Study Abroad in Paris!
Women's International Activism in Paris: Challenges and Empowerment
AFS 4905 Section
- Semester: Spring Break 2008: March 9-14
- Credits: 2
- Professor: Dr. Agnes Ngoma Leslie
- 435 Grinter Hall
- Voice: (352) 392-2183
- Email: aleslie@africa.ufl.edu
This one-week course will focus on women in international organizations based in Paris. The objective is to portray women’s challenges and how women through the international organizations strive to fight these challenges. Paris hosted the first International Woman's Rights Congress in 1878 and continues to be central to global women’s empowerment and activism. The course will use as its spotlight two events held in Paris in March each year – 1) March 8th, UNESCO celebrates International Women’s Day and 2) the International women’s film festival. UNESCO will be central to the course as it highlights issues relating to the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality. This course will also highlight women in politics including two female ambassadors, female activists, a female artist/producer who promotes the cause of equality through fighting poverty and AIDS, UNESCO personnel engaged in women’s empowerment. Readings will include historical accounts of women’s activism in Paris and the international instruments to promote women’s rights, international women’s conferences and highlight the impact of those on women in general and in selected countries. A selection of films produced by women related to the themes will be shown during the week. In 2005, UNESCO proposed 20 films produced by women from various countries. Three of these will be shown as part of the course. Although this course will only be for one week, students will grasp the global issues related to women and how international organizations and individuals are engaged to find local and global solutions. Site visits will include UNESCO, two embassies – one Asian and one African and organizations and sites involved in women’s activism.
Grading
Students will be graded on eight assignments as follows:
- 10% Reading summary prior to departure
- 10% Report on visit to UNESCO
- 10% Report on two of the films shown
- 10% Report on one female ambassador
- 10% Report on one female producer
- 10% Report on visit to UNIFEM
- 25% Final paper on women and activism due after students return from
Paris
(10 pages) - 15% Class attendance and participation
Students will be expected to attend all activities. Each absence will result in a deduction of 5 points.
Readings
- Joyous Greetings. “Chapter One: Panorama: The First International Women’s Movement, 1830-1860.” Bonnie S. Anderson. Oxford Press. 2000.
- Unruly Women of Paris: Images of the Commune: “Introduction, Chapter One, the Women of March 18.” Gay L. Gullickson. Cornell University Press 1996.
- Women, Politics and the United Nations. Winslow, Anne. (ed). 1995. Connecticut. Greenwood Press.
- "World's Women 2000, Trends and Statistics". UNESCO, 2000.
- United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM) 2005 -2006 Report.
- Breaking the Silence: French Women’s Voices from the Ghetto. Amara Fadela and Sylvia Zappi. 2006. Berkerly. University of California Press.
Program Outline
This course is aimed at introducing students to international activism and the response of international organizations including UNESCO and UNIFEM. We will start exploring women’s activism before we get to Paris. Prior to the departure students will read a Chapter from Joyous Greetings and Unruly Women of Paris which sets the historical tone for international women’s activism in Paris. This reading will be contrasted to the current status of women’s international activism augmented by the visit to UNESCO.
Program and Site Visits March 9-14
TBA
- Prior to the departure – One meeting 1) to discuss the course objectives 2) discuss two readings – Joyous Greetings, Chapter 1, Unruly Women of Paris 1).
- Student will write
a 2-page synthesis of the readings.
(4 hours.)
Sunday, March 9
- Morning: Students arrive/ settle into hotel
- Evening:
3:30 PM Reception at Paris Research Center
5:00 PM Group Welcome Dinner at Restaurant
7:00 PM Concert at the Saint Chapelle
Monday, March 10
- 10:00 - 12:00 AM Orientation at the Paris Research Center
- 12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch. On your own.
- 2:00 - 4:00 PM Visit
Conseil International des Femmes, 13, Rue Caumartin – history
of the international
women’s movement 9 – 11 A.M. (2 hours).
Read: “Forerunner in Women’s Quest for Partnership” (Chapter 1). - 5:00 - 7:00 PM Tour of selected sights depicting women’s history of activism as depicted in earlier readings – Hotel de Ville, Charles de Gaulle Etoille, Place de la Concorde and Place de la Nation.
- (4 hours)
Tuesday, March 11
- 9:00-11:00 AM UNESCO – The
status of women in the world – In
order to prepare for this session student will read
the following chapters from Winslow, (ed.):
“Women find a Place” (Chapter 2)
“The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women” (Chapter 6) - 1:00 - 3:00 PM Meet author/s of Breaking the Silence: French Women’s Voices from the Ghetto, Fadela Amara French-Algerian human right activist and Sylvia Zappi.
- (Read chapters
introduction, 7, 8).
(2 hours). - (6:00 - 8:00) Evening: Movie - Odhni - Beyond the Veil* - directed by Umesh Bist, India
- (6 hours)
Wednesday, March 12
- 9:00 - 11:00 AM Visit South African Embassy - Female ambassador of an African country – Women’s empowerment: Fighting poverty and inequality.
- PM. Female ambassador of an Asian country – focus on female empowerment
- (6:00 - 8:00) Evening: Movie – The Masks of Silence* - directed by Fatma Skandrani, Tunisia
- (6 hours)
Thursday, March 13
- 9:00 - 11:00 AM United Nations Development Fund for Women ( UNIFEM) – Commitments
and implications for gender equality and women’s empowerment
Read: UNIFEM report on: Governance Peace and Security
Human Rights - 1:00 - 3:00 PM Women at the Grassroots – Visit Women in small businesses Female activist – fight for the protection of children in militarized regions
- (7:00 - 9:00) PM Women in Entertainment Business – Arab or African Women (Possibly film producer Safi Faye, Senegalese film maker).
- (6 hours)
Friday, March 14
- 9:00 - 11:00 AM Women in the European Parliament – Jane Freedman, European Parliament
- 1:00 - 3:00 PM Wrap up and discussion of major events, themes
- Afternoon – On your own. Individual activities.
- 7:00 PM Farewell dinner and/or activity (Women in Entertainment Business - Female artist/producer or female popular singer)
- (4 hours)
Saturday, March 15
- Morning: Students depart
Total credit hours = 30
Description of the Films
- The Masks of Silence - directed by Fatma Skandrani,
Tunisia
This documentary tells the story of a great multi-faceted actress capable of portraying many characters, including that of being a primary school teacher. - Odhni - Beyond the Veil - directed by Umesh Bist,
India
Exploited by contractors and middlemen for decades, the women workers were organized and formed a society, which was registered as a SEWA-society for the empowerment of women artisans. The whole market turned against them and orthodox Muslim families resented their daughters and sisters going to work. - Florence Barrigha, A Brief Encounter - directed by
Fanta Regina Nacro, Togo
Florence Barrigha tells her story of how she reinvented her life to become one of the seven "Nana Benz" of Togo, who are businesswomen involved in trading fabrics and as a result, are able to afford their own Mercedes Benz. The expression "Nana Benz" means freedom, pride, success and courage of women.
*Please note that these films were among the 20 chosen to celebrate International Women’s Day in 2005.
