Women Making Change, Women Forging Hope

Printer-friendly version

The International Women of Hope Project features 12 of the world's most vibrant and visionary female activists, who are shedding the light of optimism in an effort to change lives for the better.

Presenting in-depth biographies, thought-provoking activities and invaluable resources, the guide spotlights the life's work of each subject, providing information that is sure to enliven classroom discussion about the role women have played, and continue to play, in the evolution of a more just, peaceful and environmentally sound world.

The International Women of Hope are: Bella Abzug, Shulamit Aloni, Hanan Ashwari, Aung San Suu Kyi, Ela Bhatt, Peace Bikunda, Wangari Maathai, Graça Machel, Madres de Plaza de Mayo, Rigoberta Menchú, Mary Robinson and Maj Britt Theorin. You will find their stories in the sidebars that accompany this lesson.

The text of the International Women of Hope Study Guide is presented here in its entirety.

International Women of Hope Study Guide

Introduction
The International Women of Hope are a remarkable and diverse group of 12 activists. They come from both developed and developing nations, arising out of the vast resources of woman-power which are increasingly being activated around the globe.

Some of the women are world-famous – two are Nobel Peace Prize winners – while the names of others may be less familiar. However, all the women are extremely well-known, important figures in their own countries and in the international organizations they represent.

Studying their lives and work helps to clarify many of the most critical problems confronting our world today, issues that appear in our newspapers daily and affect us all. They include: peace and nuclear disarmament; environmentalism; economic restructuring and its effects; increased reliance on grassroots organizations to achieve social change; civil war and its aftermath; support for democratic (or at least multiparty) forms of government rather than military dictatorships; attempts at the resolution of long-standing conflicts, such as that between Israel and Palestine; and the central importance of human rights, including the rights of indigenous peoples and children.

The activism of each of the women is so distinct and reflects such a different socio-political situation, that there is a wealth of material for fruitful individual study. Nonetheless, taking the group as a whole, certain themes emerge repeatedly. These themes (discussed below) define critical arenas of political action. While all of the women tend to share these themes, the names of those whose work best illustrates a particular theme appear in parentheses following the discussion. They can be used for comparative study.

Feminism at the International Level
Do women, so often left out of the political process, have innovative solutions to offer in the area of international politics? The achievements of the Women of Hope suggest that they do. Their activism seems to represent not so much an outgrowth of the feminism developed in the West as a new outpouring of feminist concerns and methods on the international level.

All of the International Women of Hope are intimately connected with day-to-day activities on the local level, where women are the ones most responsible for the welfare of family and community. They carry this perspective into the international sphere, working to change male biases. As Bella Abzug said, "…Because we were not allowed to really develop policy with respect to most issues, we're not wedded to the false policies of the past, the policies that have failed…How do we intend to [make a change]? We're building a women's movement, and we've been making it larger and larger. It's world wide. It's where it's never been before." (Abzug, Bhatt, Maathai, Machel, Madres, Menchú, Robinson, Theorin)

Importance of the United Nations
As the main forum for activity that transcends national borders, the UN is more important today than ever before. Re-structured to meet the needs of a changing world, the UN is incorporating a new focus on human rights. The giant organization is also struggling to include the perspectives of women at every level of its activities.

Few people are fully aware of a dimension of international activism, much of it spearheaded by women, which centers around the UN and its World Conferences. These conferences focus upon specific issues, such as 'women' or the 'environment.' In addition to the UN, which represents the world's governments, a wide range of non-governmental organizations (NGO's) also create networks that extend beyond national borders. Taken together, these organizations provide structures for the implementation of grassroots changes leading to economic and political development, protection of the environment, and promotion of peace and disarmament. Some NGO's also act as government watchdogs, helping to ensure that governments follow through on changes which they have agreed to make. (Abzug, Bhatt, Machel, Menchú, Robinson, Theorin)

Maintaining Global Perspective, While Working Local
'Globalism' – the transcending of national boundaries into a one-world structure – is increasingly important, particularly in the areas of economics and information flow. International Women of Hope cross national boundaries into globalism while at the same time centering their actions at the grassroots level, understanding that only here can significant social change be achieved. The women "think globally, act locally." For example, Ela Bhatt helped the very poorest Indian workers raise their economic levels through self-help banking. She then worked through international organizations to bring these concepts to other countries. (Abzug, Bhatt, Maathai, Machel, Menchú, Robinson, Theorin)

Environmentalism
A healthy earth is central to our well-being; damage to it often affects women first. For example, Wangari Maathai found that excessive cutting of trees affected women's work and the health of their families before other effects, such as erosion, became apparent. As Bella Abzug recognized, "The environment is key…women are the managers of environment and development. And we believe that the continuance of the earth and the maintenance of its health is fundamental to life itself." Therefore, women play a distinct role in overseeing the health of our planet. (Abzug, Maathai, Menchú, Theorin)

Human Rights; Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Rights of Children
All of the Women of Hope recognize the fundamental importance of human rights. Mary Robinson promotes human rights as essential to every aspect of the UN's work, recognizing that "Today's human rights violations are the causes of tomorrow's conflicts." Rigoberta Menchú champions the rights of indigenous people, who have too often been pushed aside as anachronistic impediments to economic and social progress. Graça Machel fights for children's welfare, including their right not to be used in warfare. (Aloni, Machel, Menchú, Robinson)

Peace and Disarmament
The Women of Hope promote peace in many situations and through a diversity of actions. Maj Britt Theorin focuses upon what may be the most critical issue facing humanity: nuclear disarmament. Aung San Suu Kyi insists upon non-violent resistance. She believes that armed struggle can only lead to "a cycle of violence that will never come to an end." (Aung San Suu Kyi, Madres, Theorin)

Warfare and Its Aftermath
As Graça Machel recognizes, at present the major conflicts are not between countries, but within countries, sometimes leading to the brutal confrontations of civil war. Several International Women of Hope work in the midst of some of the most intractable conflicts in the world today. Some have lived through genocide and brutal military rule. In some situations the "rule of law" has been totally absent. The women bravely challenge these conditions, continually calling for democracy and human rights. (Aloni, Ashrawi, Bikunda, Aung San Suu Kyi, Machel, Madres, Menchú)

How can damage between groups within a country be repaired after a period of violent conflict or even genocide? When warfare ends, how can these groups (such as the military and civilians; or two or more ethnic, class, or religious divisions) proceed into the future, living together in peace? The work of several Women of Hope suggests that when women from opposing segments of society work together, social barriers fall away, leading to reconciliation. For example, at Peace Bikunda's clinic in Rwanda, Hutu and Tutsi work peacefully together. (Aloni, Ashrawi, Bikunda, Aung San Suu Kyi, Machel, Menchú)

Another question that arises after a period of atrocities is: what should happen to the wrongdoers? Revenge? Amnesty? If wrongdoers are not brought to justice, how will this affect society? Several Women of Hope have grappled with these complex questions. For example, Rigoberta Menchú has a notion of justice which goes beyond hate and rancor. "Justice is not to revenge one enemy by another enemy. I only think that it is necessary to protect life, and to fight for the people that haven't yet had the chance to live." (Aung San Suu Kyi, Machel, Madres, Menchú)

Power of the Individual to Effect Social Change
Margaret Mead: "It is said that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens cannot change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." All of the Women of Hope embody this conviction. A defining characteristic is their trust in the strength and efficacy of the motivated individual to bring about change, even in the face of severe repression.

It is difficult for people in developed nations to comprehend the extent of repression and resistance that many of these women have faced. They have fought on, often alone, under difficult and dangerous conditions, showing truly remarkable tenacity. Many have literally put their lives on the line. Some have been imprisoned. Others have seen their families physically suffer because of their activism. Their fortitude to fight on in the face of extreme danger is not fully expressed by the concept of 'hope': they are also 'Women of Courage.'

How to use the Materials
The activism of many of the women arose out of complex, desperate situations. Understanding how political conflict developed within the context of a country's history is essential to understanding these women's actions. We have provided background information through the 'Timelines.' Although a 'Timeline' appears after the text, we suggest that you read through the 'Timeline' first, and refer back to it as you read the text.

Also following each text are 'Things to Do and Discuss,' activities and questions for students to discuss or write about. Each section also contains a 'Selected Bibliography' and 'Other Resources,' including organizations, Internet Websites, and videos. At the end of the book are 'Ways to use the Posters and Biographies' as well as 'General Resources' and a world map.

We hope that this material will facilitate use of the posters and Study Guide in a wide range of classroom situations, and that study of the International Women of Hope will lead to a greater understanding of today's global problems and the ways women are working to help solve them.