The Reality of Gender Inequality
By Dani Wickingson
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide is a documentary inspired by a book of the same name written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Hosted by Kristof, a seasoned journalist and activist, as well as several celebrities, this documentary is an illustration of the struggle for equality that millions of women face around the globe, as well as an effective method to encourage others to join the movement. The creators of this well-organized, expository documentary travel to countries where inequalities towards women are most severe and present the facts through numerous interviews with affected women. In a mere four hours, Half the Sky proves itself as a powerful and accurate demonstration of the global inequalities that so many women face.
HOW DOES IT COMMUNICATE?
To appreciate the facts that Half the Sky presents, it is important to recognize how the precise organization of the film allows for proper communication regarding gender inequality. The documentary is clearly divided into six parts, each regarding the most common issues that women face: sex trafficking, education, violence against women, economic empowerment, maternal |
mortality, and forced prostitution (Half the Sky Movement). By identifying each of the central problems and focusing on a specific place in the world for each one, gender inequality can be understood on a global scale in a much fuller sense.
Though the documentary accomplishes detailing each problem in a simple way, it refrains from implying that they are simple in their nature. Instead, those that were interviewed admit to the complexities of resolving the inequalities they face. Somaly Mam, an Cambodian women’s rights activist, states that she doesn’t anticipate the elimination of sex trafficking in Cambodia within her lifetime, but this is not to say her efforts and successes are for naught (Kristof). Understanding the thought process behind the flawless organization of the film allows the audience to focus solely on the subject matter.
Though the documentary accomplishes detailing each problem in a simple way, it refrains from implying that they are simple in their nature. Instead, those that were interviewed admit to the complexities of resolving the inequalities they face. Somaly Mam, an Cambodian women’s rights activist, states that she doesn’t anticipate the elimination of sex trafficking in Cambodia within her lifetime, but this is not to say her efforts and successes are for naught (Kristof). Understanding the thought process behind the flawless organization of the film allows the audience to focus solely on the subject matter.
WHO IS BEING AFFECTED?
Over the course of four hours, Half the Sky takes the audience to ten different countries: Cambodia, Kenya, India, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Liberia and the United States (Half the Sky Movement). Many of these countries are the homes of severe inequality towards women. Half the Sky includes several examples of this through extensive interviews and the product conveys the struggles that so many individuals face. One of these examples tells the story of numerous young girls in Cambodia who were sold into sex slavery, sometimes by their own parents. The girls that were interviewed were typically around ten-years-old when they were sold, though some of them began their lives in a brothel as young as eighteen-months-old (Kristof). Many of them were scarred by their traumatic experiences and, whether these scars were physical or psychological, the lasting effects were easy to identify. |
While parts of this documentary are admittedly hard to watch, what it accomplishes by telling such painful stories as a whole is an accurate depiction of the grip that gender inequality has on the world. Some of the stories told were far from the desirable happily-ever-after, which was very impactful when such events played out on screen. One such story belongs to a young Sierra Leonean girl who had been raped by her uncle. The film crew documented her bravery in reporting the rape, a social taboo in her country. Though many of those involved were hopeful of a just outcome, because of the girl’s pursuit of a prosecution, she was consequently failed by the law enforcement officers who let her rapist walk free, kicked out of her home by her father for bringing shame to their family, and socially isolated from her community (Kristof). Half the Sky could not provide justice for this young girl, but her story helps convey how deeply ingrained inequality is in various societies.
This hardened nature of Half the Sky provides a key component for captivating the audience: emotion. The heartbreak from the blatant injustice that saturates each of the six stories in the documentary is undeniable. However, sugarcoating these stories would prove ineffective because, as WuDunn states, gender inequality is the central challenge of this century (WuDunn). Half the Sky manages to boldly confront this issue, and still respectfully present the tragedies that are taking place.
This hardened nature of Half the Sky provides a key component for captivating the audience: emotion. The heartbreak from the blatant injustice that saturates each of the six stories in the documentary is undeniable. However, sugarcoating these stories would prove ineffective because, as WuDunn states, gender inequality is the central challenge of this century (WuDunn). Half the Sky manages to boldly confront this issue, and still respectfully present the tragedies that are taking place.
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
Though many parts of Half the Sky are upsetting, this is not to say that it is without a glimmer of hope. Though all of the women interviewed face varying levels of adversity, the actions of those working to improve specific issues are included as well. This is specifically demonstrated through interviews with Somaly Mam and Amie Kandeh, both of which work hard to resolve gender inequalities in their respective countries. Somaly Mam, featured in the sex-trafficking segment, is both a survivor of sex-trafficking, as well as a well-known women’s rights activist in Cambodia. As an adolescent, Mam suffered unimaginable brutalities and even witnessed a sex trafficker murder her best friend before courageously escaping shortly after (The Somaly Mam |
Foundation). She has since devoted herself to helping other young women in similar situations, which often involves a great amount of risk, as this requires locating and raiding brothels. Conversely, Amie Kandeh, interviewed in the violence against women segment, is involved in improving women’s rights in Sierra Leone. Like Mam, Kandeh has also suffered at the hands of gender inequality, hers being in the form of domestic abuse. She has organized three Rainbo Centers (health centers for victims of sexual assault), in addition to coordinating the International Rescue Committee (International Rescue Committee). Kandeh is known for being one of the leading voices in the Sierra Leonean women’s rights movement and she focuses this on creating a better Sierra Leone.
HOW IS HALF THE SKY’S GOALS BEING ACCOMPLISHED?
What Half the Sky accomplishes through its bird’s eye view of gender inequality is a level of awareness that leaves viewers hopeful for the future. One of the greatest tools that the film crew has used to amplify this is the involvement of several well-known celebrities. Allowing celebrities to take part in the Half the Sky experience provides additional publicity to a good cause. Kristof even states that this method allows the Half the Sky movement access to many viewers that might otherwise be inaccessible (Kristof). The celebrities featured throughout the four hours are America Ferrara, Olivia Wilde, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, and Gabrielle Union (Half the Sky Movement). Most of these famous women are political activists themselves or relate to the issues being discussed.
HOW IS HALF THE SKY’S GOALS BEING ACCOMPLISHED?
What Half the Sky accomplishes through its bird’s eye view of gender inequality is a level of awareness that leaves viewers hopeful for the future. One of the greatest tools that the film crew has used to amplify this is the involvement of several well-known celebrities. Allowing celebrities to take part in the Half the Sky experience provides additional publicity to a good cause. Kristof even states that this method allows the Half the Sky movement access to many viewers that might otherwise be inaccessible (Kristof). The celebrities featured throughout the four hours are America Ferrara, Olivia Wilde, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, and Gabrielle Union (Half the Sky Movement). Most of these famous women are political activists themselves or relate to the issues being discussed.
Olivia Wilde, for example, accompanied Nicholas Kristof to Kenya to film the segment regarding forced prostitution. Wilde, an A-list actress, comes from a family of journalists and has taken part in political activism her whole life, including volunteering alongside doctors and teachers in Haiti (Half the Sky Movement). Similarly, Gabrielle Union comes from a background of speaking and volunteering for organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation (Half the Sky Movement). Though the segment she was featured in dealt with education, Union could relate to the oppression of the young women she met while in Vietnam, as she had experienced oppression in the form of rape. Including knowledgeable and active women such as Wilde and Union is useful not just in gaining recognition, but also providing an added level of credibility to Half the Sky.
THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE |
Half the Sky presents many problems throughout its four hours. After seeing how far reaching gender inequality is throughout the world, the proposed solutions may seem like too little too late. On the movement’s webpage, the efforts being taken by the organization as they pertain to each issue are explained in detail. However, the purpose of the documentary itself was not to simply inform its audience that there are people working on these issues; rather, it is to encourage more people to get involved in the Half the Sky movement, whether that it is through posting flyers, volunteering, or donating money to the cause.
What the film crew of Half the Sky has put together is a depiction of the difficulties and terrors that many women face, while also providing a hope for a future free of harmful inequalities. It provides a dynamic journey that encourages its audience to find methods in which to get involved. In the end, it has proven itself to be an accurate demonstration of the gender inequality that women face today and has produced an effective medium to encourage change.
What the film crew of Half the Sky has put together is a depiction of the difficulties and terrors that many women face, while also providing a hope for a future free of harmful inequalities. It provides a dynamic journey that encourages its audience to find methods in which to get involved. In the end, it has proven itself to be an accurate demonstration of the gender inequality that women face today and has produced an effective medium to encourage change.