Name: Jocelyn Penate Date: 05.09.

17
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Book Guide
1. "It appears that more girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because
they were girls, than men were killed in all the battles of the twentieth century" (p. xvii).
Why is the dire state of women in impoverished cultures, as set out by the authors in the
introduction, also a great opportunity for them?
I think that the dire state of women in impoverished cultures is also a great opportunity for
them because they are aware of their hardships. They know how hard life is for them and
probably wouldnt want to live through that anymore. So, when theyre given the
opportunity to have a brighter future, theyll take it and make the best of it.

2. "The modern global slave trade is larger in absolute terms than the Atlantic slave
trade in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries" (p. 11). Given the scale of the problem,
what do Kristof and WuDunn suggest as reasonable efforts towards ending human
trafficking?
They propose that women should treated equally and should be included in the economy.
If women are educated and given the same opportunities as their male counterparts, they
might be able to prosper more. If women had a part in the economy, the overall GDP
would be much better, seeing that women now are contributing. Also, if women were more
educated, theyd be less likely to be caught in situations where theyd be trafficked.

3. What do the stories about Srey Momm and Srey Neth indicate about the
complexities of the trafficking problem in places like Thailand and Cambodia? Why do
Kristof and WuDunn say "it's most productive to focus efforts on prevention and putting
brothels out of business" (p. 45)?
Brothels in places like Thailand and Cambodia are more plentiful Brothels in places like
Thailand and Cambodia are more plentiful. This means that it's much harder for women to
escape these places because if they tried they might be traded back or to another. They
think itll be most effective preventing or putting them out of business because that way
there wont be a chance for them to be taken in the first place.

4. What difficulties do "the new abolitionists," like Sunitha Krishnan and Abbas Be, face
in trying to shut down the brothel trade? How does Sunitha's story highlight the kind of
bravery required to save women from enslavement in brothels?
They are in danger of being raped or even killed. The people in charge of these brothels
are dangerous and will not let go of the women without a fight, theyre their source of
income. The bravery required to save women from enslavement in brothels is highlighted
by Sunithas story because it is hard to go back to a place where you endured so much
pain, but she did it and helped others enduring the same.
 5. The judge in the rape and kidnapping case of Woineshet, in Ethiopia, disapproved of
the fact that this young girl was insisting on prosecuting her rapist: "He wants to marry
you. Why are you refusing?" (p. 65). How is this story emblematic of the much larger
problem of "tradition" in countries like Ethiopia?
It is tradition for a girl in Ethiopia to be married at a young age, usually arranged
marriages and this case proves to be an emblem for this because of the way the judge
treated the case. He tried to justify that he raped he because of the fact that he wanted to
marry her. Her safety wasnt seen as important because HE wanted to marry her, even if
she didnt want to.

6. Kristof and WuDunn argue that "universities should make it a requirement that all
graduates spend at least some time in the developing world" (p. 88), and that "time spent
in Congo and Cambodia might not be as pleasant as in Paris, but it will be life-changing"
(p. 89). Do you agree that young Americans should be required to widen their knowledge
by direct experience? How might such a requirement change the lives of young Americans,
and their view of poverty and privilege?
I do agree that it should be a requirement. Young Americans have been lucky to have been
able to be born and live here and most likely not have had to experience the hardships
others in Cambodia or Congo are experiencing right now as Im typing this. A trip to a
country like Cambodia or Congo would help them have a more broad spectrum of
knowledge and be able to live through what these people endure on a daily basis, and be
able to relate more, it will make them aware of their privilege and help them realize how
lucky they are. It would truly be an eye opener.

7. How does the story of Prudence Lemokouno illustrate the dangers of pregnancy and
delivery in the developing world (pp. 10913)? Does it seem an obvious and desirable
principle that reproductive health should be considered an international human rights
issue, as argued by Dr. Allan Rosenfield (p. 122)? What does the example of Sri Lanka
prove about the possibilities of reducing women's mortality rates in childbirth?
Prudences story illustrates how if theres no proper care, pregnancy and delivery can be
very dangerous processes and could lead to death. Yes it does, reproductive health should
definitely be considered an international human rights issue, women are dying. The
example of Sri Lanka shows just how possible it can be to evade so many deaths by just
treating them like humans, by educating them and giving them the correct healthcare.

8. Muslim nations are among those in which women are most severely disadvantaged;
so the authors directly address the question of whether Islam is misogynistic (p. 150).
What do they conclude? What are the best ways to address the frustrations of women like
Ellaha, who feel trapped in conservative Muslim cultures where women are at the mercy of
their male relatives (pp. 15657)? Is religion part of the reason for the oppression of
women? Is it part of the solution?
They conclude it is culture the responsible. I believe that if for tons and tons of years
someone is told that women arent important, itll take a lot to change that perspective.
That view of women has been imbedded in the culture, not necessarily in the religion.
Slowly trying to convince people that women are worthy and important will start to shape
(even the most stubborn) cultures into accepting women and treating them respectfully.

9. The authors present a great deal of information about the troubles surrounding the
education of girls. Discuss the thorny problems raised in chapter ten, "Investing in
Education" (pp. 16778), and the ways that Ann Cotton has succeeded in addressing many
of them with her Camfed project in Zimbabwe (pp. 17983).
People think that the education issue can just be solved by building schools, but ultimately
thats not enough. There are other things to think about like the attendance, theres no
point of having a school if no ones gonna attend it. Parents dont believe its worth paying
the yearly fees for a girl to attend school or even the cost of school materials. Ann Cotton
has been helping by setting up a school and helping to pay the tuition, if they need it.

10.Chapter Eleven, "Microcredit: The Financial Revolution," focuses on the positive

changes that are possible when you lend women money to start businesses, or when
women have control of the family purse. Is it surprising to learn that when men control
family spending, more is spent on beer and prostitutes, and when women are in control
more is spent on food and education (pp. 19293)? Does India's law, assuring that one
third of village leaders will be women, suggest that putting more women in positions of
political power will make the world a better place for children?
No, it is not surprising. Indias law that assures that one third of village leaders will be
women does suggest that putting women in positions of political power will make a the
world a better place for children. Women understand what it is like to feel like a second
class citizen and will probably try to better the world while theyre in power. That way the
kids will have a better world to grow up in.

11.Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce worked tirelessly to expose the truths
about the cruel and gruesome conditions endured by the slaves in the British slave trade
(pp. 23536). Their work is a model for the political effectiveness of bringing atrocities to
the forefront of the public mind and conscience. What realities were brought to light for
you, as you read this book? What details or stories would you consider most provocative,
disturbing, or inspiring for middle-class readers?
I had never heard of fistulas or how hard pregnancy/birth is for women in less developed
nations. I found very disgusting how if a woman is pregnant and leaves her husband,
probably because hes abusive, even her family decides to throw her out to a shed to be
eaten alive by hyenas or coyotes. Also, I do find it incredibly inspiring how these very
strong women have been able to overcome all these hardships and prosper.
 12.With the stories they recount in this book, Kristof and WuDunn hope to convince
readers to help bring about changes that are desperately needed in the developing world.
How effective would you predict Half the Sky will be in its effort to create new activists,
donors, and volunteers for the international women's movement (p. 237)?
I believe and hope it will gather new people willing to help. When you read this book, it
opens up your eyes to so many real issues that need to be brought out and fixed. Unless
you are truly an evil person, I believe this book will move you to do something, to help the
millions of girls in pain right now.

13.Kristof and WuDunn make three specific recommendations for immediate action: "A
$10 billion effort over five years to educate girls," focusing on Africa but also encouraging
Afghanistan and Pakistan to do better; a drive to iodize salt in poor countries, to improve
I.Q. points lost to iodine deficiency in utero; and a twelve-year, $1.6 billion campaign to
eradicate obstetric fistula and to reduce maternal mortality (pp. 24647). What do you
think about this vision? What has reading the book done to your sense of what needs to be
done and what kinds of action might be most effective? Has reading the book inspired you
to develop an action strategy or a personal plan to join the movement to address some of
these issues? What kinds of actions personally do you think would be the most effective?
I think its a great way to start. This book has inspired me to do more especially as a girl
myself, I could be that teenager in Cambodia being traded off to a brothel or told that I
cant go to school because all Im good at is giving birth and cleaning. I want to help these
girls and women, I want them to have a brighter future just like what my parents want
from me. I think people should donate. I think people should visit. I think people should
experience. I want to do allof these things. Anything and everything could help these
ladies and I want to be a part of it.

14.Jonathan Haidt has written in The Happiness Hypothesis that "a connection to
something larger" can greatly affect our feelings of happiness. As Kristof and WuDunn
suggest, "we are neurologically constructed so that we gain huge personal dividends from
altruism" (p. 250). Do you feel this to be true? Do you feel, upon finishing this book, that
you can have a direct impact on helping to turn women in impoverished parts of the world
"into full-fledged human beings" (p. 251)?
Yes I believe this to be true. I feel that yes I have the ability to help women turn into full-
fledged human beings because I can do something. I have done the first part which is get
informed by reading this book, and now I have to find something to do to help. I feel the
need to do something, because this should not be happening, women around the world
should have all the same rights. And the same rights as their male counterparts.