In this modern era, most people would agree that advancing the status of women and girls is a worthy objective. Penn certainly seems to be doing its part. Irvine was packed last week for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s speech “Empowering Women to Change the World: What Universities and the UN Can Do.”
Although events like this are well intentioned, a significant number of students I’ve spoken with since then have wondered what effect they really have on progress.
Back in February, I had the opportunity to attend a week’s worth of meetings of the 55th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. I acted as part of a student delegation on behalf of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. We attended high-level meetings and a practicum designed to teach us about advocacy work.
While I appreciated having such intimate access to the United Nations and witnessing the unveiling of the new U.N. Women organization, I came away from that week feeling less confident in the United Nations and non-governmental organizations than ever before.
As a political science major and a gender, sexuality and women’s studies minor, it’s not that I was uninterested in the subject or out of my element. What really troubled me was that my efforts felt useless, unproductive and overshadowed by the ideas of a majority of the participants — older, middle-to-upper class white women.
While I’m sure their intentions were noble, I couldn’t help but question how they could possibly represent the needs and desires of diverse women around the world. Although they never once defined what they meant by “woman” — not in any of the dozens of workshops I attended, speeches I heard or written materials I read — the lack of discussion and representation of young people, lower income people, people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals made it quite clear what their definition was: older, white, middle-to-high income and heterosexual.
No one acknowledged difference and diversity, as if to do so would be to fragment what little unity existed. A common theme in their comments was, “Wherever you may go in the world, you will find that the heart of a woman is virtually the same.” Not only are statements like this both weak and oversimplified, they’re just not true.
This type of second-wave feminist ideology, while not coming from an evil place, is most certainly coming from an antiquated place. Our generation of feminists has new and perhaps improved third-wave ideas that need to be heard, but the older women in charge wouldn’t give up the reins. Little to none of the programming at the CSW was created or implemented by young people, and the voices of the newcomers who did get a chance to speak were drowned out by the comments and naysaying of those more established. The United Nations’ one-size-fits-all approach to aid and development hasn’t always been effective in the past, so why not try something new?
I know it’s logistically difficult for a complex international organization like the United Nations to get things done, but it was hard not to feel discouraged by all the idle talk. I came away with the conviction that if I want to join the efforts to make real change in the lives of women around the world, I cannot do it through the auspices of the United Nations.
Talking to other college women in the practicum, I know I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. Now, talking to other Penn women after Ban’s address, I’ve heard the same sentiments reiterated. What’s going to happen when those in charge retire and fade away if they don’t start to share their power and delegate responsibilities now?
Instead of taking us on as partners and listening to our ideas, these second wavers are holding on until the last possible second. Without some sort of overlap, progress is going to suffer. Unless we start stepping up and demanding to be heard, the future well-being of women and girls around the world will not achieve its full potential.
Sarah Klein is a College junior majoring in political science. She is the founder and president of Pre-Law Women at Penn. Her email address is sarahkl@sas.upenn.edu.
