FOUNDATION.
>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... >> FIRST, AFGHANI WOMEN SAY CONTINUED U.N. SUPPORT IS THE LIFELINE TO GENDER EQUALITY IN THAT COUNTRY AND IS THIS THE END OF WOMEN'S COLLEGES?
BEHIND THE HEADLINES AMERICA'S FIRST ALL FEMALE MOSQUE.
[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE AND WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN.
>> WOMEN LEADERS FROM AFGHANISTAN WERE IN THE U.S. AS PART OF THE DELEGATION TRAVELING WITH AFGHANISTAN'S NEW PRESIDENT.
AT A FORUM AT THE GEORGETOWN INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY THEY CALLED ON THEIR AMERICAN SISTERS FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF ACHIEVEMENT DURING THIS EFFORT 14 YEARS.
IN AFGHANISTAN IT WAS NOT EASY BUT IT WAS FIGHTING OF AFGHAN WOMEN AND ALSO THE SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.
SO WE DON'T WANT IT LOSE ALL THE ACHIEVEMENT AND DEMOLISH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE.
THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THE GOVERNMENT FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY WE HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE CONSTITUTION.
FIRST TIME P IN OUR HISTORY, WE CRIMINALIZE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ACHIEVED EVERYTHING AND WE ARE DONE WITH WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
WE STILL SUFFER FROM A LOT OF VIOLENCE AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE COUNTRY.
>> THE MOB KILLING OF AN AFGHANI WOMAN FALSELY ACCUSED OF BURNING A COPY OF QURAN UNDERSCORES THE WOMEN'S GAINS BUT THERE'S CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM.
>> NOT ONLY ACTUALLY WOMEN MEN WERE CRYING AND MEN ARE STILL CRYING FOR THE RIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE HISTORY OF ISLAM, WOMEN GOT TOGETHER AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO CARRY HER COFFIN OURSELVES.
AND THE FIRST TIME EVER MEN WERE SURROUNDING THE WOMEN MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE PROTECTED AND THEY WERE DOING IT PROPERLY.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IT WAS THE WOMEN THAT THEY PUT HER COFFIN WITHIN THE GRAVE.
WE CHANGED THE COSTUME.
>> THE WOMEN LEADERS HOPE MORE CHANGE WILL FOLLOW.
>> THEY ARE NOT ONLY SEEKING JUSTICE FOR BUT DEMANDING FROM THE NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO REFORM THE JUSTICE SECTOR.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO REFORM THE SECURITY SECTOR.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO BRING WOMEN IN THE SECTOR AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT DISCRIMINATED.
>> SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN WHO HAVE MADE ALL THIS PROGRESS IF PRESIDENT OBAMA PULLS OUT TROOPS NEXT YEAR AS PLANNED?
>> THEY WILL KEEP FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
IT WILL CONTINUE IRRESPECTIVE IF THE MILITARY IS THERE OR NOT.
>> AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TO BE A GLOBAL MOVEMENT WHERE WE ARE SUPPORTING THESE WOMEN.
>> AND AFGHANISTAN HAS MORE WOMEN IN ELECTED OFFICE THAN WE DO SO LET'S NOT LOSE HOPE.
>> INCREASE CREASED IMPLEMENTATION LAWS ARE NOT ENOUGH WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT TRANSLATES TO THE GROUND.
>> YOU SAID THEY WILL BE FINE WITHOUT U.S.
TROOPS THERE?
>> THE FOCUS THAT IT KEEPS INTERNATIONAL FOCUS ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GIRLS IN AFGHANISTAN IS VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES.
THE MILITARY IS NOT GOING TO DELIVER LIBERATION FOR AFGHANISTAN.
10 YEARS AGO, GEORGE BUSH DECLARED THEM FREE.
BUT WE KNOW THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS.
AND TOO OFTEN WHEN YOU WORK IN WASHINGTON AND LOBBIED FOR THE ISSUE FOR A DECADE WE GET CAUGHT UP WITH WE HAVE A LEGAL CHANGE AND A POLITICAL CHANGE THIS IS IMPORTANT BUT IT HAS TO BE HOMEGROWN ORGANIC AND CULTURAL.
WHAT WE SAW WITH THE WOMEN CARRYING THAT WOMAN'S BODY THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.
THAT WAS REVOLUTIONARY.
AS A MUSLIM WOMAN I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT.
>> NEVER SEEN WOMEN CARRYING A COFFIN.
>> AND IT WOULD BE A WOMAN-ONLY FUNERAL AND WHAT IS POWERFUL AND I EMPHASIZE IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE MILITARY WITHDRAWING IT'S IMPORTANT THAT U.S. NOT LOSE SIGHT OF AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAY TO DO IT IS THROUGH FUNDING.
U.S. AID, AND U.N. AND INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROVIDING THE WOMEN THE RESOURCES TO DO THE FIGHTS THEY ARE DOING.
>> AND NOT A REPEAT OF HISTORY.
NOT LIKE THE U.S. IS LEAVING AFGHANISTAN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IS THE FEAR IS THIS ABANDONMENT AND IT IS A GENUINE FEAR.
IT'S VALIDATED IT'S HAPPENED TO THEM BEFORE.
>> HOW DO WE GET AMERICAN WOMEN TO CARE ABOUT AFGHANI WOMEN?
IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED AND YOUR PARTNER IS UNEMPLOYED AND YOUR KIDS ARE HUNGRY, WHY ARE YOU GOING TO CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO WOMEN OR YOU MAY CARE BUT IF YOU GOT TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST WHICH MOST WOMEN DO... >> WELL, WHAT WAS SAID AGAIN I THINK FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. AID IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SPEAKING IN BANGLADESH AS A KEYNOTE AND THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN WERE THERE AND THEY WERE UNBELIEVABLY IMPRESSED I MUST SAY OF ALL THE ELECTED WOMEN FROM SOUTHEAST ASIAN THEY WERE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE CONTINGENT.
EDUCATED AND ARTICULATE.
THERE IS MORE STRENGTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE THERE WITHIN THE CULTURE ITSELF AMONG THE AFGHANI WOMEN THAT WE OFTEN GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR.
I SAY IT WILL BE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE U.S. AID, BEING PRESENT, BRINGING WOMEN AMERICAN WOMEN OTHER WOMEN IN TO TALK TO SUPPORT TO CHALLENGE TO ENCOURAGE THAT IS GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE OVER TIME E I WILL ADD THERE IS A ROLE FOR MICRO FINANCING AND LENDING GIVING WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SO THEY CAN PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVES THEM A LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE WHEN WE SEE THAT HERE, WOMEN ARE REPRESSED THEY WILL BE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR POSITIONS.
>> AND SPEAKING OF STRENGTHENING THEIR POSITION YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE ON THE PANEL WHO AGREES WITH THE AFGHAN WOMEN THAT AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR OWN SITUATION MORE THAN WE KNOW THAT TROOPS SHOULD STAY.
WHY?
>> I THINK ONE OF THE ELEMENTS GOES BACK TO WHY WE SHOULD CARE.
WOMEN ARE THE CANARIES IN THE MINE AND WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION IT GOES TO A SECURITY AND STABILITY ISSUE AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN WHEN WOMEN HAVE RIGHTS YOU SEE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF DEMOCRACY AND INCLUSIVENESS WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR AFGHANISTAN TO REMAIN SECURE.
>> AND THE PRESIDENT TOLD SPOKE OUT THIS WEEK AND SAID THE PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN SAID HE IS AN ECONOMIST AND HE WANTS TO END HIS PRIMARY CONCERN IS ENDING CORRUPTION BECAUSE THE COUNTRY IS TOTALLY CORRUPT.
HOW IMPORTANT A ROLE DO WOMEN PLAY IN THAT?
>> WOMEN PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE TALKING ABOUT CORRUPTION WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ISSUE WITH THE POLICE STANDING BY, IT TIES IN INTO THE ISSUES DEALING WITH CORRUPTION TO SECURITY SECTOR REFORM WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT POLICE AND MILITARY.
AS WELL AS THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO REINTEGRATE THE TALIBAN BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IF WOMEN ARE NOT AT THE FOREFRONT OF THAT CONVERSATION YOU MAY HAVE A REINTEGRATION WITHOUT DERADICALLIZATION WHICH IS DANGEROUS.
>> I AGREE THAT THE SECURITY IS IMPORTANT BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE U.S.
TROOPS.
I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE MILITARY SAFEGUARDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
A PULL OUT WOULD CREATE -- >> THEY ARE NOT SAFEGUARDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS THEY ARE KEEPING THE TALIBAN FROM RECAPTURING THE COUNTRY AND THAT WOULD BE HORRENDOUS FOR WOMEN.
>> I DO NOT DISAGREE BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LEARN FROM IRAQ AND IF WE HAVE A WITHDRAWAL IT SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE.
>> EXACTLY.
>> AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE WOMEN OF IRAQ SINCE THE U.S.
PULLED OUT?
>> WOMEN OF IRAQ HAVE GONE BACKWARDS.
ANY GAINS THAT THEY HAD I WOULD NOT SAY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS BUT FROM THE 1960s HAVE BEEN ERASED AND THEIR CONCERN IS STAYING ALIVE.
THE CONCEPT OF FIGHTING FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS IS A DREAM WHEN YOU HAVE THE COUNTRY IN THE MIDST OF VIOLENCE.
>> IS ISIS CLOSE TO PUTTING TROOPS ARE THEY ACTIVE IN AFGHANISTAN?
>> WELL, WE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT THAT WAS A CONCERN AND THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS THIS IS TRULY GLOBAL.
YOU HAVE ISIS HAVING PLEDGED ALLEGIANCES FROM LIBYA AND LIBYA IS NOT FAR BEHIND.
AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN WILL HAVE STRONGER NETWORKS MOVING FORWARD.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO ABOUT IT?
E THE IDEA OF MILITARY WITHDRAWAL IT'S HOW WE HANDLE IT AND HOW WE DO T IRAQ SADLY OFFERS US VERY, VERY TELLING OBSERVATIONS.
WHAT I LOVED AGAIN I'M LOVING EVERYTHING YOU ARE SAYING WHEN YOU SAID CANARY IN THE COAL MINE, I THINK THAT IS A BRILLIANT STATEMENT THAT IS TRUE.
I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
AND HOW WE DO THIS MILITARY WITHDRAWAL.
I WOULD SAY THE SENTIMENT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS WE CANNOT STAY THERE.
HOW DO WE IMAGINE IT THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC CAN SWALLOW IT AND OBAMA CAN CARRY FORWARD IS THE CHALLENGE.
>> WILL WOMEN BE AT THE PEACE TALKS?
>> THEY HAVE TO BE.
>> THEY BETTER BE.
>> BAY BETTER BE.
>> THE TALIBAN ARE PART OF THE TALKS HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> IT SHOULD BE A NONNEGOTIABLE.
>> I THINK SO, TOO.
WE NEED TO HAVE WOMEN AT THE DISCUSSION TABLES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE BONNIE ERBE.
FROM WOMEN LEADERS TO WOMEN'S COLLEGES.
WOMEN-ONLY COLLEGES MAY BE HEADED FOR EXTINCTION THE CASUALTY IS SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE WHICH WILL CLOSE IN MAY.
IN THE EASTERLY 1960s THERE WERE 200-300 WOMEN'S COLLEGES IN THE U.S. AND CANADA.
THERE WILL BE 44.
THE PRESIDENT BLAMES A LACK OF INTEREST AMONG YOUNGER WOMEN IN ATTENDING SINGLE SEX SCHOOLS BUT IT'S NOT UNIVERSALLY SEEN AS A BAD THING AND MAY BE A SIGN OF SUCCESS FOR THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOMEN ATTEND CO-ED COLLEGES AT HIGHER RATES THAN MEN.
SO SAM, IS IT PROGRESS FOR WOMEN THAT THEY ARE NOT NEEDING THE FEELING THAT THEY NEED WOMEN ONLY COLLEGES?
>> THIS IS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF WHAT I WOULD DESCRIBE AS OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IN THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT OR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AT LARGE WE DON'T SEE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS OF HOW POORLY WOMEN ARE REPRESENTED POLITICALLY.
WE RANK 97TH IN THE WORLD IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN ELECTED OFFICE.
AND THERE ARE A THOUSAND STATISTICS LIKE THAT.
>> 20 IN THE WORLD ON THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM WHERE WE USED TO BE NUMBER ONE.
>> I THINK OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS WE WALK AROUND AS WOMEN THINKING WE HAVE IT ALL GOING ON WHEN NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.
AND THERE'S EVIDENCE THE GIRL SCOUTS HAVE DONE THE BEST JOB AROUND THIS THAT WHEN WOMEN GO TO ALL GIRLS SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND YOUNG GIRLS GO TO ALL GIRLS SCHOOLS THEY OUTPERFORM BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ACADEMICALLY.
WHY?
THEY ARE EXISTING IN A SEXIST FREE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN TRULY BLOSSOM AND BE THEMSELVES.
YOUR AVERAGE AMERICAN WOMAN AS SOON AS SHE WALKS OUT OF HER DOOR SHE IS WALKING INTO A SEXIST ENVIRONMENT THAT IS THE GROUND WATER WE DRINK AND THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE.
AND THE ONLY PLACE YOU ARE SAFE FROM IT IS MAYBE A CONVENT OR AN ALL GIRLS COLLEGE.
RIGHT?
SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER HERE?
I THINK WE HAVE TO WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE.
THAT GIRLS, WOMEN -- >> YOU WENT TO AN ALL GIRL COLLEGE?
>> I WISH I HAD.
BUT ALL GIRLS -- >> BECAUSE I DID.
>> WHERE?
>> I WENT TO BARNARD PART OF COLUMBIA.
SO IT WAS AN ALL WOMEN'S EXPERIENCE IN SOME WAYS BUT YOU COULD TAKE CLASSES AT COLUMBIA SO IT WAS BOTH.
SO I CANNOT TELL YOU THAT SWEET BRIAR WHERE IT WAS ALL GIRLS AND ONLY GIRLS ON CAMPUS.
>> BONNIE ERBE YOU HAVE BEEN DOING THE SHOW FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS IT'S THE ONLY SHOW LIKE IT IN AMERICA.
THEREFORE AND AMERICA IS ONE -- HAS THE BIGGEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.
SO HERE WE ARE.
YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP AND WHERE DID SHE GO?
AN ALL GIRLS COLLEGE.
>> THAT IS A FAIR POINT MY TURN TO AGREE WITH YOU.
I WENT TO AN ALL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL AND I ENTERED INTO COLLEGE I COULD SEE MY LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE I WAS PLAYING BASKETBALL AND SPORTS THAT I NEVER SECOND-GUESSED AND I ENTERED COLLEGE AND I FOUND MYSELF TENDING TO WITHDRAW.
YOUR POINT ABOUT US THINKING WE HAVE AS MANY RIGHTS OR PRIVILEGES AS WE DO AND NOT RECOGNIZING PROBLEMS IS SPOT ON.
WE ARE SEEING THIS OVER AND OVER IN TERMS OF US FINDING OURSELVES NOT HAVING THE PROGRESS OR DELIBERATION THAT WE WANT AND IF WE DO IT IS ON A SUPERFICIAL LEVEL.
>> I'M TORN.
I FEEL LIKE THE MILLENNIALS HAVE A MORE PROGRESSIVE VIEW AND GENDER RELATIONS IN GENERAL MAYBE THIS IS OUTDATED AND MAYBE WE SHOULD THRIVE TOGETHER INSTEAD OF SEPARATELY.
THAT BEING SAID I HAVE FRIENDS THAT WENT TO ALL GIRL HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES AND THEY LOVED IT AND SOME WERE BULLIED.
I DON'T KNOW.
>> THIS IS INDICATIVE OF -- >> BULLIED BY OTHER WOMEN?
>> YES, THE LEVEL OF MEAN GIRLS IS MORE INTENSE.
MAYBE THAT IS A STEREOTYPE, TOO.
>> THIS IS INDICATIVE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE CHANGES IN OUR SYSTEM.
YOU ARE SEEING COLLEGES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT DEMONSTRATING THE VALUE TO CUSTOMERS TO MILLENNIALS AND YOUNGER PEOPLE AS THEY DID BEFORE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS.
WHAT WE NEED IS HIGHER EDUCATION REFORM THAT ALLOWS US AS INDIVIDUALS GOING IN TO CRAFT THE KINDS OF EDUCATIONS THAT MOVES ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND INDUSTRIES AND WE ARE NOT SEEING IT WITH SOME OF THE SCHOOLS.
>> AND A LOT OF THE WOMEN'S SCHOOLS THAT USED TO BE ALL WOMEN SCHOOLS ARE ADMITTING MEN, TOO.
JUST AS THE IVY LEAGUE MALE COLLEGES.
I REMEMBER I WENT TO I PLIED -- I APPLIED TO COLLEGE THE FIRST YEAR THAT YALE WAS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FROM WOMEN.
IS IT POSSIBLE THEN TO MAYBE START THINKING ABOUT ALL WOMEN'S DORMS, CLASSES, WITHIN A UNIVERSITY SYSTEM?
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT COLUMBIA TURNED BARNARD INTO NOW.
>> THE ISSUE IS TO YOUR POINT.
WHAT WE HAVE IS AGAIN THAT DISCONNECT ISSUE WE THINK WE ARE IN ONE PLACE BUT WE ARE HERE.
WE ARE THE FROG IN THE BOILING WATER ON THIS ISSUE.
IT IS A PUBLIC RELATIONS ISSUE.
IT IS A COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE.
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE BENEFIT THAT IS ENJOYED WHEN WE GIVE WOMEN AS YOU SO ELOQUENTLY PUT THAT EXPERIENCE OF BEING AROUND OTHER WOMEN THAT CONFIDENCE FACTOR.
THAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING.
AND WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT CLASSIC MIDDLE SCHOOL FALL OFF THE CLIFF SYNDROME.
GIRLS ARE FINE UNTIL THEY GET TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEY DISAPPEAR.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT COMPETE WITH THE BOYS.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A SEXIST ENVIRONMENT NONE OF US INTEND TO CREATE THAT SEXIST ENVIRONMENT BUT IT EXISTS.
>> AND YOU TALK ABOUT MILLENNIALS BEING MORE EGALITARIAN BUT IF YOU LOOK AT [INAUDIBLE] WELL, CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT WHICH DID NOT EXIST OR WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE.
BUT LOOK AT SILICON VALLEY.
YOUNG MILLENNIAL WOMEN ARE BEING SQUEEZED OUT NO MATTER HOW EQUAL THEY THINK THERAPEUTIC NOT.
>> THEY ARE FIGHTING BACK AND CALLING IT OUT WITH A VIGOR THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN IT BEFORE AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS.
I DON'T THINK CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULTS JUST STARTED.
I THINK WOMEN ARE SAYING NO MORE.
ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> AND MORE MILLENNIAL YOUNG WOMEN WE LIKE TO BE IN COMMUNITIES WHETHER IT IS ON A CAMPUS WHERE WOMEN ARE TOGETHER IN COMMUNITIES WE BUILD AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
>> AS A BOOMER LET ME TELL YOU I NEVER SAW MYSELF AS A VICTIM NEVER, EVER.
>> AND I TAKE EXCEPTION TO THAT STATEMENT.
>> HERE WE ARE TWO BOOMERS.
>> I WENT OUT INTO THE WORLD BELIEVING I WAS AS GOOD AS ANYBODY ELSE AND I DIDN'T REALLY RUN INTO SEXISM UNTIL I WORKED AT A COMMERCIAL NETWORK.
AND OH, MY GOD.
>> AND I WANT TO SAY FOR ANY WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN RAPED AND EXPERIENCED SEXUAL ABUSE AND BEEN WHITE TRAFFICKED THOSE OF US HEALED NEVER CONSIDER OURSELVES VICTIMS BUT SURVIVORS.
>> AND I THINK THAT IS TRUE.
WE HEAR WOMEN TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES AS SURVIVORS AND WHAT IS POWERFUL THEY GO ON TO ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP.
>> AND TO CALL YOURSELF A VICTIM WHOEVER DID WHAT IT WAS GIVES THEM POWER.
AND A FIGHTER GIVES YOU TAKE BACK THE POWER.
>> AND I THINK OF IT MY FIELD IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY.
WOMEN IN MY GENERATION CALLED FOREIGN POLICY INTERRUPTED WHICH IS FELLOWSHIPS FOR YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE PROVEN A TRACK RECORD NOT ONLY ARE WE THRIVING IN OUR GENERATIONS BUT HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT GOES DOWN AND I SAY IN MY EXPERIENCE I WAS HUNGRY FOR WOMEN MENTORS AND I'M GLAD TO SEE WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO NEW GENERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING WHAT YOU DID.
THAT IS COMMON AND WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.
AND THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES THE FIRST ALL FEMALE MOSQUE IN THE U.S.
OPENED IN LOS ANGELES.
THE WOMEN BEHIND THE MOSQUE HOPE IT FOSTERS INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF WOMEN IN ISLAM.
>> WOMEN'S MOSQUES DO EXIST AROUND THE WORLD.
AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE IN CHINA.
THEY ARE ALSO A FEW IN YEMEN, SYRIA, AND IN SOUTH AMERICA.
THIS IS THE FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> IT IS THE COFOUNDER OF THE WOMEN'S MOSQUE OF AMERICA.
SHE HAS ENVISIONED BUILDING A MOSQUE EVER SINCE CHILDHOOD.
>> I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WOULD BE A WOMEN'S MOSQUE.
MY CONCEPT OF WHAT A MOSQUE IS BECAUSE WE CHANGE-OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW AS A CHILD I USED TO THINK IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE BUILDING AND THE STRUCTURE AND THE PRETTY ARCHITECTURE OF IT.
AND THEN AS I GREW OLDER I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT THE FUNCTION OF A MOSQUE IN SOCIETY.
>> SHE IS A COMEDY FILM WRITER CAME TOGETHER WITH AN ATTORNEY AND FRIEND.
THEY WORKED HARD TO MAKE THE MOSQUE A REALITY.
THE WOMEN SHARE A DREAM.
>> MY PERSONAL VISION FOR THE WOMEN'S MOSQUE IS A WORLDWIDE ISLAMIC RENAISSANCE THAT IS SHAPED BY SOME WOMEN'S VOICES, PERSPECTIVES, SCHOLARSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
>> SHE SAYS THERE'S PRECEDENT FOR WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN ISLAMIC CULTURE AND SPIRITUALITY.
>> LOOKING TO THE EARLY HISTORY OF ISLAM, WOMEN WERE AT THE FOREFRONT.
THE FIRST MUSLIM WAS A WOMAN.
THE PERSON WHO HELD THE ORIGINAL COPY OF OF THE QURAN WAS A WOMAN.
THE SCHOLARS OF THAT TIME HAD FEMALE TEACHERS AND THERE WERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FEMALE MUSLIM SCHOLARS WHO WERE TEACHING IN SOCIETY AT THAT TIME.
>> AT THIS MOSQUE WOMEN WILL LEAD PRAYERS GIVE SERMONS AND PARTICIPATE IN A QURAN STUDY PROGRAM.
ITS LEADERS HOPE TO OFFER MUSLIM WOMEN SPEAKER TO GENERAL AUDIENCES.
SOMETHING THEY BELIEVE IS DESPERATELY NEEDED.
>> THE AMERICAN MEDIA MUSLIM WOMEN ARE OFTEN SPOKEN ON BEHALF OF US.
USUALLY WHEN YOU ARE HEARING FROM US YOU ARE HEARING OTHER PEOPLE COMMENT ON US AND ABOUT THE WAY WE DRESS.
MUSLIM WOMEN ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN THE WAY WE DRESS.
WE ARE DOCTORS, LAWYERS, COMEDIANS, THE YOUNGEST NOBLE PEACE PRIZE WINNER WAS A MUSLIM GIRL.
>> THERE IS NO DRESS CODE IT'S COME AS YOU PLEASE.
FRIDAY SERVICES ARE HELD ONCE A MONTH.
THEY DON'T WANT TO REPLACE TRADITIONAL MOSQUES BUT ACT INSTEAD AS A COMPLIMENTARY RESOURCE.
>> THIS IS A PLACE OF EMPOWERMENT THAT WOMEN CAN COME TO, GROW, LEARN AND GROW CLOSER TO THEIR SISTERS IN FAITH AND RETURN TO THEIR EXISTING AND LOCAL MOSQUES AND HELP MAKE THEM STRONGER.
THIS PROJECT AND THIS MOSQUE COMES FROM A PLACE OF LOVE AND INSPIRATION.
IT IS NOT A REACTION TO THE STATE OF MOSQUES.
ALTHOUGH WE DO ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO HAD BAD EXPERIENCES IN MOSQUES.
THIS IS A CALL BACK AND A CELEBRATION TO THE RICH LEGACY OF FEMALE SCHOLARSHIP AND LEADERSHIP WITHIN ISLAM THAT WE LOVE TO SEE FLOURISH MORE TODAY.
>> SO DO YOU THINK -- IT TROUBLES ME A LITTLE BIT I HAVE TO SAY THAT HERE ARE THESE WOMEN ARE TAKING A GREAT STAND AND EMPOWERING THEMSELVES AND OTHER MUSLIM WOMEN AND YET, THEY ONLY OFFER IT ONCE A MONTH AS -- WHY SHOULDN'T IT BE AN EVERYDAY MOSQUE?
>> THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WOMEN REMAIN INTEGRATED IN THE PRIME MOSQUE SO THE MEN ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR INCLUDING WOMEN.
IT IS A CONCERN OF HAVING A MINISTRY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS TALKING ABOUT TRANSITIONAL COUNTRIES WE DO NOT WANT IT TO BE PARKED IN ONE AREA.
IT'S SMART AND STRATEGIC AND HAPPY AND PROUD OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN TAKING INITIATIVE OF SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT OUT.
IN THOSE DAY-TO-DAY, THE THREE DAYS OUT OF THE MONTH YOU ARE GOING TO THE I AM MA'AM'S YOU ARE FIGHTING.
IT GOES BACK TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT CAMPUSES YOU ARE ENTERING INTO A PARTICIPATE ASH CALC BUILDING.
AND ONCE A MONTH TO BE SURROUNDED BY YOUR PEERS AND COMFORTABLE TO NOURISH YOUR SPIRITUALITY AND NOT ELBOW YOUR WAY TO THE TABLE IS POWERFUL.
>> INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY YOU NEED TO LEAD BE AN EXAMPLE TO BOYS.
ARE MEN CHANGING?
>> MOST DEFINITELY.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, 10, 15, 20 YEARS AGO, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN PROTESTS OUTSIDE OF THE MOSQUES AND PLETHORA OF SCHOLARS DENOUNCING THE MOSQUE AND ACCUSATIONS OF TRYING TO MARGINALIZE AND EMBARRASS THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY BY GOING OUTSIDE AND MAKING COMMENTARY AND YOU HAVE SEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM THE TOP SCHOLARS AND AGAIN, IT IS TESTIMONY TO THE FOUNDERS IN TERMS OF THE ATTITUDE THEY HAVE TAKEN TO THIS.
EVERYONE I KNOW HAVE BEEN PROUD OF THIS INITIATIVE.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY HIGH FIVE AND DANCE ON THE TABLE THESE ARE THE STORIES OF MUSLIM WOMEN AND GIRLS THAT WE NEED.
AND IT WORKS BOTH WAYS BECAUSE THE STEREOTYPES AND THE MEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES ARE HORRIBLY VILIFIED AND I THINK THAT THIS IS GREAT.
>> VILIFIED BECAUSE WHAT MOST PEOPLE SEE ON TV IS -- >> MOST WOMEN ARE OWE PROSED AND WHO IS OPPRESSING US.
THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE THIS IS A CHANGE THAT WE NEED.
NO MORE MEN TELLING US WHAT OUR FAITH IS SAYING ACROSS THE BOARD NOT ONLY IN ISLAM.
THIS IS GREAT.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOMENTS THIS IS GREAT I AM WITH IT, BUT AS AN OBSERVER ON THE OUTSIDE, WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE WOMEN ARE BEING EXTRAORDINARILY OPPRESSED BY THE SAME RELIGION.
NOW, MY FAITH CHRISTIAN, WE HAVE DONE OUR FAIR SHARE, RIGHT?
NO ONE IS ALONE IN THIS.
BUT WHAT I FIND DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING IS LET'S NOT GET LOST, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT THE GOOD STORIES COME OUT WHICH IS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND IT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE CONTRAST?
WHAT DO I DO AS A WOMAN OF FAITH THAT RESPECTS THE MUSLIM FAITH IMMEASURABLY.
HOW DO I MAKE THAT RECONCILIATION?
BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THESE OTHER HORRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENING EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT DO I DO?
I'M ASKING.
>> THAT SAY GREAT QUESTION AND MUSLIMS ARE ASKING THE SAME QUESTION BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT OUR FAITH SAYS AND WE KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST SAINT WAS A WOMAN SO THE ENLIGHTENMENT AND LOVE A WOMAN BROUGHT THAT NOTION TO ISLAM.
POWERFUL HISTORICAL PRECEDENT THAT WE HAVE LOST.
AND I'M NOT EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT.
HOW DO WE REGAIN IT?
I KNOW THE CHALLENGES.
I WOULD SAY RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM TENDS TO TARGET WOMEN AND WE HAVE SEEN WITHIN BUDDAHISM WHERE RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM IS BEING USED.
AND NO RELIGION TODAY IS EXEMPT FROM THAT HORROR.
>> AND I'VE HEARD, BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT THE RELIGION IT'S THE CULTURE THAT CREATES THINGS LIKE ISIS KEEPING WOMEN AS SEX SLAVES.
>> AND IT'S SEXIST MENUSSING RELIGIOUS TEXT TO BACK THEM UP.
>> AND BY THE WAY WE HAVE A DOCUMENTARY ON A GROUP COMING UP THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT MUSLIM WOMEN CRUSADING FOR OR TAKING EQUALITY UNDER THE QURAN BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MISINTERPRETED BY MEN.
THAT IS IT FOR THIS EDITION.
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