“If I had been asked to join the panel, I would have added to the discussion on inclusion and identity by sharing how my own identity is also founded on my past experiences, both personal and from an inclusion standpoint. As these women spoke of what formulated their own identities, they mentioned that their heritage, the environment in which they grew up, and their experiences with injustice all led them to their current careers in which they provide voice and agency to the voiceless. To this discussion, I would add that I too base my identity on my past experiences growing up, although mine was fortunately free from much discrimination as I grew up in a suburban, relatively well-off area in America as a white women. With this identity comes not only the acknowledgment of privilege, but also the acknowledgment that since your voice may be more heard by society than others, you can use your position as a platform for the voices of others who are not as lucky. I try to live my life in a way that embodies this thinking. Whenever I notice that I am being listened to, I hope to bring up issues that affect those without a voice. Similarly, when I notice that my opinion, as a woman, is not being acknowledged, I look to those in positions of power to do something about it.
In high school, I co-founded my high school’s branch of Girl Up, a organization under the United Nations Women’s Foundation that aims to empower and ensure safety for young girls living in developing countries. Now, at the George Washington University, I am a part of an organization called GlobeMed, in which we partner with an organization called Set Her Free in Uganda and aim to provide them with financial resources and advocacy through promoting awareness of the young girls’ situations to those here in America. I would have shared these involvements as part of the panel, as I like to think that they exemplify my identity. My background knowledge from my involvement in these organizations would have helped me fit into this particular scholarly community because they demonstrate how identity is derived from where you draw meaning in your life, as one of the panelists mentioned.
To participate more fully in this panel, I may need to do more research on how I, as an American, could empower these girls and women to have the ability and resources to use their own voices to elicit change in their communities. They know the needs and situations in their own communities are, while I, as an outsider, do not. I would need them to share this information with me and tell me what it is that I can do for them rather than coming in and telling them what must be done. Fortunately, both Girl Up and GlobeMed greatly value this idea of sustainable empowerment and ensure that our relationships with those who lack power and voice is one of partnership rather than superiority.
My current UW 1020 research project, on memoirs written by women with mental illnesses about their experiences in mental hospitals, may supplement this scholarly community. The panelists specifically mentioned how courage to put everything on the line and risk it all is what provides meaning to your life. This is shown through memoirs, especially those focused on mental illness, as authors share many personal details about their lives that anyone to read. They must be willing to be judged for their experiences, which takes enormous bravery. However, many memoirists have found deeper meaning in their own lives through the process of analyzing their experiences in the memoir writing process. Additionally, the panelists highlighted how creating paths of inclusion means giving a voice to the voiceless. This is exemplified through mental illness memoirs as the emergence of this genre has brought the discussion of mental illness into the public arena and has largely changed the perceptions of those with mental illness throughout society.”
Margaret Nelson
“If I had had the honor of participating in the panel for this year’s Women’s Leadership Conference, I would have spoken about the inclusion of Jewish women and politics with the intention of encouraging intersectional feminism to include Jewish women more outwardly. As I have continued to endeavor through university, and navigate political discussions with my peers, I have grown to fear my own Jewish identity in a liberal political context. As a woman with strongly liberal social views, and perhaps more conservative or moderate fiscal and international opinions, I find that my loyalty to Israel and experience as a minority is often excluded from political discourse. The yet again growing trends of antisemitism across the globe is often ignored by the left, rather than acknowledged as discriminatory and outdated. In addition, the political controversy of Israel is so intertwined with the Jewish identity that I feel as though the discussing one inevitably leads to the discussion of the other. If awareness were raised, I feel as though Israel would be able to be discussed in a political context using facts and correct history to explore the complicated current situation, rather than ultimately being offensive to the Jewish identity of many.
I think that having Judaism and feminism as two central components of my identity gives me a degree of knowledge about this subject that both Jewish men and non-Jewish women have. I have learned about Jewish history throughout my childhood, and began to educate myself on Israeli politics during high school. Despite this background in Judaism and feminism, I feel as though I would need to further explore the political climate of the Israel controversy and rising global antisemitism. I have a relatively well-versed understanding of both of these subjects, but feel as though more expertise would make me better qualified to represent the subjects’ significances with justice. Thus, there are two directions I would want to take my research were I to execute projects in preparation for such a panel. First, I would want to investigate the sentiments of Jewish women around the world to better understand how Jewish women feel in political contexts globally. Second, I would want to complete an analysis project focused on the proliferation of antisemitism around the world. I think an examination of the patterns and prevalence of antisemitism across different countries, in contrast to how political leaders have responded, would provide necessary background information for me to speak on the subject.
I think my topic would connect well with any of the women in this panel, however I feel as though it would align specifically well with the research and work of Pamela Aall, the keynote speaker. Her extensive background and influential experience in conflict resolution and peace-building is not only inspiring to all women, but to me as a Jewish woman. Judaism and conflict have been closely linked throughout history and continue to clash in the present day. I feel as though her unbiased expertise would provide some invaluable insights into the ways in which Judaism and conflict can separate from one another to allow Israel to find peace.
Ultimately, this panel of strong and intellectual women who are each making such a positive impact on the world was very motivating and empowering for me. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity to hear such incredible individuals share their stories and work.”
Alexandra Constantinides
“I think the amazing thing about the Women’s Leadership Conference was how diverse all of the women were and how different each one’s background was., Although they are so different, each woman has accomplished so much that has not only benefited them, but also many minorities and people in need of help today. If I were given the chance to someday be a part of the panel, I believe I would speak about the refugee crisis.
Because I was born in Syria and came to the United States at the age of three, I value all of the opportunities that I am given in this country and realize that I can not receive many of the same things in other parts of the world. My parents came here for their children because they believed that they would be providing us with the best future in the U.S. When I turned 12 years old, my parents decided it was time to return to their homeland so that me and my brothers would be able to connect to our Arab culture in Syria. At that point however, it was too late and we could not return to Syria because the civil war had started.
The war had begun because civilians were opposed to the actions of the government but over the past 7 years, it has escalated into a much bigger issue. Many of my family members and friends have been forced to flee their homes because their houses have been destroyed by bombings and the destruction occurring in the country. I have watched my mother sob countless times after receiving news that another relative of hers has passed away. Because of how much this war has affected me, it has inspired me to major in global public health so that I can enter a career field and help provide medical aid for people in need of it. When Dr. Mary Ellsberg spoke about how she dropped everything and traveled to Nicaragua to study domestic violence against women, I was intrigued because this is something I would love to do in the future. If I could just safely travel to Syria and work with an organization like Doctors Without Borders to help people affected by the war, I would be more than happy to. I also am currently doing research on how Arab women use media to combat discrimination that they face in their countries so I feel like this is something that Dr. Mary Ellsberg would be interested in. Many Arab women experience violence by various male figures in their lives and often are not able to escape this. I am continuing to research how Arab women use different platforms to find a voice for themselves and fight for justice.
I think the woman I was most interested by was Samah Mcgona Sisay because of her work with immigrants in deportation proceedings. Samah spoke about how when helping immigrants, she tries to ensure that she also allows them to feel like they also have power over their situation. Samah also spoke about DACA and TPS which I think is very important because not many people are educated about either of those things. I do not think that people realize how hard it is to survive in this country without a driver’s license or a work’s authorization, even if they cannot be deported. It is important that immigrants and refugees are provided with the same privileges as citizens in the U.S. so that they can live a normal life that is not restricted by things that are not under their control. Samah definitely inspired me and reminded me that there are people out there fighting for those who are fearful of fighting for themselves. I hope that one day I am able to hold a job similar to Samah’s so that I also can grant immigrants and refugees the rights they should already hold in this country.”
Zena Saifo
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“At the Inclusion and Diversity panel, many of the panelists discussed giving a voice to the voiceless. Two of the panelists were lawyers who dedicated their careers to helping disenfranchised populations, with Samah McGona Sisay studying to become an immigration lawyer to help immigrants defend their rights, and Caroline Laguerre-Brown working to promote diversity at the George Washington University and make sure that the students of color here have their voices heard. Sisay mentioned giving her clients agency and the tools to defend their own rights. If I were a panelist in this discussion, I would probably talk about something similar, but in the healthcare aspect of underprivileged communities rather than the legal aspect.
I am currently getting a degree in biomedical engineering, and I am considering pursuing prosthetics during and after getting my undergraduate degree. Prosthetics are hugely expensive and there is definitely a class divide in who can receive the best care and technologies. Currently there are several promising projects to make cheap prosthetics readily available to the public using three dimensional printing, inexpensive materials, and public access to templates. This is great, but these inexpensive limbs have a very limited range of motions and do not compare to getting a professionally fitted and personally designed limb. Thus, if I go into the field of prosthetics, I would likely talk about the healthcare disparities that are rampant in this field.
My background knowledge that would help me fit into this scholarly community would come from being a young woman in the science field. As someone growing up in a exponentially advancing technological age, I have seen firsthand how fast technology changes, and yet how far behind we leave the people of underprivileged communities. With today’s access to social media and news stories across the world, I see stories of people making inexpensive three dimensionally printed prosthetics, as well as speak to people who make prosthetics professionally. Just on Friday, I spoke with students who were working on making inexpensive prosthetic hands and with a professional prosthetist, and with this multifaceted exposure to people all across the field, I could address the disparities within it.
All of the issues that plague traditional healthcare, like insurance issues, plague the field of prosthetic healthcare as well. This is especially prevalent in fitting children who were born with the need for prosthetics and/or braces, for prosthetics, as they are constantly growing and end up needing more prosthetics, driving up the costs to their parents and making insurance companies less likely to insure them. In addition, third world countries that do not have the same access to technologies that the United States of America has, have an even lesser chance of getting access to prosthetics. If I wanted to participate in this scholarly community, I would probably need to do further research on exactly how big the disparities are, and how many people in the United States and other countries are not getting access to prosthetics that have a need for it. In this way, I would have some numbers to back up my claims and that would solidify the notion that there is a need for change.
My current UW 1020 project might not speak directly to this field, as I am writing about how Maya Angelou used her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings to overcome her childhood trauma of being raped. However, both issues pertain to the struggles that underprivileged communities face, and both bring attention to the need for change and inclusion of these communities.”
Fatima Mumtaza Tourk
“If I had been asked to join the panel, I would choose to discuss my experiences in the high school debate community. Debate is certainly a male dominated activity, as more men are encouraged to engage in such high level intellectual conversations. Not only do women represent the minority, at least every woman in the activity has come face to face with discrimination. The sexism comes in the forms of critiquing tone of voice, attire, “catty” attitudes, and much more. Although I was fortunate enough to not encounter as much prejudice as my fellow females, I knew there was something larger behind the scenes contributing to our results. Women are deemed overly aggressive while men are impressively assertive despite taking the same actions and utilizing the same speech. The gender disparity is rooted deep within the activity and will definitely take years for individuals to begin noticing and taking action. Therefore, I would bring this conversation to the table and discuss how similar versions of sexism manifest in college and adulthood. An article in the Washington Post, written by a fellow debater Anna Waters, highlights how the dilemmas young women face in debate are exactly the same as those faced by longtime politicians. For instance, Hillary Clinton as often targeted for her attitude and tone of voice during the presidential debates against Donald Trump. Despite how much more prepared and knowledgeable Clinton was on the subjects at hand, media outlets nationwide ruled Trump the winner. Unfortunately, this sort of sexism taking place in a high school setting is even more discouraging as it occurs earlier on in life. If examples such as Clinton’s mentioned above were not a recurring event, it is possible that this attitude would not be as commonplace within debate. Some of the intelligent people I have met are debaters, and most of them are women. The capacities of these young women are astounding, however, there are plenty of barriers holding these women back.
Each of the women on the panel discussed their experiences specifically as women. However, the biggest aspect of the panel focused on the importance racial and cultural diversity within our communities and scholarly fields. As mentioned above, the debate community is lacking in the inclusion department, as I have witnessed myself. To participate further in this community, I would center my research on anecdotal experiences of young women, especially women of color, in debate. In addition, I would formulate statistics displaying the numerical differences in championships won by females versus males. My current UW project does not fit along these lines as I am writing on the differentiating perspectives of the Harding and Kerrigan figure skating scandal. Nevertheless, both subjects rely heavily on the concept of feminism and the significance of implementing it effectively in public settings.
Furthermore, the panelists all came from extremely diverse backgrounds yet all found themselves in similar positions. Each woman is paving a pathway for women just like them to follow. I hope one day I can be just as impactful in the arena of politics, thus acting a beam of light for those in high school debate. As a debater, I looked up to women like Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, and Michelle Obama. Although those are big shoes to fill, I am extremely motivated by these panelists to work hard so women like me can see more females on Capitol Hill and in the White House.”
Lauren Lamar
