Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.9.3/8.9.0.Beta5/980425bjb) with SMTP id LAA11217; Tue, 6 Jun 2000 11:18:15 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 11:18:15 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <s93cde34.081@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: alcrsb@langate.gsu.edu Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:725] Literacy, Women, and the World X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 5.5.3.1 Status: OR (This is a fairly long posting) This week, the UN is convening its 5th UN conference on Women. I therefore decided to share some information about women and world issues. The last world conference on women was held in 1995, when 187 nations endorsed a whole bunch of goals and actions directed to improve the lives of women around the world. Seventy percent of the poor of the world are female and at the 1995 conference there was an acknowledgment that women need to be part of all policy making discussions. In reality, most of the talk was just that-talk, and little has changed for women around the world. The inaction stems from both cultural resistance and economic issues. However, as a NY Times editorial (Sat. June 3) has pointed out, culture is really the issue: "In much of Latin America, a rapist goes free if he marries the victim. In several Islamic countries, a man may kill a female relative who has disgraced the family. In Pakistan, women's testimony has no value in rape cases. In Kuwait, women still may not vote." This week (6/5-6/9), every day, ABC news at 7:00 PM (at least it is 7:00 in Atlanta) is running an informational piece about women's issues around the world. Yesterday (Monday) it focused on honor killings around the world, and on domestic violence in the US. What about literacy? We have a long, long way to go. In 1980, 62.8% of the world's women were illiterate. In 1995, instead of decreasing, the number increased to 63.8%! Except for a few countries (particularly Jamaica and Lesotho), women have lower levels of literacy than men do; in developing countries this disparity averages a 21% difference. This leaves us with a lot of work to do! I would like to pay some respect to the neat programs out there that are doing great work for women around the world. There is one program that was highlighted in the June/July issue of Ms. magazine that I will share with you. The indigenous Hnanhu in central Mexico, for centuries used aloe vera, wild lettuce, and agave for food, medicine, and cleaning agents, and plant fibers for ropes and brushes. After 20 years of hard work, and with the support of university students these women formed a collective called LAMSS (a Spanish acronym for Union of Wild Lettuce Growers from the High Plains). Their brushes and shampoos are exported throughout Mexico and to Body Shop franchises throughout the world. Due to this collective, Hnanhu kids are staying in school and not going to work, nutrition has improved, and families are meeting their daily needs. Does anyone else know about any program that they would like us to know about? Daphne Greenberg Center for the Study of Adult Literacy Georgia State University University Plaza Atlanta, GA 30303-3083 Fax: 404-651-1415 Ph: 404-651-0400 E-mail: alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu
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