From the Bookshelf of Diversity in All Forms!…

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

Nicholas D. Kristof,

Sheryl WuDunn

Start date: January 1, 2017

Finish date: January 31, 2017

Discussion: Monthly Bonus Reads

Why we're reading this: January's Bonus Read theme/topic is Human Trafficking.…more
[close] January's Bonus Read theme/topic is Human Trafficking.

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What Members Thought

Apr 07, 2015 Alana rated it really liked it

Shelves: political, foreign-culture, christians-should-read

This one is one of those I would never have picked up if not for it being selected as an in-person book club book discussion. Not because it didn't look like valuable reading, but because the title sounds like political maneuvering and a lot of sentimentality. To a degree, there is some of that in this book, but it is so much more than that.

The authors bring into stark focus much of the brutality of the world, focusing on the many atrocities against women. The first few chapters were especially This one is one of those I would never have picked up if not for it being selected as an in-person book club book discussion. Not because it didn't look like valuable reading, but because the title sounds like political maneuvering and a lot of sentimentality. To a degree, there is some of that in this book, but it is so much more than that.

The authors bring into stark focus much of the brutality of the world, focusing on the many atrocities against women. The first few chapters were especially rough, with unbelievable (to a privileged Western reader) individual stories of women facing mutilations and dehumanization that I won't even attempt to describe. As the book goes on, there are more and more stories of women rising above their circumstances and making something of themselves and improving their communities, some in very dramatic fashion, some on a micro level, but still very impactful in a very "one step at a time" kind of way. It's not easy reading, and I wouldn't recommend it for your middle school teenager, unless you've read it first, feel comfortable that he/she is emotionally mature enough for it, and are fully committed to discussing the events and consequences.

On the positive side, they seem to do their best to balance understanding of a region's culture and a people's approach to live with what kind of methods best work in that particular area. They don't look at only one model of success, but many, and in many combinations. This understanding that the world's problems are not all black and white is essential to being able to communicate with one another and affect real change. Some of the figures and statistics are astounding, and should absolutely shock.

On the other hand, while they acknowledge that many statistics are hard to gather, because accurate numbers simply haven't been kept for various reasons, some of the rather blanket statements made and some numbers conceivably taken out of context made me feel a bit wary of accepting all of their data as presented. They cite many references, but some of their striking numbers including citations from unpublished manuscripts that, by not having been peer-reviewed, makes them a bit questionable to me. Not being involved in the scientific community, however, I do not fully understand how the review process works and therefore their data may be more valid than I realize.

While I think it was unintentional, and some statements were made later in the book that at least draw attention to the fact that they are very female-focused, some of the statements made and conclusions drawn put the majority of men in the world in a very bad light. Yes, men have been a huge problem in suppression of women (almost by definition, although women have contributed as well) but some of the stories make it sound as if all those dumb, worthless, unproductive men were just out of the picture, all of these innately more intelligent women of the world would be much better off. While men have been a problem, there are also a great deal of wonderful, respectful men in the world who have devoted themselves not just to promoting health and wellness for women, but just to being decent human beings in general. While I don't believe it is the intention of this book to imply that men are the source of all the world's problems, the way many of the stories and their solutions are laid out unintentionally carry the tone that men are inferior cavemen. Let's please not make the deplorable mistake of swinging the pendulum the opposite way and begin insisting that women are better than men. If we all want to be treated as equals and truly believe it, then let's act like it and not start male-bashing.

All in all, it's an extremely worthwhile read, looking at incredibly important issues like human trafficking, female genital cutting, maternal mortality, financial stability, and basic human rights that so many of us take for granted. It's not light bedtime reading, but it's worth pondering each chapter, thinking about the positives and negatives, and strongly considering what is in your power, as an individual and as a group, to do to make a difference.

4/5 ...more

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Jan 01, 2015 Judy Lindow marked it as to-read

Shelves: adult-non-fiction

It's been years since I saw this movie and read the book (although don't know if I read the book all the way through). I didn't review like I normally do - I used the review space to take notes on some of the issues that struck me as especially important. I am saddened to see that there are women out there giving the book 1 star. Many of their reasons seem self righteous, holier than thou, and accusatory (especially of western entitlement, etc.). I can only say: where are the books, the news sto ...more

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