UCF hosts forum on women's roles in leadership
Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Speakers Sarah Culberson, Zhala Sabir and Jacqueline H. Wilson addressed women's roles in leadership and how women in various part of the globe are overcoming cross-cultural challenges.
"Women roles have skyrocketed here in Kurdistan," Zhala Sabir, director of Congressional and Academic Affairs for the Kurdistan government, said. "We can tell by the amount of women in the work force."
The Kurdistan government has been trying to incorporate women into politics; given them their own voice in political affairs as well as their own lives.
According to Sabir, women in Kurdistan now have a say in their husbands' polygamy and divorce traditions. Although some issues are still at hand, such as female mutilation, extreme poverty and illiteracy, women are getting more involved in social matters.
While there is still a lot of work to be accomplished, Sabir has some hope for the future of the women of Kurdistan.
"We can see improvements being made, but there is still so much to be done," she said.
Jacqueline H. Wilson, officer at the United States Institute of Peace, expanded on the economic and political challenges women have faced throughout the decades. According to Wilson, manywomen are afraid to take that step into politics and leadership status.
"We have to encourage women to take that plunge into political positions," Wilson said.
As the defense attaché for the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, Wilson learned the importance of economic development and how it impacts women's lives.
Sarah Culberson, an actress, author and co-founder of the Kposowa Foundation, ended the eventwith a video of her life and work in Sierra Leone. The main goals of the Kposowa Foundation are to educate and restore the country from the aftermath of the civil war, which lasted 11 years.
According to Culberson, one in eight mothers in Sierra Leone die during childbirth and most are uneducated young women who dropped out of school. By keeping young women of Sierra Leone in school and giving them the education they need they could have less of a chance of becoming pregnant and a better chance to earn degrees.
"Getting an education could actually save a young girl's life," Culberson said.
The event highlighted the significant role women play around the world and at their homes.
Harriet Elam-Thomas, director of the UCF Diplomacy Program said, "They [speakers] opened our minds, our hearts and our eyes to this important issue."
The forum was organized by the UCF's Global Perspectives Office in partnership with Lt. Gen. Jay Garner.
The event was sponsored by Lawrence J. Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, the UCF Diplomacy Program, the Sibille H. Pritchard Global Peace Fellowship program, the UCF Global Peace and Security Studies Program, UCF LIFE, the UCF Political Science Department, the UCF Women's Research Center, the UCF Women's Studies Program and the Global Connections Foundation.
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