146/?itm=1&USRI=half+the+sky#TABS
Constance Brown
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50AM
4 February 2010
The review I read on the New York Times website was written by Martha Nussbaum. Nussbaum begins her review with the story of Prudence Lemokouno,a woman from Cameroon who died during child birth. Like many other women in Cameroon,Lemokouno didn't recieve any parental care during pregnancy. Once in labor,she recieved poor treatment by doctors and attendants which resulted in the unfortunate death of her and her unborn child.
In the book "Half the Sky", Kristof and WuDunn focus on hardship endured by women all over and the importance of gender equality. One of the challenges the authors encountered was with getting an audience interested in reading their material. People usually lean towards drama, fiction and or love storeis, and aren't as interested in reading about important things that occur in our society. Kristof and WuDunn focus on the major issues women are faced with such as, prostitution,death,and "maternal mortality". Throughout the book, there are several stories of neglect and abuse addressed by the authors in order to sress the importance of change needed.There's mention of "sex work" and the lack of regulation necessary to stop it. The topics addressed are true and educational to the readers and progressive change can not be made without acknowledgement.
Nussbaum elaborates on what she calls a "weak chapter" entitled "Is Islam Misogynistic?" I personally have no idea what the word misogynistic means but can tell that the author of the review disagrees with the authors of the book on this one.In this chapter stereotypes can be misleading to readers that are unfamiliar with practices such as genital cutting and honor killing.
Sex-selective abortion is another problem mentioned in the book
that Nussbaum feels needed more emphasis. Such abortion occurs and is believed to be denial of life to women.
Although many important issues are brought to light, others are neglected or misrepresented
by the authors of 'Half The Sky."
Hello Ms. Sabir
Victor Ani
English 1A
9-9:50
This book seems to push the issue of women and poverty and the torturing of women. It appears to relate to a warning to the victimized and message to others who can help with the many issues. Certain issues have been inspected because an opinion poll of statistical claims has said to be invalid. Some of the stories spoken on from this book are from the stories endured in sex trafficking and genital mutilation. As I have been reading, I notice that this book reminds us of the interdependence of civilization. In Saudi Arabia women do not have laws we have here in America. They author specifies how corrupt it is in third world countries. Men are over powering women because of the unequal laws in unisex. Laws like these can create places of havoc.
Arely Razo
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-9 am
4 February
Summary of the published review
The review published for “Half the Sky” was published by the Harvard Magazine. This article talks about how the authors do not like the fact that women are being rapped and have been drugged in order to make this happen. These women have been turned into prostitutes when they do not have a family. The women that are being rapped usually do not tell people because then they will be looked down on. It makes it harder for them to start a life and many time there own family does not want to help them out.
In many places in the world slavery is not something that is legal. Even though it is illegal many women do not tend to speak up for themselves. Very few women have spoken up and great things have happened to them. The women think that if they speak up then they will be looked down on. It would make it harder for them to keep on with their life. Women get some parts in their body cut but they do it because it is part of there culture.
The men do not want to have women having power because they want to be the ones in control. Some men would not like women to get an education and others would like for them to. Men who know that women have been rapped, think that the women should be killed. Most men would not like to be with a women that has been rapped because they are not pure. Only some guys would actually try and make a life with them.
Life for women is complicated. Many women would not like to be rapped, but it is something that men sometimes do. Sometimes nothing is done when this happens.
Catalina Martinez
Professor Sabir
English 1A 8-8:50AM
4 February 2010
Summarizing of published review
New York Times published a book review for "Half the Sky" that was written by Irshad Manji. The article "Changing lives" focuses on the the importance of how women all across the world are being discriminated because they are indeed females. With the short stories that "Half the Sky" focuses on how badly women are brutally murdered each day because women have different beliefs and understandings of life and what is expected. The struggles of being a women make it even harder for child barriers to want to have girls, that seems like a good enough reason to try to stop any suffering in the future.
The review also focuses on the how women are are just used as child barriers and never used because men love women. They use them as sex slaves and the horrible things that happen to the women are just horrible, they throw acid at them and treat them like they are not good enough to get help from anyone or anything.
So mainly the things that the book focuses on is how men and women all across the world treat women as slaves, this book talks a lot of humanity and how regardless of how well you think you have it here, you really don't because there are many women around the world suffering only because of their gender. Half the Sky is a good eye opener because you realize how women across the world suffer because of gender suffer because the are forced to commit acts that make them feel horrible. But with every bad story there is always a good end that makes you look at the bigger picture.
Nico Baquiran
Professor Sabir
ENGLISH 1A 9:00-9:50am
Book Summary
Half the sky is a non-fiction book showing “Gendercide,” which is an invented word that defines an orderly killing of members of a specific sex. The book is about the struggles of women from being oppressed. In the beginning of the story, it gave us an example of what the book is consist of. It shows how Cambodian girls were forced to be sex slaves. That was only the beginning of the book. So on, other topics would be included such as wife beatings and other women abuse issues. This book was written to inspire other women about never giving up fighting for justice and also letting others know how women are being discriminated or seen as inferior than men even nowadays. The stories were based on women's experiences on third world countries.
Ruby Holt-Roth
English 1A
9:00-9:50am
Andrew I like the way you summarized the review written by Rohini Pande; it was very straight forward and well written. You seem to have grasped the authors opinion and purpose.
Arely Razo
Professor Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2009
Response to cathys summary
I liked your summary. It was good and to the point. I did not think that it was too long. You were right in what you said about how it is harder for people to have children when they are being rapped and treated like that. Its about time that they focused on women and spoke up about what is going on. People in the world have to know what is happening.
Leonardo Martin
Professor Sabir
English 1A
9:00-9:50 AM
The article, “Changing Lives”, written by Irshad Manji is a book review about the book “Half The Sky”. The book begins with a very eye-opening introduction that reveals a huge part of many of the injustices present in society. Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn introduce “Gendercide,” the daily slaughter of girls in the developing world, which has killed more individuals than all of the genocides from the 20th century. Kristof and WuDunn won the Pulitzer award for their coverage on China for the New York Times. And they have declared a worldwide fight for women’s equality “the paramount moral challenge” of our time. Many of the stories included in the book show the boldness of many women that go against their own cultures in order to create a difference. It explores stories from many different areas of the world that range from Pakistan to China where women are considered as second-class citizens. One particular story Kristof and WuDunn report of a young Indian woman where her own mother was the main culprit in her mistreatment and the narratives throughout the book leave solutions for these problems in society. One very keen notion that Kristof and WuDunn present throught the many stories in their book is that regular everyday heroes are the ones that can make a difference in the lives of many.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/books/review/Manji-t.html
Sabah Said
English 1A
Mon-thurs
Feb. 6.2010
Summarize book review (Half the Sky)
The publisher book review I picker is Bill Gates. The title to the book review is Huffpost Review: Half the Sky. Bill Gates talks about how he enjoyed the book and how it should “belong on the most read list,” he said. The message the book Half the Sky is trying to show is that “lifting women lifts the world,” which I think it means help women roles, how women do so much and are achieving everything for example being a good mom, taking care of the family. Women could be really helpful to a man, because women encourage the men.
Bill Gates makes a point on what women do in society. I agree about what the Chinese Proverbs say of “women had up half the sky,” because women have important notes in life, be a parents working, providing for her family etc. they go through the brave things in life which makes them strong women. Bill Gates really helped show how much its important to know omen are basically leaders.
Work Cited:
Gates, Bill. “Huffpost: Half the sky”
Huffington post. 14. Sep. 2009. [3, Feb,2010]
[http:// huffingtonpost.com /bill gates-senior/huff post-review-ihalf- the_b_286227.html
Catalina Martinez
Professor Sabir
English 1A
8 February 2009
Response to Arely's Summary.
The fact that you were really clear about women being slaves around the world really caught my attention. Women are being treated real bad because they cant have a say in any situation. Which that in itself is really sad, not only can they not speak up for themselves but those who are willing to speak up for themselves get tortured to death or a really bad beating so that in the future they wont speak up. Its good that we agree that things can not keep going this way, things should change for men and women.
Miguel Guerrero-Gonzalez
Professor Sabir
English 1A
February 10th, 2010
I don't normally do book reviews. However, because I'm a recent book author, a colleague sent me an advance copy of the manuscript for Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's new book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity Worldwide and suggested that some of the themes might be of interest to me.
It was. In fact, the book is stunning. Not because it's a compelling read, which it is. Not because it immediately leapt on to the bestseller list (as an author, I pay more attention to such things now). The book belongs on the "must-read" list because it offers perspective, insight, and clear-eyed optimism for why and how each of us can and should meet one of the great moral and humanitarian challenges of our times.
In case some of you don't know Nick or Sheryl, they are Pulitzer Prize winners who earlier this year won the prestigious Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Lifetime Achievement for their work chronicling human rights in Asia, Africa and the developing world. Nick also writes a widely read and influential column for the New York Times.
You can go to other book reviews to hear what the literary professionals think. I just want to give you my perspective as a husband, father, lawyer, and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What Nick and Sheryl have done is lay out a case for why empowering women in the developing world is both morally right and strategically imperative. Their essential message is that Lifting Women Lifts the World. I couldn't agree more.
As someone who is soon to turn 84, I have spent a lot of time thinking about women and their role in society. My first wife, Mary Maxwell Gates, was a force of nature. It seemed perfectly natural to me that she would become a community leader and a trailblazer as one of the first women ever invited onto corporate boards. Mary was my partner, and she modeled to all of our children that there is nothing that women can't achieve. In many ways, my children took for granted that women can do anything.
I think they also saw that when a man partners with a strong woman, everyone benefits. This is not to say that women can't do amazing things without a man - they do, everyday. Some of the most successful and inspiring women I know are not married or partnered. However, because of my own experience, what I find remarkable is that more men around the globe don't realize how much stronger they would be if partnered with a strong woman. Way too often and in too many corners of the globe, women are denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. It's wrong and it's backward, and of course, the irony is that by keeping women down, men lose out too.
We're seeing remarkable evidence of what can happen when men and women partner together - our president and his wife Michelle being a wonderful example. My own son and his wife (both of whom I report to) are true partners in the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. My current wife Mimi Gardner Gates is my partner in all of the things that are important to me now.
The authors titled their book after an old Chinese proverb that says "Women hold up half the sky." It's time that people around the world recognize the full implication of that wise proverb and work together to ensure that women everywhere are able to rise to their fullest potential -- for themselves and so that we all can benefit from the contributions they will make to global society. Finally, and in that vein, to everyone around the world who has asked me what it takes to raise a successful son like Bill Gates, my first response is: Make sure he can learn from a strong woman.
Nseke Ngilbus
Wanda sabir
Eng 1a
april 23, 2010
In the Harvard review of the Half the Sky by Sheryl Wudunn and Nicholas Kristof, Rohini Pande writes a complimenting piece on the book. He called the name of his piece Women in a Woeful world. The title could not be more descriptive. The review starts off as many reviews, it give the reader insight into what the book is about. In such, it show how women in less developed countries are subjected to inhumane treatment; they are beaten, abused, drugged, and raped often. They are forced into being sexually trafficked and their government has no protection for them. The author is also commended for their bravery and courage unlike the government of less developed nations. They sit by and allow these injustices to happen. It is evident that the authors of the book are trying to help these girls, but they are few in numbers. Pande says that we need to help them by giving them our voices and getting more
attention to the matter.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2009/09/book-review-half-the-sky?page=0,3
Valeria Ramos
English 1A 8-8:50
In Harvard Magazine, Women in a Woeful World; Coming to term with oppression by Rohinin Pande, describes that Half the Sky wrote by a couple Nicholas D. Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn. He explains how this book is a serious of essays that have more than one part. It is divided into two parts the first part explaining the lives of woman and how they live in developing countries and the struggle they have to go through simply because they are women. It also includes short stories of woman and young ladies lives and what they went through, basically explaining there terrible situation they were put in just because they are woman and have no say or authorities don’t really care and act as if nothing happen, just because they are woman. The second part of this book is mainly about the ways one can try and improve the ways these woman live. The authors of this book are very much involved in woman’s rights; Kristof being a New York Times journalist and her husband WuDunn was working with Times overseas, but is now working on multimedia projects about woman’s problems around the world. They both focus in woman’s abuse, rape, and many other terrible things that happen to woman today all over the world. Pande points out that the others after the story explain what has occurred in the story to the woman which is good because it helps you understand what is going on in the story. Overall Pande describes how these two authors a very dedicated in helping these woman and they describe how everyone can speak out and try to help. I like the last part of this review that Pande says about the two authors and how they involved this in there book, “It may also be achieved by using our positions as citizens of a rich and powerful country with relative freedom of speech to speak truths and make moral arguments that others don’t have the influence to make or freedom to say. I think that in this book, Kristof and WuDunn have done exactly that.
They have given people a perspective on how life is so completely different in other parts of the world.
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