Half the Sky
I'd been looking forward to this film since Lucia told us about it and the experience was worth the anticipation. I had a great time. I think the part I enjoyed the most were the stories about the women, the film about Woineshet, whom we'd read about in the book, and the opportunity to hear a discussion from a panel of experts: Maria Bello, Dr. Helene Gayle; Nicholas Kristof; Rachel Mayanja; Sarah, Duchess of York; moderated by Sheryl WuDunn.
Hearing India Arie perform, along with Angélique Kidjo (from Benin), the other artist(name?), were of course highlights, but the true stars were the women profiled, the women who truly hold up half the sky. Earlier this afternoon Dominique and I went to San Francisco to the CARE office to get tickets for students who hadn't purchased theirs yet. The turn out was pretty impressive this evening. I think we were one of the larger groups. I didn't see anyone else posing for photos in the lobby.
A percentage of ticket sales will support CARE's work in more than 70 countries.
"CARE is proud to once again celebrate International Women's Day with a rousing one-night-only event in theatres across the country," says Dr. Helene Gayle, president and CEO of CARE. "HALF THE SKY is more than just a night at the movies – it's a rallying cry to stand up and join a growing worldwide movement to empower women and girls to fight global poverty" (www.care.org).
For those students who were fired up this evening, please post your responses here for extra credit and send me a copy as well so I can send you a grade (smile). Send to the new email address: COASabirEnglish1A@gmail.com
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 11:38 PM
7 Comments:
Jennie Lo
Prof. Wanda
English 1A 9:00-9:50am
March 6, 2010
Field Trip to Half the Sky movie
It was great to share the evening with our classmates in the theatre and it was a wonderful film. The best part I like the most was the interview of Woineshet on the stage at New York University. She is a very lovely, full of pride and courage wonderful young lady. She talked about her dream and future; she also expressed her willingness to help others. She works hard in education. Everyone is proud of her aspiration and her ambition to fight for the violence against women in her hometown with her education. She is in her second year at the law school, and she is standing up and facing all the difficulties. When she was giving her thanks to her father, Zebene, who was sitting in the audience area, everyone stood up and gave him a round of applause. Zebene is a very kind man with a heart of philia love to his daughter. Without his support, Woineshet might not be able to fulfill her dream and stand up to face the world. I have also got to know the work of CARE for defending dignity, fighting poverty to prevent women and girls around the world from experiencing the violence that Woinshet faced. I feel our voices and participation can definitely be part of the powerful means to help women and girls in developing countries to turn oppression into opportunity.
Abtisam Kaaid
Professor Sabir
Movie Night: Half the Sky
This was such an amazing experience. I have never been apart of something like this. Many students in our English 1A class also appeared on this special night of women’s honor. Featuring musical performances by India Arie, Maria Bello, and more. Also celebrity commentary and the world premiere of “Woineshet,” a short film by Academy Award Winner Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone.
The opening act of the movie started off with the amazing India Arie. She preformed a lovely song that was inspiring from the book Half the Sky. I really didn’t know what to expect with this movie Half the Sky by Care. They introduced us to many of the characters in the book such as Woineshet a girl from Ethiopia, Prudence and many more. There was this amazing African Women that performed a song. She wasn’t speaking English but the emotions and the tone in her voice was so moving I thought that was the best song of the night.
We watched the movie premier of “Woineshet”. she is now 21 and has made a change in her community. She accomplished many things such as enforcing a new law, if someone is kidnapped and raped instead of marriage the boy is punished for his actions. The key point was education; if people had education they would know their rights, and would know that women’s abuse is wrong.
We had really got a great opportunity to understand the really meaning of these words “women hold up half the sky.” The authors of Half the Sky Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn gave us the opportunity to hear discussions about the book. The discussion held by a panel of experts: Dr. Helene Gayle, Rachel Mayanja, Sarah, and The Duchess of York. The panel discussed many issues of women world wide. This movie is to help educated people and to get people to come together and join the movement to empower women and girls fight global poverty.
After such an Amazing experience we all walked out of the theater with many thoughts running through our minds. We all meet up in the lobby and posed for a quick photo with Professor Sabir, all smiles and when on our own way. Leaving that night thinking and many extraordinary women around the would struggling to overcome oppression.
Kimthuy Tran
English 1A (9-9:50)
Professor Sabir
Response to Half the Sky movie
The film is wonderful!.From the film , I more understand about Nnicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn and their book “Half of Sky”. They are fun and have a kind heart. The discussion of Maria Bello, Dr. Helene Gayle; Nicholas Kristof; Rachel Mayanja; Sarah, Duchess of York;and Sheryl WuDunn is the interesting part to me . From their discussion, I learn that women in developing countries were oppressed by gender bias, cultural effects, and so on. Also, we who is lucky and happy to live in the society where people have justice and rights, so what we should do to help women in the poor countries. This is the main point of the film.. The ways which can help women go through the oppression are to get education, learn to speak up, attain women empowerments .Importantly, Nicholas emphasize that men also need to have education because when men are educated, women oppression will be reduce. Furthermore, the story of Woineshet show that women empowerment brings to women a power to fight back and attain human rights.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us (smile). Did anyone feel moved to commit any of her time to changing the situation highlighted?
Adriana Ultreras
Eng 9-950am
Half the sky movie response
I attended the movie Half the Sky. There was a big difference from reading the book to actually seeing one of the girls stories in video. I think that watching the girl in video is more touching and realistic. The book provides more details, but the movie is an insight on what the women actually went through.
A story that really moved me was the death of a women while delivering her baby. I believe she was 24 and lived in Ethiopia (unsure). She was having a home birth when she began to have complications. The baby did not want to come out, so her untrained assistant jumped up and down her stomach to push the baby out. She was then taken to the hospital in motorcycle. Her family did not have enough money to pay for the surgery, so the doctor left home without assisting her. The girl died from intestinal and rectal damage. All of this could’ve been prevented if she had only had proper handling. If a doctor or a trained specialist would’ve helped her in the first place, she would’ve had a higher chance to survive. I’ve never had children before, but I can only imagine the pain that girl went through for so many days trying to deliver a baby. In the United States we have labor medication (like Epidural) which help ease the delivery pain; we have doctors in so many hospitals around the world that will deliver the baby without having to pay it all at once. Her death could’ve been prevented if she had all of that available to her.
At the end, the authors of the book, the CEO of CARE, and two others discussed topics about empowering women. One topic that they did not seem to emphasize enough were men. They talked about how women should change, but they very slightly mentioned how men should change. I think that changing women and breaking them away from the traditional ways are good, but changing men will be crucial to improve the new generations. If women become more liberal and men are still stuck in their ways, they will teach their sons their beliefs and change will not be fully successful.
I enjoyed attending a school even with the classroom. I liked the discuassion we had at the end as a class. In the movie they asked us to send a text message to join the CARE team. TEXT “SKY” to 30644 to help get educated on how we can help women world wide. It can be through donations, which are for a good cause plus you can report it in your taxes . The women who sang the song (in a different language) had a very strong and beautiful voice even though I didn’t know what she was saying.
The movie "Half The Sky " was a very interesting movie. I thought the film was going going to be a movie based on how the book is wrote sort stories about womens life and struggles,abuse and empowerment. The part I enjoyed the most was where the actress Ally and her film partner recreated the life of Woineshet's life. Her story really got to me beacuse I feel very lucky to have a family who supports me in everything and will support me the day I choose who I want to mary. I took my little brother with me to see the film he cryed I was amazed to see how her story touched and changed so many lifes. The organization CARE is doing so much for women all around the world. In conclusion I enjoyed seeing the film and look forward to finesh reading the book.
English (9- 9:50)
Half The Sky Film response
The movie "Half The Sky " was a very interesting movie. I thought the film was going going to be a movie based on how the book is wrote sort stories about womens life and struggles,abuse and empowerment. The part I enjoyed the most was where the actress Ally and her film partner recreated the life of Woineshet's life. Her story really got to me beacuse I feel very lucky to have a family who supports me in everything and will support me the day I choose who I want to mary. I took my little brother with me to see the film he cryed I was amazed to see how her story touched and changed so many lifes. The organization CARE is doing so much for women all around the world. In conclusion I enjoyed seeing the film and look forward to finesh reading the book.
9:55 AM
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