Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

by Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn (Goodreads Author)

4.35 of 5 stars 4.35 · rating details · 15,863 ratings · 2,860 reviews

From two of our most fiercely moral voices, a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls in the developing world.

With Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them...more

Hardcover, 294 pages

Published September 8th 2009 by Knopf (first published 2008)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

Powerful International Non-Fiction

2nd out of 79 books — 117 voters

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Books That Changed My World

58th out of 1,383 books — 1,449 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 16, 2011 Sparrow rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: You; world movers and shakers

Recommended to Sparrow by: Tracey Coleman

Shelves: non-fiction, girls-rule, reviewed, slaves, motherless-daughters, history-of-women

I think what I want the most this year is for everyone I know to read this book. I don’t really know what to say about it, except that it is exactly what it should be. It’s hard to even think for too long about how purposeful and smart Kristof and WuDunn were in structuring and presenting the information they included here because it obviously represents a lifetime of research and investigation, but it comes off as though they’re telling campfire stories. I don’t mean to be disrespectful in desc...more I think what I want the most this year is for everyone I know to read this book. I don’t really know what to say about it, except that it is exactly what it should be. It’s hard to even think for too long about how purposeful and smart Kristof and WuDunn were in structuring and presenting the information they included here because it obviously represents a lifetime of research and investigation, but it comes off as though they’re telling campfire stories. I don’t mean to be disrespectful in describing it that way, and they certainly weren’t. I just mean that all of the heroes in this book are very vivid to me, and I want to meet them all and do anything I can for them. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say I care about human rights for women and girls more than anything else in the entire world. If nothing else, this book is a wonderful resource for information and direction on these issues, but it really is both a storybook and a guidebook.

The premise of the book is that the great human rights battle of the twenty-first century will be to make women equal around the world. The main problems Kristof and WuDunn focus on are child sex trafficking, lack of education for girls, fistulas, and maternal mortality. Ultimately, they say (**spoiler alert**) that the best ways to fight these injustices are through education, micro-finance loans to women entrepreneurs, and, surprisingly enough, getting TVs into rural areas of developing countries.

They note that typically the mistake activists make, when trying to motivate people, is overwhelming them with statistics by trying to present the big picture of how the cause affects the world. Kristof talks a little bit about this in his article Advice for Saving the World. There is some psychological study where the testers took two groups of people and told one group they could help a thousands of people by giving a dollar and told the other group they could help one person by giving a dollar and described that person’s situation. The test subjects were much more likely to help the one person than the huge number of people. This makes sense to me, because people want to feel successful in helping, not like they’re throwing a bunch of money and effort into something that is too big to be solved. WuDunn and Kristof managed this by discussing the problems in a very specific format. For each issue, they would present the story of one or two women who in some way exemplify the problem, then they would give background information on the problem historically and brief statistics, and then they would tell the story of someone who is successfully fighting the problem. Even though I know they were in some ways spoon-feeding me by being so purposeful, this was a very inspirational way to write the book. They weren’t patronizing, and in many ways it is such a substantial topic that I think I need to be spoon-fed.

All of my stories end up being about Ukraine, probably because the others tend to be boring and depressing. It is difficult to know what to write about Half the Sky, because I loved it so much, but it made me think of this little moment with my ninth-grade students. I used to make my classes write stories together to practice vocabulary, so on Valentine’s Day, I made them write a love story. I gave them a boy character and a girl character and asked them to describe them. They said the girl was tall and strong, had big muscles, short hair, and was very brave. The boy had beautiful hair, was graceful, small, and kind. I was impressed by them going against the usual gender stereotypes, which I found to be extreme in Ukraine. But, then, I thought, they were my favorite class, and always had a good political point or poignant question for me.

At some point, though, one of the students exclaimed, “No! No! Miss Holley! We are wrong. These words, ‘boy’ and ‘girl!’ We are wrong about these words! You must move them!” Then, there was a lot of yelling in Russian, and I laughed pretty hysterically for about 10 minutes at the mistake they had made. Obviously, I refused to switch the words, and we had a nice little lesson about how girls can be very brave and boys can be graceful. If the kids hadn’t been drilled from birth to stay in their seats come hell or high water, I’m sure one of them would have forcibly changed the words.

I guess I’m not telling this story to point out how silly it is that some kids think girls have to have long hair. Teaching moments are important; but, also, I think that really important humanitarian issues can be clouded by the idea that feminism exists because a girl got her feelings hurt. I am not married to the word ‘feminism,’ though I do love it. I think, though, there is almost no real way to discuss this topic using a phrase that doesn’t typically get disregarded as trivial. This book is not about girls opening their own car doors or boys having cooties. This book is about slavery and genocide, perpetrated against the female half of the population, which is globally considered subhuman.

The most difficult part for me about this entire topic is when women themselves don’t want to improve their own lives or the lives of other women. There is a small mention in this book about families who have very little food and allow the men to eat first. The boys in the family will be healthy and strong, and the girls will eventually be taken to hospitals, wasted and malnourished (if they are lucky). The mother of the house herself will eat, and the family gets fat on the starvation of the girls. This is not only a problem in developing nations. Women perpetuating the dehumanizing of other women occurs all over, from West Africa to West Hollywood. It bothers me when I meet men who really hate women or women who really hate men, but then I think the person probably had some kind of traumatic experience with the opposite gender and is over-stereotyping. It seems really disturbing and unnatural to me, however, when women hate other women. I don’t want that to exist.

Now to go uncomfortably personal on y’all. I finished this book last month, a couple of days after my mom died from an eight-year-long, horrible illness. By the end, her illness was sadder than her death, so I am not saying this for sympathy. My mom’s life just seems somehow connected to the topic of this book. I guess, with any discussion of women, our mothers’ lives, our own lives, and our relationships with our mothers are very present. My mother was a very unhappy person. She believed that men should provide and women should be fulfilled by motherhood. I don’t know if she was unhappy because life didn’t live up to that standard, or because she believed women should be unhappy, or maybe even because the universe conspired against her. My mom and I were very different and didn’t communicate very well. There are many things I don’t know about her. I do know, however, that there was more to her than the unhappy woman I grew up with. I believe there is more to any woman who dehumanizes herself, or other women, than only the hopelessness and resignation they show to the world.

I also think it is possible to create a world that is nurturing to both men and women. I don’t even think it should be as difficult as it seems. There are many things to be discouraged about in the fight to give women human rights; but, there are also people who stand up to oppression, helping women around them and women internationally. I do not feel discouraged by my mother’s disappointments, but I decided to go to law school partly because of them. I hope that when I get out I’ll be able to advocate for women and girls and help the heroes Kristof and WuDunn talk about in Half the Sky. In the meantime, you should read this book and do your part, too – even if your part is only hugging your mom and reminding her, if she needs a reminder, that she’s a worthwhile human being.
(less)

74 likes · like · see review

Jan 01, 2010 Laurel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, history

I found this book to be quite powerful. Pulitzer prize winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn vividly describe the brave plights of women in developing nations in ways that were incredibly eye opening to me. While I was aware of the brutal conditions (lack of education, demoralization, rape, beatings, sex trafficking, mutilations, and murder) of women and young girls going on in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, I admit I did not fully realize the immense enormity of it....more I found this book to be quite powerful. Pulitzer prize winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn vividly describe the brave plights of women in developing nations in ways that were incredibly eye opening to me. While I was aware of the brutal conditions (lack of education, demoralization, rape, beatings, sex trafficking, mutilations, and murder) of women and young girls going on in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, I admit I did not fully realize the immense enormity of it. Nor did I fully realize how much all these atrocities can so intricately tie in with such things as the global economy and modern terrorism.

Despite the authors notation that statistics are less effective in inspiring people to take action (personal stories work better), here are some statistics mentioned that I personally found hard to wrap my mind around:

"More girls were killed in the last 50 years, precisely because they were girls, than men killed in all the wars in the 20th century. More girls are killed in this routine gendercide in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the 20th century. "

"The equivalent of 5 jumbo jets worth of women die in labor each day... life time risk of maternal death is 1,000x higher in a poor country than in the west. That should be an international scandal."

While these statistics are disturbing and sobering, to say the least, the book itself is quite empowering and hopeful. The authors introduce us to individual women around the world battling these horrible conditions, and their strength and spirit shine through the pages. It's impossible not to be moved.

The book is also not without interesting suggestions and ideas to help bring about change. And clearly something must be done. As the authors note, "in the 19th century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the 20th century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that, in this century, the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality in the developing world."

This book is a hugely important, shocking, eye opening and thought provoking read. I highly recommend it.(less)

20 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2013 Furqan added it · review of another edition

Shelves: feminism, non-fiction, politics, culture, south-asia, great-and-terrible-women

[Review deleted. Because my opinion of book has changed.]

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 10, 2010 Allison rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, women-who-inspire-me

"In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world."

When I first heard Nicholas Kristof make this argument at the PIH symposium in October, I was taken aback. Not because I didn't believe and have a firm understanding that gender discrimination worldwide is shockingly brutal and horrifying....more "In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world."

When I first heard Nicholas Kristof make this argument at the PIH symposium in October, I was taken aback. Not because I didn't believe and have a firm understanding that gender discrimination worldwide is shockingly brutal and horrifying. But, at the time, it seemed like a self-serving statement. "Of course you feel that way," I thought. "You have a book on women's issues to sell. Is it really possible that gender equality is the central issue of the twenty-first century? More so than terrorism, poverty, hunger, global warming....?" Then I read this book and I now believe that he is right. In Half the Sky, Kristof and WuDunn compellingly argue that empowering women is not just a moral imperative, but a cause that has great potential to make a significant contribution to reducing other major issues like terrorism, poverty, hunger, and global warming.

This is a bold book that dares to take a stand, political correctness be damned. The discipline and work of human development in the developing world is complicated. Well-meaning people wish to empower women without being culturally intolerant. But how can we tolerate violence like the sex slave trade and genital cutting? Kristof and WuDunn believe that local, grassroots efforts, supported by Western money and human-power, are the real agents of change. Cultural change must come from within, but it needs support. They are also not afraid to point out that a large proportion of countries that systemically discriminate against women are perpredominantly Muslim. They make this claim and then explore why. They are not afraid to point out that some of the most vilified leaders in history have been the most effective at empowering women and reaping the rewards (the title of the book comes from a quote by Mao himself). They know that empowering and emancipating women is a staggeringly worth cause on its own. Yet they know that it will take more than a moral imperative to rally the world behind this issue, and I can only hope that their arguments take hold and begin to inspire the world to care about its women.(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Feb 13, 2013 Galen Johnson rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club-books, non-fiction

I heard a number of people rave about this book, so I was excited to read it. By the time I was finished with the first two chapters, I was left with an uncomfortable, almost icky, feeling. Not from the subject matter (which is disturbing but a topic I have read about extensively), but from the tone of the writing. I kept reading, thinking it would get better. But soon the book and the uncomfortable feeling became worse, and I started to be able to name the source of the ickiness and my overall...more I heard a number of people rave about this book, so I was excited to read it. By the time I was finished with the first two chapters, I was left with an uncomfortable, almost icky, feeling. Not from the subject matter (which is disturbing but a topic I have read about extensively), but from the tone of the writing. I kept reading, thinking it would get better. But soon the book and the uncomfortable feeling became worse, and I started to be able to name the source of the ickiness and my overall discomfort with the book: Ethnocentrism. Sexism. Paternalism. Lack of cohesion to the arguments. So, most of my review will focus on that. BUT, I do have to say that the subject matter-- the horrors of slavery and rape and the sexism and the poverty that so many people around the world suffer-- is something that should not be ignored. I would rather have people read this book than have no information on these topics at all. However, I wish that people would either get their information from another source to begin with or hope that people quickly move on to reading better, more open and thoughtful sources on the topics.

One thing that rubbed me the wrong way about the writing (and the internet now tells me that this is a common complaint about Kristof’s writing) is the “othering” of the victims, the painfully western perspective on all things and the paternalistic tone. The victims are rarely portrayed as full human beings, but objects whose story begins and ends with their suffering (or, perhaps, extends long enough to serve as a success story for the authors or other saviors.) Rape victims are named, pictures of women in operating rooms are shown, and the privacy of these victimized women is not respected in the way that would be demanded for western subjects. Most women in the book are referred to by their first name, most men (especially western men) are referred to by their last names. Yes, there are exceptions, but look at the chapter section on the charity work of Overlake High School-- a male Newsweek writer and the male school principal are referred to by their last names or full names, a female student by her first name (even though the full names of all three were given when introduced). This might seem like a small thing, but it is an easy-to-quantify example of the paternalistic tone the authors take with the women they write about.

The authors explicitly address that their writing will be anecdote-driven in a section explaining sociological research that demonstrated greater action taken by people hearing personal stories than hearing statistics about an issue. I will ignore the fact that this infantilizes readers (ha, we just need to emotionally manipulate you here rather than actually educate you!), and say that it is actually a good thing they mostly avoid statistics because they seem incapable of writing about numbers well. In one chapter, they wrote, “One experiment....found that after three years family planning programs reduced the average number of births to 5.1 in the target area, compared to 6.7 in the control area.” Average births per WHAT? Per family? Per acre? Per woman? The reference is given in the notes, but it wouldn’t have taken that much extra writing (or editing) to just make the sentence helpful to begin with.

The lack of consistency (if not outright contradictions) regarding real, workable solutions to the multitude of problems presented in the book was especially frustrating. There is constant proselytizing for more education for females, but then in a chapter on improving rural health care the authors write, “One sensible response [to the lack of doctors in rural areas] is to start training programs in Africa that produce many more health care professionals, but in two- or three-year programs that don’t grant MDs that allow the graduates to find jobs abroad.” So, besides making extremely broad generalizations about an entire diverse continent, the authors think Africans should be educated enough to help themselves but not enough to participate in the opportunities of the world? We westerners should impose limits on how high you Africans can rise, but we will also look down on you for thinking your women are less deserving of opportunity than your men?

The authors seem to be writing for a U.S. audience (many of the charity examples are from the U.S., and comments are made about the need for Americans to see more of the world), but there is no discussion of why the U.S., a developed, non-Muslim, country with equal voting rights, pretty good health care, and education for women, still has non-negligible problems with human trafficking, violence against women, and with disparate quality in maternal health. We have outlawed brothels (in most states), and yet there is still a problem with women and girls being forced into prostitution against their will. Human trafficking in the U.S. is a problem, even if the majority of the victims come from other countries. Why don’t the authors discuss this when proposing better education, harsher laws against brothel owners, and women speaking up as solutions? Clearly, there is much more depth to all of these issues than the authors are willing or able to go into.

I could go on and on-- multiple times in each chapter, I have “?!?!?!” in the margins beside unclear statistics, sexist statements, and contradictory ideas. The bottom line is that this is an important book topic, but it has been mangled in the execution. While there are some concrete suggestions for how to move forward on these issues, there are also statements such as, "If you're a parent, take your kids not just to London but also to India or Africa-or to the other side of the tracks in your own hometown." Yes, because everyone interested in helping others has the disposable income to travel the world and lives on the "right" side of the tracks. I do hope that more people learn about these human rights issues, and I hope that readers who have been inspired by this book also read the criticism by writers like Teju Cole, Elliott Prasse-Freeman, Sally Scholz, and Laura Agustin.

[Disclaimer: I have not finished the book yet, so if the last chapter has a big twist like in “Gone Girl” and all the previous chapters need to be re-interpreted, then obviously I have missed out.] [Okay, I finished, and if anything I think even less of the book.](less)

18 likes · like · see review

Dec 05, 2009 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspiring

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. (Before you finish reading this abbreviated review and decide you may not want to read the book, I haven't told you the whole story. Read it for yourself. It would do us a world of good to all become a little more cosmopolitan.)

"Half the Sky" begins frankly, "So let us be clear about this up front: We hope to recruit you to join an incipient movement to emancipate women and fight global poverty by unlocking women's power as economic catalysts. That is the process underway- not a drama of victimi...more (Before you finish reading this abbreviated review and decide you may not want to read the book, I haven't told you the whole story. Read it for yourself. It would do us a world of good to all become a little more cosmopolitan.)

"Half the Sky" begins frankly, "So let us be clear about this up front: We hope to recruit you to join an incipient movement to emancipate women and fight global poverty by unlocking women's power as economic catalysts. That is the process underway- not a drama of victimization but empowerment, the kind that transforms bubbly teenage girls from brothel slaves into successful businesswomen."

Usher in nightmarish narrations of women shipped to brothels, kept there under threat of death; women so brutally raped that their insides are torn apart; women kept in claustrophobic huts; women tortured or killed when honor is perceived to have been betrayed. In the midst of these sordid atrocities, there are stories of survival, of extraordinary courage and vision, born with the aim of alleviating the suffering so many women experience. The stories of empowerment Kristof and WuDunn share do inspire hope that something can be done to alleviate the suffering of half the population- the other half who hold up the sky. "Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people." George Bernard Shaw

More than a handful of women who have survived- who are thriving, considering the lives they lived before breaking through to something much healthier for the soul- have their stories woven through the journalists' need to capture the prism of suffering enveloping the developing world. Prostitution, maternal mortality, rape, etc. prance through the text, each sharing a bit of the stage as . . . I wobbled, bent on finishing the book, yet feeling I was living in an alternate universe. Indignant, and yet thoroughly protected from this other chimerical world.

"Behind the rapes and other abuse heaped on women in much of the world, it's hard not to see something more sinister than just libido and prurient opportunism. Namely: sexism and misogyny. . ." Or perhaps gynophobia? Are these men crippled- emotionally, mentally, and therefore, politically- by their fear of the emotional, sexual, and matriarchal potential women bear? Aren't men who intimidate with the only power they possess, namely brute force, trying to place limits on the possibility that women might be 'powerful beyond measure'? There may be a clinical difference between each kind of abuse, a psychological rationale distinctive to each; but if something does tie all the abuses together, would it not be closer to self-loathing and fear of something so much greater than oneself?

In fact, many women are also at fault for enslaving their own, albeit through absorbing and transmitting misogynistic values. What of the claim that women civilize? "A society with more men than women- particularly young men [the case in so many of the countries where women's rights are arbitrary, if they exist at all:], is often associated with crime or violence. The historian Davide Courtwright has argued that one reason America is relatively violent, compared to Europe, is the legacy of a male surplus. Until WW II, the United States was disproportionately male, and the frontier was overwhelmingly so. The result, he suggests, was a tradition of aggressiveness, short tempers, and violence that still echoes in America's relatively high homicide rates. The same analysis, while controversial, may also help explain why male-dominated Muslim societies have similar threads emphasizing self-reliance, honor, courage, and a quick resort to violence." And why does the female factor civilize so? Surely there is more than sexual conquest at stake.

The rub: (if offending moral sensibilities weren't enough) the economic implications of discriminating against half the human race. "To deny women is to deprive a country of labor and talent, but- even worse- to undermine the drive to achievement of boys and men." Further, "Almost invariably around the globe, countries and companies that have deployed women according to their talents have prospered. Public companies with more women executives consistently perform better than those with fewer women. . . Women cloistered in huts, uneducated, unemployed, and unable to contribute significantly to the world represent a vast seam of human gold that is never mined. The consequence of failing to educate girls is a capacity gap not only in billions of dollars but also in billions of IQ points."

Kristof and WuDunn complete the 'recruitment' in an ending chapter offering practical advice for the novice social entrepreneur, including a section entitled, 'Four Steps You Can Take in the Next Five Minutes" and an appendix containing information on organizations supporting women. Though we in the West are peripheral to the much of the oppression so vividly described in this book, we can, we should play an active role in the grassroots movements that support education, leadership, and change in culture. (less)

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 08, 2009 C. marked it as to-read

Recommended to C. by: Meredith Holley

Shelves: feminism, history-politics-economics

I'm a little bit concerned when empowerment of women becomes a political tool. It's easier for a masculinised system of power to say that women need to be educated in Afghanistan because it will help reduce terrorism than to say that women need to be educated in Afghanistan because they are, you know, human beings. Domestic violence, rape and general mistreatment or oppression of women can easily be turned into a political symbol that represents nationalistic or other concerns (as is shown very...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 19, 2012 Antof9 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-realz, leadership, made-me-think, liberry, made-me-cry, medical, mothers, nonfiction, principle-book, women, world-religions

This is definitely a heavy book to read, but it wasn't unbearable. Beyond the obviously heavy subject matter, I think what was most overwhelming was all the myriad ways there are to help in this area. Almost too many. Certainly that's not the fault of the authors; in fact, they did a great job presenting so many ways to help, and they've clearly done their research. It was just almost too many ways.

That said, this is a powerful book, and the authors have done a really excellent job of explaining...more This is definitely a heavy book to read, but it wasn't unbearable. Beyond the obviously heavy subject matter, I think what was most overwhelming was all the myriad ways there are to help in this area. Almost too many. Certainly that's not the fault of the authors; in fact, they did a great job presenting so many ways to help, and they've clearly done their research. It was just almost too many ways.

That said, this is a powerful book, and the authors have done a really excellent job of explaining and educating. What I wonder is are the people reading this book the already convinced? If so, they needn't have bothered. If the word is getting out and people who didn't know are reading it, then YAY!

I learned about International Justice Mission sometime in the ... mid-90s (?), so the trafficking concept certainly wasn't new to me. But this book definitely opened my eyes to the widespread extent of abuse, neglect, and elimination of women in a way I was previously unaware.

I was impressed with the author's work even from the Introduction. They straight up "confess" to journalism's lack of reporting on this issue. From the idea of if a Chinese boy gets sick, he goes to the hospital right away but for Chinese girls, they wait and see, to the horror of huge numbers ("When a prominent dissident was arrested in China, we would write a front-page article; when 100,000 girls were routinely kidnapped and trafficked into brothels, we didn't even consider it news."), this book covers it all. They talk about all kinds of organizations -- local, faith-based, conservative, liberal, etc. They cover the gamut, and fairly and honestly. They don't go for sensationalism (it's hardly necessary when describing what they're describing), and so it wasn't "too hard" to read, but it is necessary to read.

In the chapter "Rescuing Girls is the Easy Part" (!), they close with a familiar Hawaiian parable, which was so perfect for this story.

A man goes out on the beach and sees that it is covered with starfish that have washed up in the tide. A little boy is walking along, picking them up and throwing them back into the water.
"What are you doing, son?" the man asks. "You see how many starfish there are? You'll never make a difference."
The boy paused thoughtfully, and picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean.
"It sure made a difference to that one," he said.

And therein lies the reason we should fight this fight.

I liked the author's point that this isn't just a "women's issue". "The unfortunate reality is that women's issues are marginalized, and in any case sex trafficking and mass rape should no more be seen as women's issues than slavery was a black issue or the Holocaust was a Jewish issue. These are all humanitarian concerns, transcending any one race, gender, or creed." (emphasis mine)

There's so much more I could quote or say but really, "how to get involved" is what it boils down to for every person. Which is why I would recommend this book. It reminded me of "The Blue Sweater" - more interesting in the first half, and more clinical in the second half, but still a book that should be read on principle.

Oh, and I'd give this 3.5 if we could give half stars.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 09, 2010 Charlotte rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

It's eye-opening, sad, bleak and compelling. The abuse and strength of women in developing and third world countries is told through the stories of individual women the authors have met. They plead the case for education and health care to make a difference. Here's a review that says it much better than I can:

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...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Janelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! What a moving and important book to read. I watched the PBS special a few months back and was very moved, but the book is 100 times better! I wasn't sure whether it would be an easy read because I worry about that with non-fiction, but the stories are well written and interest-provoking. One problem is that I had a hard time taking time off from reading it and I had nightmares of being a prostitute in a brothel. Please read this!

There are slaves in the 21st century - young women sold to bro...more

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 11, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I've totally had a change of heart regarding this book. Oddly enough, it took an ignorant comment from someone I don't even know on Facebook to look at it differently. Someone was making the argument that giving a baby boy a circumcision in the US is the same as female genital cutting in third world countries. This person went so far as to say that infant boys feel just as oppressed as the girls who are cut. WHAT??!! Clearly, this person has no idea what these women and girls go through. I...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jan 20, 2013 Shelley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: africa, asia, non-fiction

The goal of this book is to pop the bubble of first world complacency and shed light on the oppression and cruelty that afflicts many women across the globe, particularly in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Instead of inundating readers with statistics, which are often specious and difficult to fathom, Kristof and WuDunn profile women who have suffered at the hands of societies that don't recognize the inherent worth and dignity of the female gender. The suffering has a human face, and it's f...more The goal of this book is to pop the bubble of first world complacency and shed light on the oppression and cruelty that afflicts many women across the globe, particularly in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Instead of inundating readers with statistics, which are often specious and difficult to fathom, Kristof and WuDunn profile women who have suffered at the hands of societies that don't recognize the inherent worth and dignity of the female gender. The suffering has a human face, and it's far more difficult to shirk off. Many of the women profiled have achieved amazing things for their communities, in spite of the adversity they faced. Their stories are heartbreaking, inspiring and humbling. My feelings alternated between smoldering rage at the perpetrators and a sense of sisterly solidarity with the victims. Needless to say, the content of this book is very difficult to digest, but so important to consider.

I would encourage anyone with the emotional fortitude to grapple with the horror in this book to read it. The authors accomplish their goals, risking their lives, at times, to do it. They are well-deserving of the accolades this book received.

As much as I appreciated this book, it's not without it's flaws. These flaws are small compared to the wonderful mission of this book, but, here they are, nonetheless:

1) The authors struck me as reliable sources, and I found myself mostly on board with their diagnoses and prescriptions. That being said, however, several times while reading this book I was reminded of the importance of thinking critically about arguments before jumping on board, seeking alternate opinions when possible. For example, their glowing endorsement of Greg Mortenson (this book was published before Krakauer's scathing exposé of Mortenson and his "philanthropic" work) was a good reminder that humanitarian workers, however noble their work may be, are still human and not necessarily free of ulterior motives--and that includes the authors, as well. Another example that concerned me is the authors' complete faith in microfinancing endeavors as a means to transform poor, stagnant nations. Intrigued by the concept of microfinancing, I listened to an interview with an economist from Duke university who argued that there is currently no evidence whatsoever that microfinancing can transform communities, let alone nations. In his view, microfinancing functions much more like a lottery; it might just transform one lucky person's life, but that's it. In my mind, it's probably still worth pursing, even if that's the case, but prospective donors ought to hear both sides of the argument.

2) I found the authors' discussion of religion to be very problematic. I wished they would have just left the topic alone, since it was clear - to me, anyways - that they lacked the knowledge tackle this issue fairly. I could have predicted their indictment of the Bible as a misogynist book that advocates the stoning of young girls and the oppression of women. Honestly, I don't expect Kristoff and WuDunn to understand the truths that Christians from different times and places have affirmed for centuries: about Christ abolishing the old covenant and fulfilling the new (which is why it's nonsensical to say that the Bible "advocates" the stoning of unfaithful women) and about Paul's progressive admonition that "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for [we] are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:28) and about the radical biblical reality that both men and women are God's image-bearers, and, as such, are worthy of dignity, respect and protection. Had they known that, I would have been genuinely surprised, so that's not really what bothered me. What annoyed me was their inconsistent and unbalanced treatment of the religions. They take texts from the Bible at face value without any consideration of context or sound hermeneutics, while relying on the interpretations of a very narrow segment of Muslim scholars - namely progressive, feminist types - to speak solely for the Qur'an. Frankly, I don't have any knowledge or preconceived notions about the Qur'an. I'm sure it does contain many passages that can be argued as defending and honoring women. At many points in the book, the authors go out of their way to cast aspersion on the Christian faith: 1) they cite one example of a Christian Pakistani woman whose male relatives were apparently debating whether to kill or beat her for some minor infraction - who knows if they were Christians; I don't think it's mentioned. 2) They make an offhand claim that there are some professing Christians out there who practice female genital mutilation (it's not believed to have ever been a widespread problem in Christian communities, and they know it). Yet, an ENTIRE chapter of the book is dedicated to defending Islam, even though, according to the authors, a hearty majority of the suffering women profiled from the book are from Muslim communities. From my vantage point, their analysis is often disingenuous, presumably motivated by political correctness and just hard to take seriously. And the topic of religion is not even germane to the book's primary burden, so just leave it alone, guys!

As much as Kristof and WuDunn's discussion of religion irked me, I refuse to let it overshadow the powerful message of this book: that millions of women are persecuted today, just for being women. That's a burden that everyone ought to bear and address, regardless of religion, politics or culture, and the authors agree that that is the case. For that, I applaud them.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 25, 2012 The Book Garden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio

An incredibly intense reading about oppression, physical abuse, female circumcision, and sexual abuse of women in third world countries. Each story is heartbreaking; some stories will inspire.
Not only is it horrific that women are treated as less than animals, it's unspeakably sad that men are raised in a culture that allows and encourages such evil and despicable acts, and if these acts are acceptable toward women, how do they treat each other, as well?

The author kept bringing up anti-establis...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 10, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, meridian

Difficult to review such heart-wrenching stories. I had no idea. I mean, I guess I was peripherally aware of some of the horrors they describe, but I had no idea just how far we still have to go.

You can't read this book and not want to DO something.

Will write a more coherent response after I've been able to process it for a little longer.

******

I'm back. My review on this one isn't going to be much longer, but I want to add a few thoughts.

This is an important book for people to read. If only to...more Difficult to review such heart-wrenching stories. I had no idea. I mean, I guess I was peripherally aware of some of the horrors they describe, but I had no idea just how far we still have to go.

You can't read this book and not want to DO something.

Will write a more coherent response after I've been able to process it for a little longer.

******

I'm back. My review on this one isn't going to be much longer, but I want to add a few thoughts.

This is an important book for people to read. If only to realize how much we westerners are so completely ignorant of how the rest of the world lives and what absolutely horrific things are happening while we're worried about the value of our 401(k) or addicted to following Kanye West's tweets. Nothing like a little perspective.

It's also important to do your own thinking and research - you may come to the same conclusions as this book's authors, you may come to different conclusions. But you won't know until you start looking. For example, after doing a little web-surfing, I found that the CARE organization listed in the back of this book as a good way to get involved doesn't have the highest rating from CharityNavigator.org. Maybe that's not the way I'm going to choose to get involved. And I recently read a blog post by someone who took exception to this book's emphasis on western medical intervention for childbirth and advocated focusing on educating the local midwives instead.

However you decide to use the information in this book is, of course, up to you. But the first step is picking it up and allowing yourself to be horrified, upset, disturbed, and finally moved to action by it.

**********

Update: I recently finished my second read-through and I found it much more hopeful than I did the first time through. Probably because my mind was so preoccupied with the horrors I was learning about in detail for the first time, I missed a lot of the positive aspects of the stories. The triumphs and overcoming, the rescues and escapes, and the ways that I can help. This should be a twice-read (at least) book.

For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 20, 2010 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: yes, to anyone that feels kinship to all human kind

Shelves: non-fiction, women-of-other-cultures

This book is compilation of various inspirational stories of women who have been born into socially acceptable UNJUST roles in their communities. These women, though good fortune, have been touched by someone or a program that gave a "hoot" and helped them to strengthen themselves to have a lasting fix for their own lives.

I did not realize the complexity of women's abuses, you can stop a man for throwing acid in a womans face, or killing her because she "smells" after childbirth, but you can not...more This book is compilation of various inspirational stories of women who have been born into socially acceptable UNJUST roles in their communities. These women, though good fortune, have been touched by someone or a program that gave a "hoot" and helped them to strengthen themselves to have a lasting fix for their own lives.

I did not realize the complexity of women's abuses, you can stop a man for throwing acid in a womans face, or killing her because she "smells" after childbirth, but you can not change the practice unless you change the SOCIAL customs and awareness. There are quick fixes and there are LASTING fixes. Good intentions are helpful, but just a start. To make permenant change you need to respect and learn the social customs and work from within to "enlighten" people to the value of every individual, even females.

Females still to this day die in child birth, because the baby is stuck people think if they jump on her stomach it will help ??? In 2010???
Females have torn bladders and rectums from childbirth, and then the husbands kill them because they stink, instead of getting them medical treatment. What??? Seriously???

Support female Education programs, buy uniforms, keep the girls in school, and they are less likely to become sex objects and young mothers. Just because our reality in the USA is so far from the dark ages, we have to realize that our sisters in other countries, are treated like farm animals in some places.

Please educate yourself... face the unpleasant reality and then do something ... do anything ... to help our sisters and to help our brothers, be able to love and respect their equal partner in life.
It is our responsibility as blessed and privileged American Women to act with social respect for other customs, yet to help bring loving change.
MAKE YOURSELF READ THIS BOOK!
1. Would you like to ask permission to leave your house?
2. Would you like to be beaten daily and then forced to have sex?
3. Would you like to not be allowed to read or have opinions?
4. You you like to be valued only because you cook and care for the babies and have sex on demand?
5. Would you like to not read a poem or listen to a song.. or laugh with your girlfirends???(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 31, 2010 Elisabeth rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: politics-economics-society, book-club

I agree with other comments about this book. Half the Sky is not meant for those who seek scholarly material about the current state of women throughout the world. The authors use heart wrenching stories to describe the reality millions of women experience each day.

The reason I gave this book two stars is not because I disagree with the premise of the book or the authors' push to radically alter the trajectory of global rights -- sign me up! What frustrated me, and in the end left a sour taste i...more

15 likes · like · see review

Sep 02, 2012 dara added it

Shelves: mogo, read-in-2012, ribs

I started reading Half the Sky on March 31st of 2011. GoodReads tells me this, but I would have remembered regardless. I read the first fifty pages of the book in bed and felt the heaviest weight on my chest. It simply hurt too much to bear alone. I left the bedroom and joined my boyfriend in the living room, where he was seated on the couch. I snuggled up in his lap, wanting him to hold me, to comfort me, to ease the pain I was feeling; instead, he found it to be the right moment for breaking u...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, favorites

How can we make this book required reading? I read it because of a friend's recommendation, and I see it was published in 2009. The book details women's issues worldwide: early marriage, fistulas, sex trafficking, lack of education, and poverty. I just missed the authors' presentation at the Calvin College January Series, find it at www.calvin.edu/january. (The presentation was not recorded in this case.) The authors' focus on empirical solutions (things that work) grabs me. The book concludes w...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 08, 2011 Jeanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you can stomach reading about the really horrific lives of women around the world, this book is the one to read. Kristof writes in a very "consumable" way. The book is full of personal anecdotes about the women he has met. Its about active violence against women and also cultural disdain for daughters. Fortunately, it is also about the really brave things that groups and individuals are doing to provide basic human rights to women all around the globe. I confess the book has been on my "to re...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 23, 2013 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: feminism, socio-anthro, economics

This book was one of the hardest books I have ever read. It was heartbreaking, but simultaneously incredibly inspiring. Not only is there a ton of impeccably researched information in here about sex trafficking, female genital mutilation, and prostitution, but the authors present all kinds of suggestions for easy, achievable ways to get INVOLVED and make a difference in the lives of women worldwide. Not only did this book inspire me to explore microeconomics and donate to a woman through somethi...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2010 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

I usually trudge slowly through nonfiction books, but I could not put this one down. It tells the stories, intertwined with many statistics, of many women in third world nations who have endured sex slavery, genital mutilation, beatings, rape, and/or lack of education and health care. It's impossible to not be moved by the stories of these women. Bottom line: educating and empowering women in third world countries will solve many of the problems in those areas. And grassroots programs are more e...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 01, 2010 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

One of the most inspiring books I've ever read and may change what I'd like to do in the future as far as my fundrasing efforts go (would love to perhaps work for one of the orgs profiled in the book).

It's a must read for all my amigas/amigos and for all our politicians, leaders in many fields from military to aid workers, philanthropists, educators, etc!!!

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 08, 2012 Jason Alexander rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Everyone should read this book, EVERYONE!

This is reporting at it's best. This book gives you facts and numbers galore, but the researched data plays a support role to the personal stories that provide the human basis for each topic addressing the oppression of women, as well as, the inroads in fighting it. It really covers every side of the story and does it so intelligently that it works on both sides of the brain in ebbs and flows; it touches you emotionally and then has you transition into mo...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 01, 2011 John rated it 3 of 5 stars

Important book...too depressing at times but it is information we all need to know...and there are examples and suggestion of steps to take to help.
Kristof and wife keep the pace without getting too detailed or "revolutionary"

1 like · like · see review

May 04, 2013 Meagan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I highly recommend that every person on earth reads this book. It moves you, motivates you to get up off the couch and do something for women everywhere. Working with the WWHI (Women's World Health Initiative) I have seen some of these stories first-hand and my heart aches for women throughout the globe who suffer so many atrocities just for being women. It also in some ways feels like a very expanded version of my Masters thesis and I promise, you can't help but feel compelled to start searchin...more

1 like · like · see review

May 04, 2013 Jan rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection, and I didn't want to read it. I went back and forth between feeling like the problem of oppressed women was "too big to deal with" and wondering how it got to be such a problem in the first place. Basically, I was all over the map while listening (via Audible). In the end, what won me over was the authors' frank look at the problem, "political incorrectness" and all. They squarely face issues, ask probing questions that you'd want to ask yourself (only they also h...more

like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Laura by: bookclub

Shelves: being-human, book-club, things-that-are-bad

I know, we all pick up evidence that tends to or seems to support our beliefs and gloss over evidence that tends to or seems to undermine them. One of mine: the patriarchy is evil and should be killed with fire. I think this book supports that belief, though it is not the course our man Kristof advocates. Probably wise.

A good read. Focuses a great deal on specific, hard stories of man’s inhumanity to woman. Nothing a reasonably attentive news consumer does not know in broad strokes.

Ends on a p...more

like · see review

Apr 16, 2013 Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: holy-fucking-shit, recommended, school, non-fiction, memorable

Engl202H is a class on literacy, but we ended the course with this novel. After reading Kotlowitz's There Are No Children Here and Ravitch's The Death and Life of the Great American School System, our class had already had numerous discussions on poverty, affirmative action, violence, hunger, charter schools, curriculum standards, etc., etc., ad infinitum. Throughout these debates, different students had established their strong positions in relation to these topics. From the very outset of the...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 01, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Half the sky - how to change the world is a very tough read. When I say tough... It's not an issue of page numbers or writing style, it's all about the subject matter. Personally I think this book does a lot to expose a wide audience to a number of key issues which impact the human world. It’s completely impossible not to be moved by the experiences of the women that are covered - everything from sex slavery genital cutting, maternal health care and rape are covered here. I also like how it give...more Half the sky - how to change the world is a very tough read. When I say tough... It's not an issue of page numbers or writing style, it's all about the subject matter. Personally I think this book does a lot to expose a wide audience to a number of key issues which impact the human world. It’s completely impossible not to be moved by the experiences of the women that are covered - everything from sex slavery genital cutting, maternal health care and rape are covered here. I also like how it gives examples of worthy causes that are fighting to help address these issues and even tries to give readers information on how to help support the cause. So as a result – people may be more informed of the issues and be keen to help in some way but for me this doesn’t really goes far enough.

As much as I want to praise this book, I think it also needs to come with some warnings. You have to remember the context of the writers……The foundation for this book is completely built on western centric views. It also doesn’t provide much geographical context to help explore the setting for each woman’s story. As well as this - Human rights are also approached in a top down way.
For me the biggest pain is that the stories are just too simplistic - outlined in a very binary black and white form. This simplistic approach just doesn’t do these woman’s experiences justice. In fact it has the potential to damage their cause - a double whammy of victimisation.

To really address these issues - Let’s see the next layer that helps to get underneath these issues and investigate the causes. Let’s hear the voices of men as well as woman. Let’s also leave concepts that help to perpetuate cultured western views versus the poorly developed east at the back door. If we want to take an interest in these topics it would be good to understand what people are doing for themselves and help with what they actually need; as opposed to western aid being out to save the woman of the planet.

Let’s be honest. Most people will read this book and feel a little uncomfortable and say ‘thank god that’s not my life’. To really spark an effective focus on these issues we need to get into the detail. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 09, 2013 Lana rated it 4 of 5 stars

These authors tell the stories of women around the world dealing with oppression and poverty, and the many struggles with trying to overcome cultural norms, yet describes how those same women can be the catalyst for change in their villages and countries. For example, they tell of a young Cambodian girl sold into sex slavery, who with a little help from a foreign aid group, escapes and builds a retail business that supports her family, protecting the girls in her family from the same fate.

It...more These authors tell the stories of women around the world dealing with oppression and poverty, and the many struggles with trying to overcome cultural norms, yet describes how those same women can be the catalyst for change in their villages and countries. For example, they tell of a young Cambodian girl sold into sex slavery, who with a little help from a foreign aid group, escapes and builds a retail business that supports her family, protecting the girls in her family from the same fate.

It tells of people and organizations struggling to repair childbirth and rape injuries that are almost unknown in America. "One of the top surgeons is Mamitu Gash, who never went to elementary school, let alone medical school. Mmitu grew up illiterate in a remote village in Ethiopia and suffered a fistula as a young wife in her first pregnancy. She made her way to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital for surgery,and afterward began helping out by making beds and assisting Reg Hamlin during surgeries. She would stand beside him and hand him the scalpel,and she watched closely. After a couple of years, he let her do simple work, like suturing, and over time he entrusted her with more and more of the surgery."
"Mamitu had nimble fingers and first-rate technical skills, and even if her biological knowledge was limited, she steadily accumulated experience repairing internal injuries. Eventually, she was doing fistula surgeries by herself [in a hospital that does more fistula repairs than any institution in the world.] She began taking charge of the training program, so when doctors went to Addis Ababa to learn fistula surgery, their teacher was an illiterate woman who had never been to a day of school. Eventually Mamitu tired of being a master surgeon who couldn't read, so she went to night school. Last time we visited her, she had reached the third grade." p. 120

The final chapter is "4 things you can do in the next 20 minutes" and encourages that even a little of your time or resources can and does make a difference in another's life. The appendix has a list of humanitarian organization and a one-sentence synopsis of how they working to improve conditions for women and children. (less)

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Big Sister Reads: Half the Sky - Final Thoughts	4	21	Apr 10, 2012 11:32am
Big Sister Reads: Half the Sky - Further Research	4	19	Mar 30, 2012 04:33am
Big Sister Reads: Half the Sky - Gender Discrimination	1	8	Mar 19, 2012 08:55am

combine
Other Editions (17)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

Add a comment

Genres

Non Fiction

696 users

Feminism

157 users

Book Club

144 users

Womens

86 users

Politics

58 users

Cultural > Africa

49 users

Sociology

45 users

Social Movements > Social Justice

43 users

Gender

31 users

Education

26 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Nicholas D. Kristof

Nicholas Donabet Kristof is an American journalist, author, op-ed columnist, and a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes. He has written an op-ed column for The New York Times since November 2001 and is widely known for bringing to light human rights abuses in Asia and Africa, such as human trafficking and the Darfur conflict. He has lived on four continents, reported on six, and traveled to 150 countries...more

More about Nicholas D. Kristof...

Books by Nicholas D. Kristof

China Wakes: The Struggle For The Soul Of A Rising Power

Thunder from the East: Portrait of a Rising Asia

The Japanese economy at the millennium: Correspondents' insightful views (Headline series)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Half the Sky: Tur...

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

Quotes from Half the Sky: Turning ...

“More girls were killed in the last 50 years, precisely because they were girls, than men killed in all the wars in the 20th century. More girls are killed in this routine gendercide in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the 20th century.

The equivalent of 5 jumbo jets worth of women die in labor each day... life time risk of maternal death is 1,000x higher in a poor country than in the west. That should be an international scandal.” — 50 people liked it

“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world.” — 22 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide
avg rating	preview: Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Goodreads rating: 4.35 (15863 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6260997-half-the-sky?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320486170l/6260997.jpg[/img][/url] [url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6260997-half-the-sky?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof[/url]

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website