Half the Sky

I'm sorry to say that although well-meaning, this book is a white saviour's wet dream. The horrors it describes perpetrated against women are harrowing and eye-opening, but the authors ignore the causes of the socio-economic and political problems in the global south leading to such injustices and the global north's massive role in creating and perpetuating these problems (though neoliberalism, historical colonialism, etc.) in favour of recommending bandage solutions that rely on western charity and capitalism. The authors also completely ignore violence and injustice against women in the global north as if it's only a problem "over there" and are a bit racist. They make a big deal out of apparent differences in the size of European vs. African women's pelvises and site this as a reason for higher maternal mortality in Africa while this has nothing to do with solving the problem. They describe muslim women in a patronizing way as if they're all meek and oppressed under their head scarves. They also more broadly describe women whose stories are featured in the book as if they're characters. I can only assume this was either intended to humanize them or as a stylistic choice, but regardless it's often uncomfortable. I would only recommend this book for someone who has a morbid interest or needs a reality check on the state of women's "equality" today because holy shit some of the things you will read in this book are beyond words. If they did one thing right with this book, it's that you will be angry.

I have finished this book with mixed feelings. On the one hand it brought issues to life for me that had previously only touched the edges of my conscience and never before set seed. Having read this I can't not take up the cause of fighting for women's health and education and an end to violence against women and the abolishment of the sex slave trade.

However, I got frustrated with their appearance descriptions of the women whose stories they shared. Maybe it's a writing style I'm not used to, but I felt it unnecessary to tell me that so-and-so was stocky with a round face, or had waist length dirty blonde hair. It jarred, particularly against the experiences of these women and particularly as there were photos of each one so I could see for myself the real person, not the writers' view of their appearance.

More worrying for me was the call for male circumcision. Limited searches have shown that whilst there is some evidence that it can reduce the spread of HIV, UK scientists disagree with their American counterparts in the interpretation of the limited studies that have taken place. The NHS think this may be down to cultural bias, with circumcision being popular in the US.

I loved the idea of the microloans, so instantly searched GlobalGiving and Kiva, however what I found was a sense of mis-selling in the book. From a Kiva perspective you dont actually support a pancake seller in Kabul, their loans will already have been given before their pictures and stories ever reach the site. Does that create less reason to give? It shouldn't but the appeal was to support an actual individual rather than the cause. I cant afford any of the sponsorship schemes out there so had hoped the micro loan idea might be a suitable alternative.

Anyway, just my tuppence-worth. The book is still an absolute must-read if you want to educate yourself on the issues that women face across the globe.

life-changing