Project Third World: December 2014

Photo Source: KK Historier

Dec 2014

Another Year Ends. Another Begins: Welcome to another issue of PTW magazine.

It has been a very busy two months since our last magazine. As we end yet another year, we look back at the year which we have lived. Globally, 2014 will be marked by a building intensity. In the Middle East, the organization labelled ISIS, now IS, have made historic changes through much death and destruction, whilst in India, the BJP party have made historic changes by being the change of Governing Party since Indian Independence. Perhaps if 2014 marks anything, it would be the beginnings of significant global changes.

Within the realms of Project Third World, we may not be making critical changes, but we are certainly making significant progress. Whilst we continue to progress with our aid in Kenya and India, we have nearly confirmed out aid assistance in Brazil. This year we have expanded our magazine to include more health and social topics, and our health and educational fundraisers to be more dynamic, more interactive and more educational.

In Melbourne, we look to dive into some of the largest issues our world faces. With the cultural night, we looked at racism, and with this magazine, we look at gender equality. Next year, we go outside the human world and investigate the growing issues which our environment and fellow species face. Towards the end of the year we will also discuss the religions of the world and their impact on making positive difference, or otherwise.

Before we continue our journey, we would like to thank all those who have made Project Third World possible. We thank Rajesh Mishra in New Delhi who works tirelessly to manage the Little Angels School which we support, and June Gitau who manages the Rescue Centre in Kenya which we support.

Within our own circles, we would like to thank Purity Kinoti, Alexandre Moraes and Katherine Singh who are our volunteer managers in Kenya, Brazil and India respectively.

In our fundraising efforts, we would like to thank the Bendigo Students Association for all their help in Bendigo, and we would also like to thank the National Bank of Australia for fundraising for Project Third World through the means of cultural education.

As Project Third World grows, we strive to adapt to a changing world. It can often be hard to see the positive changes in the world, but through Project Third World, we aim to have these changes make the world a more positive and more peaceful place. We hope that we can continue to receive your support and others.

Project Third World Cultural Night 2014 Dec 2014

-Project Third World

VOL. 2, NO. 2 |2014

4| Gluten: Friend Or Foe? Gluten has a bad repour with health-food advertisements and health marketing, but what is the science behind this protein? Is it really something to stay away from?

12| Grief is one of the heaviest emotions people will experience in life, but it is also one of the hardest to understand and handle. We take a look at the emotion and how to identify with it.

7| Medicine From Science Fiction is something that has excited people since the days of ‘Back To The Future’. We take a look at some of the great marvels of the fiction world and how they are now becoming a reality.

14| Gender Inequality is one of the greatest social issues of our generation, and it is taking centre-stage on many of the world forums. We look at the history of gender inequality and why a world of equality is best for everyone.

10| Fad Diets are perhaps the most popular types of diets for weight-loss and living healthy, but how healthy are these diets and are they as appropriate for health and weight loss as they claim to be?

22| Cover Story: Deeyah Khans is a criticallyacclaimed music producer, Emmy and Peabody Award-Winning documentary film director whose work highlights Human Rights, Women’s Voices and Freedom of Expression. She gave her time and understanding to share her story and her views on Gender Inequality and what we can do about the situation.

Dec 2014

Gluten: Friend, Foe or Just a Fad?

~Daniel Kocoski

Gluten, for now, still remains a scientific enigma. Besides what gluten is, what foods it is found in and what effect it has in patients with coeliac disease, not much more is known about this protein.

In particular, interest lies in what effect it has on other gastrointestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the effect it has on healthy individuals, individuals with no medical conditions; and whether or not gluten free diets are of any benefit in these people. This article will focus on how gluten is implicated in certain gastrointestinal medical conditions, mainly focusing on coeliac disease, and whether or not gluten free diets are of any benefit in individuals without this medical condition.

Gluten is a protein that is commonly found in wheat containing foods, such as: pasta, cereal, and bread. However, some meats, condiments and alcoholic beverages may also contain gluten. In essence, gluten will be present in anything that contains the likes of rye, wheat, barely, and oats. Gluten is thought to be the main causative agent that is implicated in coeliac disease, which is an autoimmune disease, much like rheumatoid arthritis.

Normally the immune system is there to protect our bodies from foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses on a daily basis.

However, in coeliac disease an inappropriate immune response occurs in the presence of gluten leading to inflammation in the small bowel, which

subsequently damages the cells

affecting the digestive system, the symptoms that commonly occur in people that have coeliac disease include: flatulence, cramps, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea and anemia. For this reason, self-diagnosis is not recommended and if a general practitioner suspects a patient may have coeliac disease, he or she may order a blood test, which if a positive result is obtained may lead to further inspection. Currently the only treatment is a gluten free diet, which is quite restrictive and more expensive compared to an everyday normal diet; therefore treatment is more aimed at prevention rather than a cure. As a patient with coeliac disease it is essential to read labels properly in order to prevent a flair-up of the condition and there are numerous support services available, such as the Coeliac Society of Australia and dieticians who specialize in gastrointestinal disorders.

that are implicated in the absorption of nutrients from the small intestine (Biesiekierski, Muir & Gibson, 2013). Coeliac disease appears to be a relatively common medical condition, affecting at least 1 in 70 Australians and is thought to have a hereditary component too (Biesiekierski, Muir & Gibson, 2013). For example, in the instance a relative has this medical condition, or any other autoimmune condition for that matter, such as: type 1 diabetes or multi- There seems to be this notion that ple sclerosis, the chances of devel- gluten is the implicated in causing oping coeliac disease increases. gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with other digestive medical conditions, such as IBS, and in As with many other conditions people who are otherwise healthy.

Therefore what seems to be occurring worldwide at the moment, particularly in western countries, is that more individuals are going on the gluten free diet (Biesiekierski, Muir & Gibson, 2013). Currently the evidence is not conclusive as to whether gluten free diets will be of any benefit to these individuals. The issue beDec 2014

ing that the gastrointestinal tract is inherently difficult to characterize as many factors can affect the proper function of this system.

Some examples include: nerve function, hormonal function, anatomy, gender, and diet. For this reason there is difficulty in characterizing the different gastrointestinal disorders in terms of causes, pathophysiology, the type of treatment and its effectiveness. Take IBS as an example, the condition is still not well understood and besides some medicines that can be used, the main treatment is a diet low in FODMAPs, which seems to be of the most benefit in these individuals. A low FODMAPs diet is an eating plan that on the overall looks to decrease the amount of poorly digested carbohydrates that an individual consumes. Therefore it is hard to conclude whether gluten free diets are effective in people with IBS as all foods that are high in FODMAPs also contain gluten. As such, a positive response to a gluten free diet in people with IBS could be potentially explained due to a decrease in the overall intake of foods containing carbohydrates that tend to precipitate IBS symptoms.

with coeliac disease but who have been excluded of having coeliac disease and other gastrointestinal diseases may have a condition known as non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (Biesiekierski et al., 2014).

These individuals appear to be otherwise perfectly healthy. It should

immune system does not target its own tissue, as is the case with autoimmune diseases, and it does not involve IgE antibodies as is commonly seen in allergic reactions. In terms of treatment, new research suggests that a gluten free diet does not necessarily correlate to an improvement in symptoms associated with this condition (Biesiekierski et al., 2014). Instead, it is showing that perhaps a diet high in FODMAPs may be the cause of the symptoms and therefore abstaining from the consumption of these products should lead to an improvement in symptoms.

Overall the role of gluten in coeliac disease is well substantiated and a gluten free diet looks to be the best and most effective treatment currently.

However, in healthy individuals and people with other gastrointestinal conditions the role of gluten is still not well understood and research suggests that at the moment gluten free diets are of limited benefit to be mentioned that this is not an these patients. For now, gluten reallergic reaction to gluten, nor is mains a mystery, a friend-unlikely, it an autoimmune disease, and in a fad- maybe; a foe- only time will saying, as with many gastrointesti- tell. nal disorders, the mechanism behind this is still not well understood at the moment (Biesiekierski There is research to suggest that et al., 2014). However, what is know is that this condition does people who experience similar gastrointestinal symptoms as those not lead to tissue damage, as the Dec 2014

Project Third World Cultural Night

Infinity Dance Company, Samba Energia: Infinity Dance Company is directed by Angela Fayth McCristal– a three-timesAustralian-Salsa-Champion in three different categories and is currently ranked 2nd in the world at the World Sala Championships and Finalist on Australia’s Got Talent. Infinity Dance Company is made up of lovers of latin and Brazilian dance who have a desire to work on technique, social dancing, performing or who aim as high as competition. For more information, visit www.infinitydance.com.au .

African Star Dance and Drumming Company: Started by Shabba Eshun, African Star Dance conducts African activities to provide meaningful cultural experiences for young people. From a variety of workshops, cultural education sessions, drum and dance classes, wedding performances and children’s parties, they promote a fun and positive atmosphere amongst participants, embracing and exploring cultural diversity. The workshops offer more than just drumming in dance as they explore different activities which are particularly practiced in West Africa. For more information, visit www.africanstardance.com .

Embracing Spirit: Aatma Dance Company: Started by Anjali Sengupta, the Aatma Dance Company holds weekly Bollywood dance classes in Melbourne. It is a highly energetic dance style where the whole body is used , from toes-to-finger-tips and everything in between, for a holistic approach of mind-bodyemotion-spirit. These unique classes are much more than just a fun way to stay fit. The class structure includes an opening body awareness meditation, isolation movements, dace based warm-ups and cool downs. The classes are designed for anyone with little or no experience, as well as those looking for a weekly dose of joy. For more info: www.embracingspirit.net

Dec 2014

Science Fiction is a genre that has captured the imagination of what might be possible in the future through the force of science. We’ll show you how the field has taken fiction into today’s reality. ~Adam Livori

Dec 2014

Science has come along in a huge way since the days of Albert Einstein, Marie Curie and Ernst Rutherford.

The discoveries of these scientific pioneers have since been applied to the field of medicine. The reality is that any scientific discovery can be applied to medicine, whether it be chemistry, physics, biology or technology. I have put together three new exciting therapies in oncology that will have you amazed at how far science has come, and how quickly it is accelerating. Yes it is true, we are yet to cruise around on hover-boards or jump to light speed and see galaxies far-far-away, but there is more to the future of science than Marty McFly and Luke Skywalker. The therapies are all based on the discoveries made by the aforementioned scientists: targeted alpha therapy, proton therapy and the gamma knife.

I recently completed a thesis in targeted alpha therapy, reviewing the potential applications for these therapies in the clinical setting. Firstly, the concept of targeted alpha therapy is in the title. It is targeted because monoclonal antibodies are used like a guided missile. Antibodies are protein complexes that attach to specific receptors based on the hyper-variable region at their tip. Figure 1 details the basic shape of an antibody, highlighting the area that can attach to any given receptor based on the specificity of its hypervariable region.

and providing curative treatment. These protons are created in a particle accelerator which involves stripping protons of a hydrogen atom and delivering them to the tumour site. The process works by accelerating the proton through an evacuated tube which can then be attenuated by magnets and delivered via a gantry to the patient. The benefits of proton therapy when compared to standard X-ray beam therapy are reduced damage to healthy tissue and radiation burns, which can be essential to patient recovery in the future, particularly when healing processes are compromised by immunosuppressive chemotherapy. This technology is only now coming to Australia, with a facility in Queensland underway. Figure 3 shows the end product of particle acceleration and the delivery of the proton beam to the patient via the gantry. The 360 degree rotation of the gantry allows the beam to be precisely delivered to the target site.

The alpha therapy component in targeted alpha therapy has to do with the most powerful of all ionising particles; the alpha particle. Alpha particles are categorised as a helium nucleus, with a positive charge with a valence of two. This particle is ejected from an unstable radioactive atom which damages tissue.

In fact, only 20 to 30 alpha particles are needed to destroy a cancer cell. When you consider that the doses used in clinical practice have millions of alpha particles released, it is easy to appreciate how they can destroy tumours. When the application of alpha particle emitting radioisoptopes are combined with an antibody, a process known as chelation, we have created targeted alpha therapy (Figure 2).

Proton therapy, also known as proton-beam-therapy delivers high energy sub-atomic particles to tumour The last piece of science fiction medicine is the gamsties. Protons have huge amounts of energy that are ma knife. It is possibly the closest thing to the Star deposited to the tumour site- destroying the tissue Wars ‘Lightsaber’ we have. The gamma knife also Dec 2014

of the gamma ray beam to deliver ionising radiation to the target site. This process does not require any physical incisions or removal of healthy brain tissue to get to the tumour. Hence, it is much safer than brain surgery for a lot of patients. If you think about all the issues surrounding surgery, such as anaesthesia, potential infections and long hospital stays, it is clear to identify the benefits of gamma knife therapy.

uses radiation like the previous examples; however, by augmenting the beams of gamma rays, it can perform surgery on the brain. A radioactive source, usually cobalt, surrounds a series of tungsten or lead collimators which sharpen the beam and allow it precisely target tumour tissue inside the brain. These beams essentially ‘cut’ the tumour and destroy tissue, providing treatment to the patient. Figure 4 shows a schematic of gamma knife therapy and the precision

I mentioned the names of several scientists earlier and for a very good reason. Marie Curie discovered radiation, Albert Einstein understood and defined key aspects of the wave-particle duality of electromagnetic radiation and Ernst Rutherford’s experiments further enhanced our understanding of the atom and in particular, the nucleus and surrounding electrons.

These individuals continue to mentor scientists like myself and when the right application is constructed, science fiction becomes true science. As Marie Curie once said, “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

Dec 2014

Spoilt For Choice on the Diets Buffet ~Sonia Kaurah It’s nearly that time of year again which means over eating during the holidays and a weight loss New Year’s resolution to follow. However the kilos lost usually comes straight back on after New Year’s Day is a distant memory and those expensive diet books and gym memberships are stored away, never to be used again.

It appears that every week a new diet craze is blasted through the media usually alongside a skinny celebrity. Currently two thirds of Australians are either overweight or obese and this number is on the rise.

Therefore it’s no surprise that the weight loss industry is growing too as next year, Australians are estimated to fork out over $827 million on dieting alone, this includes diets books, foods and gyms to name a few. Fad diets are short term or‘quick fix’ weight loss regimes that make big promises to heavy hopefuls and are made to look easy but in reality is not sustainable.

There are countless fad diets out there, so I have chosen to focus on five of the most popular diets today.

The 5:2, Mediterranean, Dukan, Paleo and the Raw diet to compare the pros and cons of each to gain a better understanding of how they work and if they could work for you.

Best diet: Mediterranean Diet Worst diet: The 5:2 diet Currently research suggests that the best diet is the Mediterranean diet as it promotes more of a healthy lifestyle rather than a diet. And as you can see fad diets are hard work! They are terribly restrictive, causing you to battle your cravings and fatigue and to top it off it affects your social life; as it becomes difficult to ostracize yourself from eating with family and friends or going out to a restaurant. If these diets are continued over a few weeks, it can lead to deficiencies in nutrients which can affect your mood and energy levels. In addition if you restrict yourself too heavily, you are more likely to crave sweet things and sabotage the efforts you've made.

Some of these fad diets claim that you can trick your body; however this is far from true. When you deprive your body of calories and fat, it sends off alarm bells and believes it's starving and to protect itself, it slows down your metabolic rate and holds on to what fats it has in fear that it won’t receive any more.

Some of the initial weight loss people experience on a strict fad diet is usually fluid loss, although once they stop the diet and carbohydrates are reintroduced the fluid is regained.

Even if fad diets were to work you would miss out on other positives that one would normally gain from maintaining a healthy lifestyle, for example the feel good hormone serotonin released when you exercise, or the muscle definition associated with going to the gym or working out. Your body would be depleted of vitamins and minerals by eliminating certain foods, which would make you feel depressed and lethargic. Finally your body wouldn’t be ‘healthy’, because skinny shouldn’t be the main focus of these diets, it should be to become healthy in addition to loosing weight.

So how should we go about loosing weight?

The key is to not deprive ourselves of foods that our bodies need, however focus on cutting out foods that are detrimental to us for example sugar, salt and artificial preservatives. Scientific research shows that permanent weight loss occurs when people adopt long term healthy lifestyle choices. In particular diets that are high in protein and low in sugar have shown to have a significant impact on feeling fuller for longer and the amount of weight loss on a high protein diet is around double the amount lost on a comparable low-fat diet at the six-month mark.

Exercise is also important for weight loss, not only does exercise burn calories, it boosts your metabolic rate and reduces hunger. The issues faced with people who are constantly trying new fad diets are that their overall percentage of their body fat increases.

This is because when they diet, they lose fat and muscle and liquids and when they stop, they only regain fat, therefore percentage wise, fat is higher.

Experts recommend a 80:20 ratio for nutrition and exercise respectively. Below are 7 basic principles that if followed will promote a healthy body and ongoing weight loss.

Dec 2014

The 5:2 diet or Fast Diet

Mediterranean Diet

Eat normally for five days and fast for two nonconsecutive days, men eat 600 calories and women 500 calories on fast days.

Pros

Cons

The Raw Diet

The Dukan Diet

The Paleo Diet

Diet includes low intake of red meat, plenty of fish and a wide variety of plant foods: fresh fruits, leafy greens, onions, garlic and tomatoes, beans, legumes, nuts, wholegrain bread.

Diet is high-protein, low-fat, low carbohydrate - Includes 100 foods, You can eat as much as you like, as long as you stick to those 100 foods. Four -phase diet, the first involves eating unlimited amounts of lowfat animal protein, for up to 10 days. Vegetables and fruit are subsequently reintroduced.

The primal diet.

Removes any processed foods and grains from the diet.

You can eat anything that originally could have been foraged for, eg fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, fish, poultry, nuts and seeds. No cereals, wheat, bread or any other grain, no dairy foods.

Diet involves plantbased eating, including uncooked fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains and vegetable oils.

To be followed indefinitely.

- Very simple to understand and easy to implement, however low calories on fast days will be difficult - No forbidden foods.

- Animal research shows some benefits in disease prevention.

- Low in animal fat, rich in omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fats, beneficial for prevention of heart disease.

- Rich in antioxidants.

- Includes moderate portions of carbohydrates that are low GI and have high fiber.

- Fast weight loss if adhered to.

- Low in saturated fat, added sugar.

- May appeal to people who don’t like counting calories or watching their portion size.

- Filling.

Clean food, no additives, weight loss, great skin, more energy.

- Weight loss if strictly adhered to.

- Promotes foods linked with lower rates of heart disease and weight loss.

- Low in fat, added sugar and salt, and high in fiber.

- Severe caloric restriction, stressful and difficult.

- Not suitable for children, teenagers, diabetics, people with a history (or potential) of eating disorders, the elderly.

- Calorie-restricted days are severe and may lead to bad breath, dizzy spells, irritability, dehydration and anxiety.

- No attention is paid to diet quality.

- Some people may find it hard to cook vegetable-based dishes, especially legumes.

- Very high in fiber so may cause gastrointestinal symptoms in some people

- No clinical trials have evaluated the Dukan diet.

- Too high in animal protein and too low in vegetable protein, plant food and carbohydrates.

- Too low in potassium, too low in fiber and good fats from plant foods.

- Unsuitable for children and families.

- Expensive.

- Potentially, if not followed properly, lack of fiber, which can cause constipation.

- Hard to go out and have a dinner with mates.

- Diet is very restrictive, difficult to follow long term and to eat meals outside of the home.

- Associated with growth problems and malnutrition.

- Not appropriate for infants and children.

- Nutrient losses from cooking are overplayed.

7 basic principles I recommend for loosing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle:  Eat a low sugar breakfast every morning and avoid skipping meals throughout the day  Eat a variety of foods from every food group  Limit your intake of sugars, trans fats, salt and artificial additives  Limit liquid calories, the easiest way to cut calories is to replace your sugary soda’s, alcohols and juices with water, coconut water or water flavoured with cucumber, mint or lemons.  Watch your portion sizes and read nutrition labels clearly, just because they are low fat doesn’t mean they don’t contain anything else bad, eg sugar  Plan out your weekly meals, even if that means being one of those people who have a menu for your weekly dinners, this avoids you being lazy and eating out.

Dec 2014

The 5 Faces of Grief

A few months ago my favourite series ended. For the past decade I had been investing numerous hours each week into this show, watching, talking, questioning, thinking, looking up the ads for next season, reading sneak previews of scripts, writing fan-fiction and generally behaving like an overly obsessed cliché fan-girl.

When the series finale aired I was so utterly disappointed with the ending that I threw my remote at the floor and then pushed everything off the couch so I could throw myself against the cushions in disgust. I spent the night raging against the machine – the machine in this case being my TV. The following days were spent in solitude writing and re-writing the last episode and then telling everyone who would list how much better it would have been ‘if only…’ and wishing for this non-existent universe to open a doorway for me.

~Regena Margaret

crusty from tears, lips cracked, mouth dry and heart on the floor that I was able to admit that perhaps the writers did understand the universe they created, maybe I would feel happiness again. Upon reflecting on these feelings of acceptance I realised why I had experienced such an extreme emotion to the completion of a TV show; I had unconsciously moved through the five stages of grief, not for the show itself but for everything the show represented to me. I was living vicariously through the two main protagonists, and seeing not only the one I most deeply resonate with die, but knowing I

Yesterday I was finally able to purchase the DVD and re-watch the finale over and over and over again. It wasn’t until after the fourth hour in front of the TV, eyes red and Dec 2014

would never have a new adventure in this world in which the word family means love and loyalty, in which justice nearly always prevailed and no bad deed went unpunished if the central character had anything to do about it. I had lost a familiar family, an environment I considered safe, I was robbed of the happy ending I had expected and had believed that both I and the characters deserved.

Each stage of grief is experienced differently by each individual person, and these emotions can be brought on by any important, extreme or sudden loss, from the death of a loved one, to the ending of a relationship or the sudden termination of a long-term position.

The stages of grief, famously described

by Elisabeth KublerRoss in her 1969 book “On Death and Dying” are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. KublerRoss explains that each of these can be experienced autonomously or coupled with each other and that the stages are not set in sequential order. I understood this to mean that

these stages are storms and each storm has waves. These storms (stages) can clash and the waves from each one (the emotions) will crash together against the same beach (heart) in tandem.

Denial is most commonly the first stage that people will experience upon learning of a loss – even an expected one such as the death of a terminally ill family member.

This is a normal defence mechanism, the purpose of which is to dilute the immediate emotional impact. It is a temporary response which assists us in the beginning of our journey to acceptance.

Denial is usually followed by anger, and can be aimed towards the self, to a loved one or even towards the loss itself. As denial begins to fade our reality re-emerges and we can no longer hide away from feelings. We sometimes have trouble understand why we feel angry as we logically understand loss is a part of life, and this can come with a sense of shame and guilt towards the emotions being experienced. There are many positive ways to channel your anger including exercise, writing, reflection, or talking to someone you trust.

vulnerability coupled with rumination along the lines of “If only I had…” or “If only the doctor had…” or even praying to join or swap places with the deceased.

These reactions are a weaker form of denial, one last attempt at masking us from facing reality.

When bargaining does not work, depression begins. This stage allows us to deal with the sadness, the loss, the feelings we may have of abandonment or rejection or of being dealt an unfair hand in life.

There are many emotions associated with this stage of grief and writing can be a great tool in asBargaining generally comes next sisting you to deal with your emoand can be experienced as an over- tional and behavioural changes whelming sense of hopelessness or during this time. By identifying

your main depressive triggers you will slowly be able to create a life in which the depression fades.

The fifth and final stage is acceptance and is experienced not by joy, but by a sense of calmness within the previously angry, depressed, distraught or distressed. A slight sense of relief will come that the previous stages have been moved through. Unfortunately not everyone who experiences loss will make it to acceptance. Many people get emotionally stuck at one of the earlier stages or within an emotional storm, but for those who do find their way to acceptance, a sense of closure can be felt.

Coping with loss in any form is a deeply private and unique experience that can be assisted in its natural progression and aimed at positive outlets, but can never be rushed along before its time. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with loss please visit www.griefline.org.au or call 1300 854 745 for anonymous, confidential and free counselling services.

Talking about it can be greatly beneficial, but sometimes all we need is a hug.

Dec 2014

Editorial: The United Nations is currently running a fortnight of activism against Gender Violence and the scientific journal The Lancet recently declared that current efforts to prevent violence against women and girls are inadequate. We take a look at Gender Inequality and how it impacts on the world.

~Chirag Lodhia

Dec 2014

Inequality is one of the greatest social issues thatth has been debated and discussed at the turn of the 20 century. Three of the biggest topics in equality over the past century have been race, social class, and gender. In the case of gender, the discussion has brought about the rise of feminism. By definition, feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of sexes. It is an issue gaining increasing scrutiny across the world. TIME magazine in April 2014 confronted the reality that television commercials objectify women and are sexist. TIME in November 2014 criticized Silicon Valley for their sexist culture. In pop-culture, the iconic Barbie doll has been under review for the doll’s demeaning message to young girls, and Marvel Comics has been giving gender changes to many of their popular heroes. On Australian TV, morning-show host Karl Stefanovic made global headlines by wearing the same suit on television for an entire year without being noticed whilst his female colleague are constantly under the public eye for their appearance. Inequality between the genders is coming to light, and here we will discuss why feminism should not simply be advocacy for women’s rights, but also women’s responsibilities. We also propose that a world in which feminism does not exist, on the basis that both genders are treated equally, is to the benefit of the world -over.

Differences between Human Males and Human Females: In humans, the key defining differences in males and females is a matter of DNA and chromosomes. DNA is the blueprint of what makes us who we are. Males and females normally have 23 chromosome pairs each, or, 46 chromosomes each, and only differ on one of these chromosomes. The Y-chromosome is a chromosome that is only found in males. Whilst the Y-chromosome codes almost exclusively for male reproductive aspects, the X-chromosome has a variety of genes coding for a variety of functions. These functions include blood-clotting-factors and enzyme factors. Whilst males will inherit an XY pair, females will inherit an XX pair. Given that the Y is the only differentiating chromosome between males and females, and given that the Y chromosome has only significance in developing reproductive organs and

function for males, there is little to differentiate males and females genetically.

In contrast, simply observing males and females will show that there are clear anatomical differences between males and females, mostly distinguished by the two genders having different reproductive systems. Under the skin though, studies are looking at physiological and behavioural differences between men and women. From these studies there appears to

be a difference in a person’s susceptibility to a particular disease or condition based on their gender.

For instance, studies suggest that women are more likely to develop depression and anxiety-related disorders compared to men; whilst men are more likely to be affected by schizophrenia, attention-deficithyperactivity-disorder and autism compared to females. In many animal and human studies, there are significant differences in how the female brain and the male brain strategize the handling of stress. There is also evidence to show that males and females have variations in brain, behaviour, neuroanatomy and neurochemistry; which ultimately have an effect on behavioural and cognitive functions of the brain.

MRI scans of the human male brain and the human female brain also show differences in the connectivity and functioning of the brain. MRI’s showed that female brains had a higher grey matter density than men in cortical and subcortical regions and that the male brain has more distributed organization than the female brain which could also have an effect on cognition and behaviour.

Even at birth, studies have shown differences in behaviour of males and females. In fact, one study showed that female neonates look more at human faces on their first day of life whereas males look more at mechanical mobiles. In adulthood, behavioural differences are also studied, and show that young males are more likely to take risks in conflicts, outdoor activities and are more likely to show more direct aggression such as physical aggression. In contrast, studies show younger women are more likely to show more indirect

Dec 2014

aggression such as gossiping or spreading rumours. Furthermore, test studies have shown that males perform better on specific visuospatial aspects compared to women; whilst women perform better on specific verbal tasks compared to men. Whilst some might suggest that phenotype through the form of social systems and socialization may have a large impact, there is much reason to suggest that biological differences are also to contribute to differences between the genders. Aside from biological and genetic differences, there are also other aspects that can cause difference in the genders that might impact on health. Again, these are environmental influences, or ‘phenotypes’. These can include social stratifications, including social class and the distribution of social power and social rule; access to education; and engagement of certain behaviours.

Whilst there are differences in male and female behaviour and functioning, studies also suggest that there is no difference in certain cognitive tasks such as visual selective attention, working memory, anticipation time, auditory reaction time and visual-motor coordination, mathematical calculation processing abilities.

If we look at physical performance differences, there is little to distinguish males and females. Even in the Olympics, the World Record for the 100 metre sprint is 9.58sec for men and 10.49 sec for females.

In the shot-put, the men’s word record sits at 23.12 metres, whilst the women’s record is 22.63m.

The Olympic Record for the 62kg men’s division for weightlifting sits at 327kg, whilst the Olympic record for the 63kg women’s division for weightlifting sits at 245kg.

Whilst the Olympic records suggests that males may have physical abilities slightly faster or stronger than their female counterpart, these are by no means division of the genders. 245kg is significantly more than most men around the world can lift, 10.49 seconds is significantly faster than most men can run and 22.63m is significant-

ly further than what most men can throw. As such, the Olympics merely demonstrates the heights of athleticism which both men and women are capable off.

Women’s Rights in Ancient Times: Much of the issue regarding inequality between men and women is less biological and more social and cultural. In fact, the issue is so much a part of human societies, accounts of it have been made since ancient times. Documentation throughout the cultures of the ancient Greek, Roman, Mosaic, Hebrew, Celtic, Germanic, Assyrian, Christian and Babylonian have come into question of depictions of women as being inferior to men, both socially and legally. Ancient Greek studies note that women did not have their own legal identity, were not allowed to own ‘property’, were not allowed to participate directly in legal systems and often were subjected to calling their male relations as ‘lord’.

One particular Ancient Civilization was however, known to be different- Ancient Egypt. Although Ancient Egyptian studies suggest that women were seen differently to men in some social contexts, they had equal legal power to men. This included being able to acquire, own and dispose of property, enter into contracts and initiate civil cases. In Ancient Egypt, marriages were known to happen on the accord of the two individuals to be married.

There is also literary image suggesting that girls persuaded their fathers to let her marry a man of her choosing, rather than the decision being the father’s choice; this was the opposite for many of the other ancient civilizations. In Ancient Egypt, women were also known to undertake manual work alongside men. Women also had career opportunities throughout Ancient Egypt including the highorder of priesthood and were also allowed to undertake literacy.

Women’s Rights in Medieval Times: During the 12th and 13th century, Dec 2014

oppression of women continued through society. The punishment for a husband killing his wife was hanging, whilst the punishment for a wife hanging her husband was being drawn and burnt alive. Practices such as wearing an iron ‘chastity belt’ become common in order to give husbands the satisfaction that their wives would remain faithful. Professor R. Howard Bloch illustrates that “the discourse of misogyny runs like a rich vein throughout the breadth of medievalth literature”. Going into the 14 century Europe and America, there was no improvement for women. By this stage, education was being revered by society; however, education was excluded from women at large.

Whilst some men argued that aristocratic women should be educated, women were at risk of being labelled masculine, or accused of being a witch. In 1558, the leader of the Protestant Reformation documented that “woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man”. Misogyny

in medieval times was at its height in the accusations of witchcraft and sorcery. By the 14th century, it was estimated that at least 100,000 people were burnt at the stake for witchcraft and sorcery; 75% of whom were women accused of witchcraft. It is suggested that many of these accusations were based on women striving for knowledge through books and academia, or demonstrating wisdom and understanding by mixing herbs and ‘potions’. Other accusations were suggested to be due to some of the women living independently of the control of a man and knew the ways of the world.

In short, it was considered ‘unnatural’ and impure for a women to be equally capable of a man or to live independently of men.

Women’s Rights in the 19th and th 20 century.

Australia

Looking at more recent times, the 19th century was significantly different fromth the periods surrounding the 14 century. With human rights generally growing politically, there was gradual improvement in women’s rights too along-side racial rights. Australia notably lead the way for women rights, with Henrietta Dugdale and Annie Lowe forming the Victorian Women’s Suffrage Society in 1884. By 1895 in South Australia, Queen Victoria gave women an equal right with men to vote and to stand for election to the Colony’s House of Assembly which was further expanded in 1959 to allow women to stand for the upper House of Australian Parliament. By 1969, Australian women workers were finally granted equal pay rates with men doing comparable work.

Britain The consequences of World War I were of unparalleled tragedy and death to many soldiers and civilians- many of whom were male.

During this time, Britain had no choice but to utilize their female population, who served in the war alongside men and also served at home in business, economics and factory work- helping the country to continue. This was highlighted in Britain by the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies formed in 1897, led by Millicent Fawcett. This group lead peaceful campaigns to have rights ranging from the right to divorce, right to education and rights to have a job and career, but most of all, the right to vote which would give

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women the power to introduce their other rights. By the end of World War I in Britain, women over the age of 30 had the right to vote and by 1928, all women over the age of 21 were allowed to vote.

America: In 1878 America, the recentlyformed Women’s National Loyal League leader Susan B Anthony wrote and submitted in 1878 a proposed right-to-vote amendment to the American Constitution. By 1890, Women’s Suffrages formed in Wyoming and was soon followed by other states. By 1920, the Anthony amendment was ratified as the 19th Amendment and became law.

Afghanistan: Whilst many countries followed the same suit as Australia, Britain and America in the movement for Women’s Rights, Afghanistan’s story of women’s rights was a different journey. By 1919, Afghan women were eligible to vote (before America) and in the 1950’s gender separation and ’Purdah’ had ended. By the 1960’s, a new constitution brought further equality in terms of politics. Whilst equality towards women was accelerating in Afghanistan compared to many other countries, the invasions in 1979 by Soviet Russia forced a huge turning-point in the progression of gender equality. Civil conflicts disrupted Afghanistan through till the 1990’s and by 1996, the Taliban had come to rule in Afghanistan. By 1996, Afghanistan’s women and girls were banned from going to school or studying, working, showing any skin in public, accessing healthcare delivered by men and from being involved in politics or public speaking. After 2001, Afghanistan was once again in turbulence with America and their allies directly intervening in Afghanistan. Despite America and their allies striving for Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, the ThompsonReuters Foundation ranked Afghanistan the most dangerous country in the world for women.

This ranking is partly due to many

of the struggles faced by Afghani women including young women being forced into abusive marriages, child marriages and rape. Furthermore, the United Nations Global Development Report suggests that only 5.8% of Afghani women have some secondary education above the age of 25 in comparison to 33.98% males, and the labour force is 15.7% participation by women compared to 79.7% males.

Scandinavian Leaders: The World Economic Forum re-

land, Norway and Sweden. Outstanding in the topth10 was Rwanda which placed 7 . This provides an interesting contract to the United States, Australia and United Kingdom which placed 20th, 24th th and 26 respectively. The bottom 3 countries in the list were Yemen, Pakistan and Chad, placing 142, 242 and 140 respectively. It should be noted that this does not include all countries of the globe. Afghanistan for instance was not part of the index.

The WEF Global Gender Gap Index shows interesting outcomes in

rape, poor healthcare and “honour killings”. The WEF Global Gender GapthIndex of 2015 ranked India 114 and Pakistan 141st, with the other dangerous countries unaccounted in the report.

It is also interesting to see where the countries discussed in this article rank in the World Happiness Report of 2013 conducted independently by the United Nations.

In terms of “happiness”, Norway, nd Sweden and Finland ranked 2 , 5th and 7th respectively; Australia, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom ranked

leased a Global Gender Gap Index in 2014 which quantifies the magnitude of gender-based disparities and tracks progress in aspects of gender equality in health, education, economy and politics. The report accounts for 142 countries, of which, the top 4 countries for gender equality are Iceland, Fin-

comparison to Thomson Reuters Foundation’s “TrustLaw Women”; which ranked Afghanistan, Congo, Pakistan, India and Somalia to be the top 5 most dangerous countries for women in 2011.

These rankings accounted for factors issues regarding violence,

10th, 17th and 22nd respectively.

From the countries that had greater disparities in gender equality, Yemen, Pakistan and Chad placed 142nd, 81st and 141th st respectively. India placed 111 and Afghanistan placed 143rd. Whilst the happiness calculation is multifactorial, there is nevertheless a very

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considerable correlation between a minimized gender equality gap and the happiness of a nation’s wellbeing.

India: So what else makes some of these countries so unequal? Looking at India in 2013, 118,866 cases of domestic violence were reported against women. India’s National Crime Records Bureau also reported that 93 women are being raped in the country every day. There were also multiple reports where the husbands were involved in the rapes, including gang-rapes against their own wives. Even more worrying is that the report claims that 94% of these cases were committed by people familiar to the accused, be it friends or family. Most recently, a woman in North India

was stripped naked and paraded through her village on a donkey after being accused of murdering her nephew; along with ‘blackening’ the woman’s face and shaving her head. Whilst her crime was itself horrific, the punishment is not shared between the genders, nor would it be seen as a justified punishment regardless. It should also be noted that this was not a legal punishment, but rather, was ordered by the village council, made up of the elders of that community who hold strong authoritative power in some cultures of India. Similar to other countries, Indian society places culture and tradition as high an authority as political legislation.

Furthermore, a 60 year old woman was beaten, stripped and tied to an electricity pole after accusation of being a witch.

The caste-system, (a system which divides Indian society based on socio-economic and occupational status) and inequality level reached a far more extreme reality when a woman was stripped and paraded Dec 2014

naked before several family members by her in-laws who wanted a big dowry from her, and another lady was beat, stripped and paraded naked because her son had left with an “upper-caste” girl.

Liberia: On the African continent, many countries share similar stories to Liberia, where Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee originates. She recently stated how a village in Northern Liberia had only one girl in the entire village who had made it to the ninth grade; and, she was also the laughing stock of the community

for this. The country was reported to have 66% of women suffering genital mutilation and 35% of women experiencing physical violence from their partner.

Pakistan: Pakistan, neighbours to Afghanistan and India, also has had impact from the Taliban organization, and as a result has had their women experience many of the same sufferings. Furthermore, Pakistan also has a large cultural impact, much like India and Afghanistan, where communities and community elders often exercise actions under the name of culture and tradition. In Pakistan, one of these cultural actions comes in the form of ‘Honour Killings’ which gives male family members the right to kill a female family member if they ‘dishonour’ the family member in some way. Furthermore, acid attacks, mutilation and abuse against women in Pakistan, often by husbands and partners is common. Furthermore, the Taliban influence in Pakistan has also strived to oppress education of women, which lead to the attempted assassination of our recent Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai, who campaigns for Women’s Rights to Education in Pakistan and the world over. Whilst Malala’s intentions are to develop the lives and happiness of Women, people of Pakistan and the world, Pakistan’s Private Schools Federation recently declared an “I am not Malala” day as they state that she is disrespectful to Islam and Pakistan through her campaign.

Beginnings of Change:

Whilst there is an overwhelming difference in equality between males and females across the world, these is fortunately a strong movement in these countries for change and to close the gaps in inequality.

Over the past two years, India has rallied to protest violence against women on a scale larger than anywhere else in the world, have had Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar named the first male goodwill ambassador for Women empowerment by the United Nations, had rickshaw drivers in New Delhi advertise ‘respect for women’ banners, and have even changed children’s nursery rhymes to challenge sexist attitudes so that the youth generation will not inherit sexist attitudes. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the big changes come from the women themselves who are striving for the right to education. Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan has been the face of this movement in Pakistan, however she is certainly not alone in the campaign. Artist Shahan Zaidi has tackled the issue in his own was by creating a new comic-book vigilante: Bloody Nasreen. Nasreen is character born and brought up in Pakistan, affected by political corruption and terrorism, and combats both in her own way. Whilst she might not be a role model for peace, non-violence and health, she nevertheless sends a strong message about what women are capable off. In Afghanistan, Shabana BasijRasikh is the President and Founder of HELA: Hope through education, which was also cannoned, pushed and supported by the village elders’ in the area it started. In Liberia, Leymah Dec 2014

Gbowee led a women’s peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War and developed a Peace Foundation that provides educational and leadership opportunities to girls, women and youth in West Africa.

Why Equality?

In the world we live in, and given the towering evidence and exposure in regards to the issue, there is no rational argument for the suppression of gender equality. When comparing the happiest, and most liveable nations in the world, they all correlate with a very narrow gap between the genders. The countries struggling at the bottom of such Global Indexes have a correlation with a very wide gap between the genders. Having said that, gender equality in itself may not be the cause of happiness and prosperity for a community or nation. Many of the countries with a gap in equality of the genders also have a large gap in equality between socioeconomic wellbeing and other markers. These countries have also had a recent history of war, violence, other inequality divisions and poverty. Given the strong correlations between all of these factors, ignoring any one of these factors may inhibit another factor from being fully addressed, and likewise, addressing any one of these factors might indirectly help address another.

Perhaps the most significant and most profound reality is the gender gap in comparison to education and literacy rates. When looking at the top nations said to be the happiest and most liveable nations, and who also have a minimal gender equality gap, they all have one common attribute: education. It

can be seen in the United Nations Human Development Reports that prospering countries have incredibly high education rates with the majority of these countries reaching high-school completion percentages of over 90% by the age of 25 for both males and females.

In countries where the gender equality gap is at large, the education percentages are significantly lower for both males and females, with many of these countries significantly below 60% high school completion by the age of 25. Without question, gender inequality has a strong root in lack of institutional education. If the world is to address gender equality, then education is perhaps its greatest asset. Such education would not only be required for females, but also males. Countries which rank highly in well-being indexes tend to have education systems that teach from a range of subjects, topics and points-of-view, and is inclusive of all its citizens, irrespective of gender. Such education systems might be of great advantage for struggling countries. Following education, opportunities for women in the workforce have shown to be paramount in social, national and global development and giving women the opportunity to be equally responsible for this planet has been nothing less than rewarding for both men and women in places which it occurs.

Aside from educational institutions such as Primary, Secondary and Tertiary schooling, education must flourish throughout society and culture. Many of the issues regarding the oppression of women have often been correlated or aligned to particular cultures, traditions or social conventions. Given that there is no country in which females are unfairly advantaged, or, given that there is no country where males are unfairly disadvantaged, it cannot be said that any one society or culture is the root of gender inequality. As such, it is the responsibility of all humans, both males and females to educate and address the issues socially.

Whilst countries such as Afghani-

stan, India, Pakistan and Liberia have been examples of poor human rights, they also contain examples of societies which understand that a change in views, and a change in lifestyle is to everyone’s benefits.

It is the responsibility of both men and women to teach both boys and girls that both genders are equally capable. It is also the responsibility of both men and women to education and bring up a generation which will not have different attitudes and expectations between men and women. A generation that will give equal access to education, equal access to opportunities in work and life, and equal treatment.

Equality will require both genders to be paid equally for equal workloads, be viewed equally in terms of opportunities in life, equal autonomy and equal opportunity in decision making, and viewed equally in terms of expectations, value to life and to the world.

Aside of rights, both men and women must accept equal responsibility for the world and equal responsibility for their own lives and the lives of others.

From biology to sociology, history has shown us that in reality, there is very little to separate males and females in the human world. Ancient Egypt, one of the first and most flourished civilizations to have existed were able to do so with equality between the genders.

In the time between then and now, we have seen the strong correlation between gender equality and a better world; and a far more unpleasant world where inequality exists.

In time, we have seen women prove themselves in every aspect.

From Amelia Earhart to Marie Curie and Simone De Beauvoir, we have seen women become paragons in their career fields and have changed the world for the better. From Cleopatra, to Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth I and II, Queen Victoria and Benazir Bhutto; we have seen how women throughout Dec 2014

history have been some of the greatest leaders of the world.

From Sappho to Mirabai, Jane Austen, Florence Nightingale and Eleanor Roosevelt; we have seen how women throughout history have brought new thinking to the world, and have lived lives that have helped others.

In terms of health, there is no question that gender is an obvious factor that needs to be considered. In terms of society, there is no reason why gender would need to be a significant factor for disparity. When looking back through evolution, perhaps is part of our species’ evolution to have the ‘alpha-male’; something which we share with many of our fellow species. If so, then perhaps it is time for our species to take yet another step in our evolution, and to move forward into a better world in which both genders are given opportunities and are expected to contribute to a stable, sustainable, peaceful and wonderful world. In a troubled world, the more help the world can have, the better. For some, this will require a complete changing of mind and thought, and for some, it might require leaving some traditions behind. For such people, implementing such changings will bring more peace and more prosperity to themselves than anyone else.

In the words of C.S Lewis, “there are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind”; and this could not be truer than for this world to leave behind the simple thought that any gender might be more superior, deserving, rightful, capable or responsible than another.

Deeyah Khan is a critically acclaimed music producer and Emmy and Peabody awardwinning documentary film director whose work highlights human rights, women’s voices and freedom of expression. She took the time to write for Project Third World and share her incredible story along with her views on Gender Inequality.

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My journey started in Norway. My father grew up with his father and stepmother in Pakistan, before moving to Oslo in the 60s. My grandfather was wellknown and respected as one of the founders of the Norwegian Muslim community, revered as a deeply religious and traditional man and uninterested in any world beyond his own traditions. His unwavering beliefs pushed my father to an opposite position: radical, liberal, open-minded; interested in philosophy, art, poetry and politics.

He was determined to raise his children within these expansive, deeply humanist principles.

For my grandfather, the only book worth reading was the Qur’an, but my father loved all kinds of books and music: cabinets bulged with vinyl LPs, bookshelves were crammed with works as diverse as histories of colonialism and the ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley, mythology, theatre and innumerable collections of Urdu poetry. From cramped student accommodation to a semi-detached house, this precious resource of human knowledge travelled with

My mother was a quieter kind of rebel. An Afghan Pashtun, she left home at the age of 17 after disagreements with her parents about an arranged marriage.

In 1976, while visiting her sister who was working in Pakistan, she met my father. Eventually, she came back to Norway with him, where she worked in a kindergarten and other schools, as well as other professions.

While as a child desperate to fit in with my blonde classmates, I dreamed of a mother who could cook pancakes; our kitchen had a permanent air of savory frying onions and fragrant garam masala: homey aromas that I would miss painfully later in life. My mother was often busy making sandwiches for the immigrant children she taught, who otherwise might have gone hungry. She was an ocean of love, not just for us, but for everyone who needed it: she helped in women’s shelters, often with women who had been rejected by their own families. As a teacher, and as an interpreter, she helped people deal with their prob-

the family, growing ever larger. And this was not the only resource my father collected: our house was a gathering place for intellectuals and dissidents, often sharing their criticisms of General Zia a-Haq and his Islamization project for Pakistan in the 1980s.

For women this meant that the veil and the four walls of their homes were considered vital to the sanctity of the family and society at large. Conversations and cigarette smoke drifted in the air over countless cups of strong tea; my brother and I played on the carpet while serious matters of world politics, art and culture were debated above our heads.

The strength of the Pakistani feminists I encountered in these gatherings inspired me: they seemed to have an exuberance and enthusiasm for life that was hard to find amongst other women within the communities.

lems, unsparingly generous with her time and attention.

It was through her I first learned of women who were forced into marriages, who were beaten, and who kept their silence in the name of family ‘honour.’

My family was different; our parents own struggles for freedom had given us a measure of liberty, but still, in extended family and community gatherings, there was a palpable sense of us and them, West and East: two worlds in collision, and I was crushed between them. In those days, there were few ethnic minorities in Norway. I was called ‘Paki’ and ‘Black Bitch’ in the streets of Oslo, and in school the friendships I found were with other outcasts. Although a quiet student, if one of my friends were threatened, I defended them with all my strength. One of the closest and most precious friendships was, and remains,

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and will always be, the one I share with my brother Adil, who is now a well-known actor. Even today, we share our frustrations and hopes in the same way as we used to, back in that small room in Oslo.

It was in music I found my real identity, even though it was not at first, my own choice.

My father, despite his liberal politics, demanded excellence from his children. When I was just seven years old, he overheard me singing to myself outside our Oslo home.

The next day, he took me by the hand, collected all of my Barbie dolls and other toys in a rubbish bag and threw them out, marking the end of childhood and the beginning of my apprenticeship to music. After this unceremonious farewell, they were replaced with a small electronic keyboard and music lessons, which I was expected to combine with educational success.

My father required excellence: whether my throat was sore, or I was tired, all my hours outside school were passed in studying music; and I was expected to excel in my studies no matter how demanding the regime of voice training and music lessons. Socializing was wasted time; infractions were punished severely. One day, I skipped practice to play football with my brother, and when caught, gave a silly excuse. I spent the rest of the summer paying my dues, practicing to the point that I developed nodules on my vocal chords.

I realized that none of my friends lived under such fierce discipline, but I respected it. Although my father was strict, and I lived in fear of not meeting his expectations, in music I found a sense of worlds opening, of a potential for expression: of finding a place for myself in a confusing world where I didn’t fit in anywhere.

He decided I needed a music teacher, but most did not want a female student, which would not look good on their roster. Many considered Western-born children to be spoiled and undisciplined.

Eventually, he persuaded Ustad

Bade Fateh Ali Khan, one of the masters of Khyal music, to accept me after an exhausting battery of tests in which I finally impressed him through talent and discipline.

As a girl I had to work twice as hard as any male to prove myself worthy of his patronage. Every weekday we started at 5am, sometimes working upon a single note for an hour or more. This is a con-

bridging divides; presenting a positive image of immigrants in Norway; and breaking down the stark divisions of us and them through music, shaking off the cruel slurs of my childhood. But to maintain this fiction I had to hide a different and unexpected source of hostility: that which came from my parents’ community.

templative practice whose purity began to connect me to the spiritual side of my art.

Learning more than the techniques of music, my teacher taught lessons about life through the stories he recounted between my lessons and the time I left for school. My perseverance finally impressed him. In a voice which mingled resentment and pride, he said “You are my student. You are the one.”

It was like winning a small war.

I was performing from the age of seven, with my first recording contract at the age of 13. Music and art became home to me, the only constant element of a life I would spend on the move and in exile.

My art was my true home, and also a passport to undiscovered territories, granting me citizenship within the global community of artists in the world of creativity, a place with no boundaries.

Growing fame had propelled me into the uncomfortable position of being a poster child for multiculturalism and diversity, an irony for a person who still felt torn between two worlds.

In one respect, I felt that I was

This became more intense the more successful I became: a hardcore of fundamentalists identified women singing and working as agents against the doctrine of the four walls. First fundamentalists targeted my father, demanding that he prevent me from singing and performing publicly. When this failed, they moved on to my grandfather, a man with a reputation for piety, who they felt would be more sympathetic to their aims.

But when it became clear that no male authority could stop me from singing, their aggression came squarely at me.

On one occasion, I was threatened with a knife, and on another, a failed abduction attempt.

My discomfort around performance was doubled by the sense of threat and surveillance, most pointedly at an anti-violence concert in Oslo. It was my home-town and many of my friends were in the audience, so I was determined to put on a good show. A few songs into the set I could see fights breaking out at the back of the crowd. I moved towards the front of the stage, and some corrosive

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chemical was sprayed in my face and eyes. Blinded, I desperately tried to signal to my bandmates that I couldn’t see, turning my back to the audience, but they didn’t pick up on my signals. My eyes refused to open: tears ran down my neck. The pain was unbearable. I kept singing.

I tried not to speak about these problems at first: I didn’t want to cause repercussions or undermine the positive messages of communities bridging their differences that my career had been used to exemplify. The confusion was devastating. I was in a topsy-turvy world where the achievements I was most proud of were considered shameful, yet I was enduring discrimination and fear from members of my ancestral community in order to protect them. I feared increasing discrimination against this very community if their behaviour was known by the wider Norwegian world. It became clear that I was at risk. My parents could not protect me; even my fierce and determined father seemed broken.

After months of attacks and threats

age in a headscarf, asked shyly if I was Deeyah. I braced myself for criticism, but she leaned close and whispered to me: ‘Thank you. I wanted to thank you. I want you to know that I know it is really difficult for you. Because you are the first. You have to stamp down the snow, and then we will come after you and follow you.

I’m very sorry that you’re the first one, because it is your head that will always be the one on the chopping block. But it is going to help us. So thank you.’ I started to cry from gratitude, for this small gesture of solidarity that I hadn’t realized I craved so deeply.

Moving initially felt like a liberation and a step into adulthood: a fresh start, and a chance to blend in, to cast off the pressures of my life in Norway, and lose myself and my history in London’s chaotic and vibrant streets and lanes. I was alone with neither responsibilities nor worries. For ten days I stayed with a distant family friend, although for fear of abusing their hospitality, I would spend every day trudging the streets, or sitting

and harassment, with my mother’s tearful encouragement, I bought a one-way ticket to London, just after my 17th birthday. A few days before I left while queuing at the post office, a girl around my own

in a café in Oxford Street pondering my next steps. Naively I paid a huge upfront sum for a flat in Camberwell, which was rife with crime, and where the tenancy was illegal. Eviction notices piled up Dec 2014

almost from the day I moved in.

But I had money from my earnings as a recording artist in Norway.

And I learned. I got to know London intimately. I learned to find better places. I learned about trusting and not trusting. Each kindness and each betrayal, each surprise, I learned.

Slowly I established myself on the music scene. Signed by the chairman of Warner Brothers, we developed a team of talented people and I returned to writing music.

Met with enthusiasm Steven Fargnoli, who had previously worked with Prince and Sinead O’Connor, became my manager. I had come to rely on him and was sad and at sea when in 2001, he died of cancer. In 2004-5, we were producing commercial pop music which sold well.

Motivated as much by a desire for acceptance as the need to pay my rent, the music was increasingly coloured by my own frustration and anger at those who wanted to silence me. Commercial success revealed that what I had thought of as a fresh page was actually soiled with the attitudes I had left Norway to escape: the harassment of female artists by fundamentalists.

Growing fame was more like infamy: I was jostled on London’s busy streets by angry men, hissing

at me to “watch my back.” Floods of anonymous phone-calls, vitriolic emails, and verbal threats followed. Some of them described how I would be killed. I became worn out from living with constant threats, and I became angry. They were trying to steal my voice again. My mother on a visit saw me flinch when some South Asian men entered the café, because I was constantly anticipating harassment. She was heartbroken to see that her solution, of sending me to the UK was not enough, that male rage followed me wherever I went. So I kept running.

Back in 1999, Steven had introduced me to friends in the music business in the United States in the city of Atlanta. And it was there I retreated when I could not deal with the pressure one moment longer. In Atlanta, mentally and emotionally exhausted, I took two years to recover. These were years spent blankly pointing my eyes at the TV, welded to a shabby sofa, or lifelessly watching the wind lift the leaves of the trees through my window. Everything felt enormous: roads which went on for miles through an urban sprawl that connected to nowhere. I felt small, and lost, and alone. Even finding work didn’t ease my malaise much: I felt disorientated and isolated, going through life mechanically.

To be human is to be frail, but sometimes falling apart is the first step to rebuilding yourself. An artist is shaped and reshaped by her or his life and experiences, and I was not just recovering: I was finding my own purpose and my own voice.

What eventually shook my torpor were the emails I received from fans: voices not raised in anger and rage that sought my silence, but softer voices who sought my help.

Fans, mostly young South Asians who were having personal difficulties within their families, reached out to me for support. Like my mother I helped as much as I could. Young men facing violence, even death because of their sexuality; young women forced into marriage who had been raped, beaten and abused. Sometimes I slept with my phone on my pillow, worried for their safety. Through each of these lives ran the common call to family honour, community values and tradition as excuses for violence, oppression and silence.

And I had had quite enough of silence. A new sense of purpose reawakened me to the intensity of life.

Emerging from a tunnel of anger and self-doubt, I found inside an activist as well as an artist. Linking with women’s rights activists recalled the passion and commitment of the Pakistani feminists gathered at my father’s house, so many years ago. The experiences of the attempts to suppress my music led me to take an active role in support of the Dec 2014

Freemuse organization, who stand against the censorship of music, not just of those silenced by fundamentalists, but also those subjected to state persecution for their politics. Our first coproduction was Listen To The Banned, a compilation CD of musicians who had persisted with their art through imprisonment, censorship and injury. This led to finally finding it in me to speak up.

My anger and disappointment with Western societies for their failure to address the problems of young people and women in minority communities, raised a voice that had been buried in grief.

Western confusion about multicultural respect led to seeking the approval of so-called community leaders, people who openly advocated the suppression of women, even the death of women, rather than hearing the voices that needed to be heard, the voices I could hear, the voices of my friends, my fans, my peers: voices like mine.

Some of them were young women who wished for the same kind of liberation through creative expression that I had had, but who faced opposition not just from their communities but also from their own families. Out of this the Sisterhood project was born.

Sisterhood is an initiative for young people to provide a platform for female Muslim musicians. Sadly, even this gentle project attracted criticism. One Muslim organization in the UK issued a statement saying that music was not an ‘acceptable pastime’ for girls. En-

raged, I was also proud of challenging this attitude in such a positive way, and proud of the contributors and their talent.

In a quest to know more about ‘honour’, which seemed to sit at the center of so many terrible experiences, I decided to make a documentary. I had no story, but I did have obsession, dedication – and contacts. Initially we envisioned an educational or training movie to be screened by women’s groups, and possibly entered in some niche film festivals. Then after initial interviews and research, I found the story of Banaz Mahmod.

Banaz was a 20 year old woman who was forced into marriage by her family. Viciously abused sexually and physically, she fled this marriage and eventually developed a new relationship of her own choosing, for which under her disobedience, she was raped, tortured and murdered by her father, uncle, cousins and a group of family friends. I met Caroline Goode, New Scotland Yard’s Detective Chief Inspector in charge of the case, to ask her if she would take part in the film. She was a consummate policewoman with a guarded professional demeanour, but I could see that this case had touched her on a deeper level.

The years of effort and care, and her team’s sustained and innovative police work yielded prosecutions of remarkable accomplishment. She had lived and breathed Banaz’s story. Towards the end of our meeting, she dropped her guard: ‘I love these women,’ she said. Instead of being a horror story, this film became an unconventional love story, built on Caroline’s human compassion for another woman, a compassion like that of my mother’s, a compassion that transcended boundaries. I felt Banaz had been adopted and finally received some of the love and care her own family had denied her.

We did not wish to hide the horror of the story: there has been too much hidden already. But Caroline gave the story a heart inside the

horror. Banaz herself gave it a soul: she was a strong and determined woman who happened to be born in a community which demanded that women follow a script written by their fathers and brothers, uncles and wider community members, in which they are expected to die if they do not perform their roles to the satisfaction of others.

In some ways, although my life so far has not been easy, I know I am privileged. I have not only survived challenges, I have developed the power and strength to confront them, and have managed to tread down the snow a little more. Winning an Emmy felt like a validation of my efforts and sacrifices and those of my parents, friends and colleagues as well, but most meaningful is that Banaz’s voice can finally be heard.

My father’s determination, my mother’s compassion and my brother’s support have all been parts of what I have been able to do, and they will remain with me whatever I do. Many other people, white, brown, black from every sort of background have contributed to the films, websites, concerts and projects that have been born from the effort to find a voice and raise it. The effort is to further the emancipation of women and men from fear and hatred, to find compassion and love, to shed light on hidden stories, to amplify silenced voices, to explore the dualities between East and West, masculine and feminine, nature and culture, politics and spirituality, us and them.

Through all of these stories and experiences, the connecting thread has been about personal liberty, whether to sing, to love, to study Dec 2014

or to work according to the calls of one’s own heart, to realize our potential in the world, to raise our voices without fear. This is my vocation and my art, whatever form it may take, music, activism or filmmaking, and whatever follows.

My voice will be raised for human rights for as long as I have breath.

Whilst Deeyah’s family remained liberal and open-minded, she was exposed to the issues of Gender Inequality and Racism as soon as she went outside the bubble of her immediate family. In my own immediate family, there were not many feelings of limitations around what I could achieve as a girl. My father had the same boundless ambition for me as he had for my brother. It was outside the family that I became aware of the restrictions around women’s roles within the community: the pressure upon my family to stop me from singing, the idea that music was not a respectable career for a Pakistani woman, the stifling expectations for women. Also members of my own extended family in Norway, women suffered from violence and oppression and the pressure was on them to remain silent and to deal with it alone.

Campaigning against Gender Inequality has taken many different approaches and has target many different elements of the topic.

Deeyah found herself tackling some of the most extreme cases around the world. Much of my campaigning has been around ‘honour’-based violence and the censorship of female artists, both subjects very close to my heart.

But these are only the most visible aspects of a much larger system: ‘honour’ killings are the most extreme expression of negative attitudes to the free expression of female sexuality. The active censorship of women’s speech is more extreme expression of a tendency to ignore and discount women’s opinions, women’s ideas and women’s participation. It comes down to denying women their full humanity and their rights to own their own bodies own their own future and to own their own life and dreams. To be able to control your own life and decisions. Gender inequality is found almost universally, but has a variety of forms, from discrimination in the workplace to the family. Many of the areas I concentrate upon have distinctive family and community forms which tend towards very restrictive roles for women and girls, but this is only one route out of many that inequality can affect us, from media images, to patriarchal interpretations of religion. Gendered inequalities surround us, and we need to dismantle

them all.

Deeyah has accomplished much in her life, but tackling something that has been around for centuries may be the toughest mission she has embarked on.

Despite this, she feels that it is very much a strong possible reality. These gendered inequalities are as old as civilisation. But this is not to say they are natural. The earliest civilisations known to humanity were built around the exploitation of women, and of slaves. Civilisations change, and even though these inequalities are deeply embedded in all our cultures, we can rebuild and reshape our civilisation to create a space where men and women can participate equally.

In trying to implement change, Deeyah has to tackle many factors simultaneously. There are many factors, from corrupt governments to supposed cultural traditions, from discrimination in the workplace to the education of girls.

There are so many factors it is impossible to count them. We need to root out gendered discrimination across every layer of our society.

Much of the blame regarding Gender Inequality is put on men, however Deeyah Khan believes otherwise. Patriarchy is not a conspiracy of men: it is a social system which is maintained and upheld by men and women, and it will take the combined efforts of men and women to dismantle it.

Whilst the blame is shared with everyone in society, Deeyah believes that everyone in society too will be the ones who are best to implement change. True and lasting change will only form strong roots one men and women together work for a shared vision of an inclusive, just and dignified world for all our children, not just for boys not just for girls.

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Equality is a word that is used often. Deeyah’s views of equality are perhaps more inclusive and more realistic than others. To be truly equal, it would mean that gender is largely unimportant to one’s life: that one’s choices and opportunities are not dependent upon one’s gender. To be equal, we need to be freed from the straightjackets of gender to live our lives according to our desires and choices, rather than according to the stereotypes of gender.

It can be difficult for those who feel they are living in liberal and open communities to understand why gender inequality still exists; but Deeyah has a very plausible rationale for this. Some men feel threatened by change, and resistant to losing their privilege.

Some have got used to being the centre of the world and feel that any attempt to broaden access to power and influence is an assault upon their importance.

Some women prefer to defend the status quo. But I think that many men and women can see the advantages of equality between men and women and of broadening participation.

It may seem like a community issue or a personal issue, but as the dominant species on the planet, the social issues of humans affect the world-over, including the oppression of women. It is a tragic waste of human potential: just think of all the poets and philosophers, all the scientists and surgeons we have lost because women have been told their roles are to service men, and nothing more. This is a loss to us all, to our

world and to our future.

Making change is difficult, but Deeyah believes slow and gradual steps towards positivity is the best approach. There are many things we need to do. This is not a quest that can be done rapidly: we need to interrogate all of our cultural expectations around gender, and break down centuries of negative stereotypes. We need to build policies that ensure that we work towards fair representation of women in all spheres of life. We need to focus on the most brutal sources of oppression, from violence to rape to early marriage, while not ignoring the more subtle forms of discrimination, the soft pressures that discourage women from participating, from the financial difficulties of working mothers who need childcare to the under-representation of women in politics, peace and leadership.

Feminism is also another term that is used heavily in societies, but as a person that has a strong understanding of the societies around the world, Deeyah believes this term should remain as diverse and colourful as the people it strives to support. I am a feminist and I am proud to call myself one. Feminists do not always share the same opinions or priorities: as a movement which aims to represent the interests of over half the population of the world there are bound to be a variety of different influences and understandings. In fact, this is one of feminism’s great strengths: the diversity of women’s experiences and understandings of the world is reflected in the diversity of the movement itself. From those who carve out opportunities for women in the world of business, to religious scholars who look for womenfriendly interpretations of scriptures, to those fighting for immigrant women and victims of war, those working for inclusion in peace processes, we are all part of the same movement.

Deeyah founded the organisation Fuuse which is based on many of the aims, views and values that Deeyah has instilled into her life. Fuuse’s primary mission is to use the power of media and art in the service of human rights. Fuuse is a social purpose company which aims to inspire understanding, empathy and dialogue across cultures and communities, to confront and unpick complex and controversial topics, and shine a light on some of the hardest and most important issues facing us all today. We bring to the forefront the hidden stories, the alternative views, the excluded perspectives; and we amplify global voices of courage, compassion and

creativity. All of our productions, from documentary films, to live events and music recordings, are rooted in the core principles we promote: Human Rights, Gender Equality, Freedom of Expression, Love, Social Justice and Peace. Fuuse is a manifestation of Deeyah’s passion for producing original works forged in the place where art and activism meet, engaging the heart and empowering the mind, to help bring about urgently needed social change.

Whilst organisations such as Fuuse work hard to expose and teach people about the issues regarding Gender Inequality, much of the work is the responsibility of everyone around the world- whether that is at home, at work, amongst friends, families or communities. I think men and women need to take a look at themselves and their society, and become aware of the ways that gender roles have shaped their experiences. I think we could all use a little awareness raising, and openness to new ways of understanding our world and our society. Life is all about learning, and we need to be honest and open and humble about our own understandings, even in the face of criticism. Talk to people, read a book or two, question your understandings of what men and women are. Also be aware of how we treat our own children, do we treat our daughter and son differently in what way and why.

It might require big changes for some people to allow gender equality, but gender equality will benefit everyone around the world including those who allow the positive change. The advantages will be the freedom to express our humanity in its entirety, to be liberated from the expectations of following the rules of what a woman or a man should be or do. The advantages will be a society that can benefit from the talents of all its members, and a re-evaluation of what characteristics we value in our society, which doesn’t prioritise supposedly masculine characteristics over supposedly feminine ones.

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