Women and girls are the key to sustainable development and have the capacity to resolve myriad crises that plague our world. I applaud the many insightful articles in this week's New York Times Magazine with the cover “Why Women’s Rights Are the Cause of Our Time.” I have been an advocate of the perspective highlighted in these pieces and I encourage you to read all of them. As Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn wrote in their 21st century manifesto, there is growing recognition among leaders from all sectors – public and private – that supporting women and girls throughout the world is the solution to many of the world’s problems.
As Mark Landler wrote in his piece on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, her appointment of the irrepressibly capable (my descriptive) Melanne Verveer as ambassador at large for global women's issues is central to her agenda of promoting empowerment of women and girls internationally. Dexter Filkins wrote about the challenges of giving aid to women and girls in certain regions like Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan. And Tina Rosenberg wrote about development initiatives often increasing discrimination against girls in countries like India and China.
But, as Lisa Belkin wrote in her piece on women and philanthropy, women’s financial support of other women represents change of a dramatic magnitude. Having worked with Helen and Swanee Hunt, The Woman’s Funding Network, and an extraordinary group of women to launch Women Moving Millions, we sensed and then decided to power forward a historic tipping point. We knew we would exceed the goals we set and we are part of a global movement pushing to achieve even more.
Of the 1.1 billion people globally who live in extreme poverty and suffer chronic hunger, the great majority are women and girls. Though the face of philanthropy has changed, with nearly half of all the foundation CEOs and 70% of program officers being women, less than ten percent of overall funding is aimed at programs that directly impact women and girls. Before the Ms. Foundation was created close to four decades ago, this figure was less than three percent. But everything is shifting fast and we need to keep our hands on the plow, as the economic strength of women is growing: just read some of the facts and figures from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. And if that doesn’t blow you away, check out The Girl Effect.
Article comments
1 - Jeanne Browne
This is a powerful and important article and a fabulous resource for those who want to know more about this subject. I thank and applaud you for helping to bring greater attention to this issue. As it happens, after reading the NYTimes Magazine piece, I began collecting other data for my own post of this subject. But given your vast experience and expertise in this area, you've done a much more thorough and detailed piece than I ever could have done. This has become one of my key issues of interest. If there are activities or initiatives I should know about/support, please let me know -- and please keep bringing this issue to the attention of Blogcritics' millions of readers!