Radical Womanhood

The Girl Effect and Recommended Films

There's a book that is attracting a lot of attention for its promotion of "the girl effect"--meaning that if social entrepreneurs invest in women and children in developing nations, there is a big pay-off. It is called Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. (I have mentioned this book before on this blog.) 

Though not written from a Christian perspective, it is still a provoking book and has some fair estimates of the work Christians are doing in this field. I recently reviewed it for Christianity Today--you can read that review on their site. Here is a synopsis:

Husband and wife journalists Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn use Half the Sky to promote the idea that the key to fighting poverty and to unleashing economic success in developing nations is to economically empower women and girls.

Chapter by chapter, the authors introduce readers to individual women in various corners of the world who have overcome oppression, injustice, and abuse—and the social entrepreneurs who helped them to do so. Their central premise is not about women's rights as often defined in Western discussions, but outright and lethal disregard for the value of women and girls: "The global statistics on the abuse of girls are numbing. It appears that more girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all of the wars of the twentieth century. More girls are killed in this routine 'gendercide' in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the twentieth century."

From sex-selective abortions, "honor killings," acid attacks, bride burnings, sex trafficking, and forced prostitution to mass rape, genital cutting, needless maternal mortality, fistulas, and impediments to education and literacy, women and girls in the developing world face real trauma simply for being female.

I've been addressing most of the topics raised in Half the Sky on this blog for quite some time. But I notice that whenever I speak to women around the country, a sizable portion of the audience is unfamiliar with some of the terrible injustices women face in developing nations. Admittedly, many of these audience members are in terrifically busy seasons of life, so that is not said with any condescension. There is waaaay too much information available these days to track every issue. However, for quite some time, I've wanted to compile a list of documentaries that tackle these topics in order to help us all understand the plight of women in other nations. So here is the start of that list:

• A Walk to Beautiful, about the hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, established by missionaries to provide free surgeries for fistula repair, primarily serving women who ruptured due to obstructive labor.
• Lumo, about the Christian-based HEAL Africa hospital in war-torn Goma, Congo, that also offers free fistula repair, primarily serving women who are victims of war rapes.
• Mrs. Goundo's Daughter, about the tradition of genital cutting among young Muslim girls in Mali and how one mother fought to protect her daughter.
• Afghan Star, about the oppression women in Afghanistan endure, framed through the Afghan equivalent of "American Idol." 
• As We Forgive, a documentary about the reconciliation movement in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. 
• At the End of Slavery, a report about modern slavery that runs the gamut from child laborers to sex trafficking, was produced by the International Justice Mission. 

Most of these films are available on Netflix and other outlets. The exceptions are the last two films, and details about how to obtain copies of those films are on the filmmaker's linked sites. 

If you have any other documentaries about women to recommend, please leave a comment!

Drunk: The New Female Tenderness?

So I'm watching the latest romantic comedy when I sense it coming. "Oh, no, here comes the drunk scene," I groan aloud. 

Everyone else in the room looks at me, question marks popping up over their heads. 

"Watch," I say, gesturing toward the TV. "This is the turning point in their relationship. She gets drunk. He has to care for her. She has to stop being her pugnacious self and dial down her obnoxious-meter. She finally receives some protection and leadership from him, and his ability to see her in a tender way changes their relationship dynamic."

Ten seconds later, the script plays out in the predicted manner. And I want to pull my hair out of my head! Why is this the required plot point in 99 out of a 100 romantic comedies?!

My answer? Because Hollywood has no other device to help young women receive the care and leadership of men--other than to have them get falling-down drunk. Until that point, every female rom-com character is outspoken, in-your-face, quirky, and reeking of insecurities that are propped up by a brittle facade of self-confidence. She spars with her love interest because she has not been taught to make room for him in her life, to live inter-dependently, rather than merely independently. And that independence is a sham, anyway, as the drunk scene inevitably reveals. She needs the help of others, but she is too proud to admit it. And that's when his care comes along. He tames her, so to speak, in her drunkennness. She stops fighting him and learns to trust him, but only after she has been humbled by being out of control herself. 

Once the drunk scene is out of the way, the scriptwriters now have a reason for the male and female lead characters to work together, to trust each other, and to have some mutual care for each other. It is sad that women are being told over and over again that 1) this kind of trust and tenderness can only come about by losing self-control, and 2) that alcohol is a female problem (I never see the men getting drunk in these movies anymore). 

My recommendation is that when you watch these movies, point out this contradiction to those watching with you--especially if they are young men and women. Our culture doesn't have a framework for masculine benevolence anymore, which is sad. It seems the only way to showcase that quality is for someone to be so obviously helpless, as in a drunk scene, and then it's okay for a man to exert protective qualities. As for young women, help them to understand that feminine tenderness and receptivity is a good thing, that men today are still looking for that quality, and that you don't have to get drunk to find it.

TONIGHT: When We Left Earth

This is definitely Appointment TV. Set your DVRs, VCRs, or just point your feet in the direction of your TVs in time to catch the special encore edition of "When We Left Earth: Landing the Eagle" at 10 pm ET/PT on the Discovery Channel. This episode is part of the critically-acclaimed series that debuted last year as the first space exporation documentary series to be broadcast in high definition.

I have it on good authority from my friend, Dallas Taylor, who did the audio mix, that tonight's episode includes the scene when the astronauts see the Earth rising for the first time. Then they read from the Genesis 1 creation account as the world sees itself from space for the first time. At least this is how I recall it happening from an except I saw at a film festival a year ago--my apologies in advance if I have my facts mixed up. What I do recall very clearly is how powerful this scene was. I also remember that I watched with a tinge of melancholy, for I doubt very seriously that this would ever be done again on a national broadcast. And it's not that I believe that the Christian faith has to be crammed down everyone's throats, for that certainly is not the gospel of grace. But now it seems the expectation is that we are to be mute in the public square--and this is a great loss in terms of national diversity, as well. 

So don't forget to watch tonight's episode and check out the rest of this historic series, available on DVD, "When We Left Earth."

Thinking About Water

Last week, I became ill with a 24-hour gastrointestinal infection. I have no idea how I came down with it, but as I was recovering I thought about a documentary I saw a month or so ago. It's called "FLOW," and it is about the looming water crisis in our world. 

During one of the interviews, an expert in water safety said that many of the random "stomach bugs" that we contract in the U.S. are actually infections from our water supply. Knowing the aging water supply infrastructure in the Washington, D.C., area and its increasingly common water main breaks, I don't doubt this to be true. But I did some digging online, anyway, and found this candid statement from a Canadian health organization:

The risk of microbial disease associated with drinking water is presently a priority concern among North American water jurisdictions. Numerous past outbreaks, together with recent studies suggesting that drinking water may be a substantial contributor to endemic (non-outbreak related) gastroenteritis, demonstrate the vulnerability of many North American cities to waterborne diseases and have fuelled ongoing debates in Canada and the United States concerning the need for stricter water quality guidelines, changes in watershed management policies, and the need for additional water treatment. 

If you think drinking bottled water is a solution, according to this documentary, there's even less oversight in the bottled water industry. I am cutting down on my bottled water consumption for that reason, as well as the concerns about harmful chemicals in plastics and environmental impact. 

But a larger issue that should be of concern to Christians is what is happening with water rights in developing nations. This documentary definitely had a particular viewpoint, but even so, it presents an issue that we should become familiar with. I know many Christians who are involved in raising money for wells and other water supply solutions--for example, one of my friends asked that people give to a water charity rather than provide birthday gifts--and this is commendable. But I also think we could benefit from educating ourselves on the larger issues regarding water rights. So I recommend that you check out this documentary (available now on DVD) and from there continue your research. I think it will be one of the pressing concerns in this century.

You’ve Got Lies: Chick Flicks and the World’s Approach to Men and Marriage

Beth Spraul at Capitol Hill Baptist Church has written an intriguing analysis of the effect of chick flicks on our thinking. Like me, she is an avid Jane Austen fan, but she has raised some good points about what unguarded consumption of romantic comedies of any era could have on our hearts and minds. In her analysis, she identifies and talks about three subtle lies that can creep into these movies:

• Lie #1: Men think of romance and relational intimacy exactly like women do! 
• Lie #2: If I marry the right man, all will be right in my life.    
• Lie #3: I will know that a man is right for me by feelings I get when I’m with him.   

To be sure, neither Beth nor I are saying don't watch these films. What we're saying is watch with discernment. And watch knowing what is being sold to you because it can have an effect on how you respond to the real life men who try to initiate relationships. Here's how it affected Beth (and I appreciate her candor):

Ladies, beware of elevating worldly “preferences” and expectations above godly qualities when considering a man. Doing so makes you guilty of the same error that men in the church can make when they elevate physical appearance above biblical character qualities in us. Let us flee from holding on to Hollywood programmed ideals and instead look to God’s word for our criteria. Let us stop asking the wrong questions when considering a man, such as: Is he a good dresser? Do others find him attractive? Did I get the “feeling” I always thought I would get when my future husband would ask me out? And, is he romantic? Instead, start asking the right questions: Can he lead me spiritually? Do I see examples of him serving others? Is he humble and teachable? And, do the elders and other godly men commend him?

When my husband of now nearly six years asked me to begin a courtship with him back in the summer of 2002, I was shocked and caught off guard. I was only living in DC for a summer to do my counseling internship, and I didn’t feel like I knew him well enough to say “yes” when he asked. To top it off, my first instinct was to say a polite, “no thank you,” because he was not at first glance what I “imagined” my future husband to be. For those of you who knew Greg back then (can I get a witness, Michael Lawrence?!), he had a very laid-back type of “California-surfer” style to him—one that I interpreted at the time to translate...“slacker.” He had a bold, confident, and outspoken personality, which I interpreted to mean...“arrogant.” I knew we had different interests and tastes. He was a crunchy, outdoorsy environmentalist, and I’ve never been camping in my life!  

However, when he asked me to court him, he encouraged me to talk to three elders who knew him best—one who had discipled him for several years. He told me to feel free to ask them any questions I wanted about his character. I was so impressed that he was willing to open himself up to such scrutiny, allowing these men to speak to me about his strengths and weaknesses so openly. I was interested to hear from these men, instead of having to go on my own limited knowledge. I hoped to base my answer on his character confirmed by others, not on my mere feelings or instinct at the time. 

I spent the next several days prayerfully considering his offer. My instinct was to say “no.” He was simply not who I had “imagined” and it didn’t “feel” like a good fit. Yet, through the wise counsel of my dad and older brother, Scott, I met with all three elders separately. I was completely shocked by what they had to say about Greg’s character. They spoke of his humility, how teachable he was, his sacrificial service, his strong, natural leadership ability, his passion for God’s Word and his organized, disciplined work ethic—so much for the arrogant slacker idea! I soon realized that my brief, external evaluation of him was not at all accurate, and that I would actually be crazy to say “no” to the kind of godly man these elders were describing to me. They were describing by their words the kind of man I did want to marry, even if he did dress like he was from a California beach town! One elder said to me, “I’d let my daughter marry him.” Another said, “I’d let my younger sister marry him.” I had a decision to make. 

You can read the whole article on Capitol Hill Baptist's website.

(Photo: The marriage scene from the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice.)

Winter Watching

We haven't had any significant snow in my area yet this winter, but I've already immersed myself in one of the coldest regions of the world. From the comfort of my own couch, of course, and wrapped up in a cozy blanket. I watched a documentary about a place I will probably never go--Antarctica. This film by legendary documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog is called "Encounters at the End of the World." It's about those who live at McMurdo Station there--the colorful personalities and the work they are doing. I found it fascinating. So if you are in the mood for some vicarious winter experiences, check out this G-rated documentary on DVD. It's great family viewing.

An End of Life Perspective: Rejoice Evermore

I spent a substantial part of the holiday weekend watching the HBO mini-series, "John Adams," now that it's out on DVD. Independence Day seemed to be the best time to tackle this highly acclaimed series. I enjoyed it but it drove me to Google to find out how much of it was accurate. As I suspected, there's substantial artistic license. While I could anticipate the marital intimacy of John and Abigail's reunion scene and fast-forward through it, I didn't see the tar-and-feather scene coming. It was disturbing for its violence, surprising for its brief scene of male nudity, and completely gratuitous for its historical inaccuracy. However, it did provide a reason for Adams' fear of mobs. Another surprise scene was the breast cancer surgery scene of Adams' daughter in the final episode--not much is left to the imagination. It made me grateful for modern medicine.

However, I was mesmerized by one of the final scenes in the last episode. John Adams is around 90 years old, walking in the field with his son, and he quotes the apostle Paul: “Rejoice evermore" (Philippians 4:4). Then he muses that he wished he’d had that much more on his tongue and in his heart when he was a younger man. The very thought of rejoicing evermore makes him giddy and he exclaims that he should fall on his knees in adoration right now.

As I watched the series, I became more aware of God’s grace upon our nation and was amazed at what a fragile start we had. But I didn’t expect a deep insight to blindside me at the conclusion. I had to watch this scene again to absorb this simple but profound reflection. To reach the end of one's life with so many contentious memories and conclude that rejoicing should have been a hallmark of one's life is precious. I do hope this was actually a reflection from John Adams himself. And I pray to take it to heart myself.

Under Our Skin

"Under Our Skin" is a documentary I would recommend to most women. I recommend it because we are often the caregivers in our families and among our circle of friends. We need to be savvy about diseases, infections, and the medical industry. So today's blog post is more along the lines of a public service announcement than anything particularly spiritual. However, after watching this documentary, I think we should be praying for our health care system, too!

I saw "Under Our Skin" on the closing night of the SILVERDOCS film festival. I immediately purchased a DVD and began circulating it among my friends who have been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Even if this documentary if only half right, it's still a huge cautionary tale about the state of medical research and modern epidemics. Here is how the producers describe this "infectious new film about microbes, money, and medicine":

In the early 1970s, a mysterious ailment was discovered among children living around the town of Lyme, CT. What was first diagnosed as isolated cases of juvenile arthritis, eventually became known as Lyme disease, an illness triggered by spiral-shaped bacteria, similar to the microorganisms that cause syphilis. Today, many of those untreated will suffer chronic debilitating illness. Some unknowingly will pass the disease on to their unborn children. Many will lose their livelihoods, and still others, their lives.

Yet Lyme disease is one of the most misunderstood and controversial illnesses of our time. Difficult to test accurately, tens of thousands of people go undiagnosed—or misdiagnosed with such conditions as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, autism, MS and ALS. The Centers for Disease Control admits that more than 200,000 people may acquire Lyme disease each year, a number greater than AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu combined. And yet, the medical establishment—with profound influence from the insurance industry—has stated that the disease is easily detectable and treatable, and that “chronic Lyme” is some other unrecognized syndrome or a completely psychosomatic disorder.

UNDER OUR SKIN is a powerful and often terrifying look not only at the science and politics of the disease, but also the personal stories of those whose lives have been affected and nearly destroyed. From a few brave doctors who risk their medical licenses, to patients who once led active lives but now can barely walk, the film uncovers a hidden world that will astound viewers. While exposing a broken health care and medical research system, the film also gives voice to those who believe that instead of a crisis, Lyme is simply a "disease du jour," over diagnosed and contributing to another crisis: the looming resistance of microbes and ineffectuality of antibiotics. As suspenseful and hair-raising as any Hollywood thriller, UNDER OUR SKIN is sure to get under yours.

This trailer embedded below is a good summary of the film and will give you a fairly accurate overview of the various issues--highly recommended for those who are unfamiliar with Lyme. You can watch another trailer and learn more about the film on the "Under Our Skin" website, as well as purchase a DVD.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Yesterday at the SILVERDOCS film festival, I watched a film with the provocative title, "Pray the Devil Back to Hell." It was the story of women in Liberia who developed a powerful, non-violent protest in a nation torn by the most horrific violence against civilians and combatants alike. The peace movement began with Christian women and incorporated Muslim women in order to call the men of their nation to account. The women likened themselves to Esther, standing in the gap against the bloodshed of a nation. There are scenes of them standing outside the peace talks, praying and fasting--a constant, unwavering presence of white-clad women opposing both then-president Charles Taylor and the various rebel factions.

It is a well-made documentary. It is also sobering and even shocking at times as the women describe what they endured over the past decade--but it is not built upon scenes of gratuitous violence. I would recommend it for older teens on up. Younger children might find it hard to process what happened to other children close to their age. I am a big fan of documentaries because the best ones have as strong and compelling a narrative as any fiction-based film, and they are usually a better investment of your time. (Not that I'm against entertainment. I like to chill with a good film myself, but it's getter harder and harder to find films that don't require a lot of fast-forwarding through unedifying scenes.) "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" is currently on the film festival circuit, but you can put it in your Netflix queue now (and presumably other such services) and wait for it to become available. Here's the trailer, but it is a bit more sensational than the overall tone of the film. You can get a better sense of the film by watching the clips on the film's website.

A Walk to Beautiful

What a wonderful convergence. I've been reading a book that was lent to me titled, The Hospital by the River, by Dr. Catherine Hamlin, while I've been in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tonight, May 13, PBS is airing an award-winning documentary on NOVA called, A Walk to Beautiful, which is about the work done by the doctor in this book. I've set my DVR and look forward to watching it when I get back. The story is set in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, which is why I'm eager to see it. Here are some details about the film from a press release:

The film tells the personal stories of rural women who make their way to Addis Ababa, seeking treatment for obstetric fistula, a life-shattering complication of childbirth that was once common in the pre-industrial United States but that is now relegated to the poorest regions of the world. In Ethiopia alone, there are an estimated 100,000 women suffering from untreated fistulas. Shot in a starkly beautiful landscape, the film juxtaposes the isolated lives of village women who are outcasts because of their medical condition, with the faraway hospital that offers a miracle after a long and arduous trek--a "walk to beautiful."

Women with small pelvises, whether due to malnutrition, overwork, or because they married too young, are most at risk, since there is often not room for the baby to emerge during birth. The result can be an obstructed labor that may last up to 10 days, a stillborn baby, and a trauma-induced hole, or fistula, in the vaginal wall that produces chronic incontinence. The women profiled in A Walk to Beautiful are treated as virtual lepers in their villages, where they are shunned by family and made to live alone. One woman admits to contemplating suicide.

Through chance they learn that there are other women who share their affliction, and that the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital exists to help them, if they can manage to walk for hours to the nearest road, find public transport to the capital, and then search out the hospital in a strange and forbidding city. Once there, they enter a haven that they never imagined, surrounded by women like themselves and a medical staff of Western and African doctors who treat them like human beings, not outcasts.

Dr. Hamlin is a Christian from Australia who came here with her husband. He died in 1993, but she remains in Addis to serve these women.

"My husband and I came to Ethiopia in 1959," she says. "The previous gynecologist that we replaced said to my husband, 'The fistula patients will break your hearts.'"

I hope I will be able to visit this hospital during my trip. But if not, I am eager to finish the book and watch the documentary when I get home. I pray that it is a good witness and an encouragement to those who watch it. You can read more about this documentary and see images from the area on the NOVA website.