Thursday, February 5, 2015

Be For Something

It seems like there are a lot of people that are against things.  So many of these people are angry and loud. I know it's good and necessary to stand up and be loud sometimes and be against things.  I mean sometimes that's the only way real change happens. And I am not someone who remains silent. I will be loud, I will fight when it is necessary. But lately, it seems like so many people are loud and angry and against everything.  The voices against everything sound attacking and reactive and quick-tempered everywhere--from television talk shows to Twitter.

Instead of being against everything, I want to be for things.  I am for equal rights. I am for compassion and understanding and empathy.  I am for more listening, less yelling.  I am for knowing more about each other and the world.  

That is one of the reasons I am so excited to be joining a movement to share the stories about women's rights and issues concerning health, education, wealth, economic development and combating climate change.  It is the  Across Women's Lives (#womenslives) initiative, a media partnership between Public Radio International (PRI) and SheKnows Media.  

I am definitely for sharing more stories about women and women's issues around the world.  Did you know that currently only about 24 percent of all news subjects talk about women in any way, and only six percent of news stories highlight general in/equality?


#womenslives


PRI creates and produces public radio programs like The World, The Takeaway and many other programs, as well as special reports.  Together PRI, SheKnows Media and bloggers and writers will be sharing stories and starting conversations about the Across Women's Lives series using the #womenslives hashtag. 

Stories with information like this:

"When girls receive more education, their children are healthier. When women have more ownership of property, domestic violence often drops. When more women work outside the home, a country’s economic output rises. And when women hold elective office, government corruption is lower.

Yet in spite of the social benefits, gender inequity remains common throughout the world — including in developed countries like the US. It takes focused effort, creativity and persistence to shift the gender balance closer to equality. It means changing culture, changing tradition and changing attitudes."

I'm for knowing more about women's lives around the world and creating change. I'm for sharing stories that educate, enlighten and inspire all of us to be and do better.

Throughout the rest of 2015, I will be sharing stories, and writing some, about #womenslives.  I hope that you will read and follow the #womenslives hashtag to see all the stories.  



This post is in connection to my participation in the #WomensLives social journalism initiative co-sponsored by BlogHerSheKnows Media, and Public Radio International. Across Women’s Lives seeks to change the conversation in news media, because women’s lives are newsworthy.


2 comments:

  1. What a great movement! Keeping people aware of women's issues is a big job. Way to go!

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  2. This is a great campaign, and I'm so proud to be part of it with you!

    ReplyDelete