Reflections on "Half the Sky"

By Michelle Gattenio, Zeta Zeta-Boston

“You educate a girl and she can change the world around her.” --Cheryl WuDunn

On Monday, Oct. 1, the women of Zeta Zeta-Boston gathered with fellow Boston-area alumnae to watch part one of “Half the Sky.” Not entirely sure what the two-hour film was all about, I took my seat, surrounded by my sisters, and prepared to watch, what I can now say is one of the most inspiring films I have seen. An eerie silence rang through the auditorium for the entire two hours of part one. Everyone in that room seemed to be captivated by the stories told by amazing women who have stood with courage and poise in the face of unimaginable adversity.

The stories of Somaly Mam, Amie Kandeh, Urmi Basu and the other women who are making such enormous and meaningful impacts on the lives of those affected by the various horrors were not only eye opening but also motivational. Watching “Half the Sky” opened my eyes to problems that I was unaware still existed in today’s world. As a person who had no idea issues of sex trafficking, forced prostitution and domestic beatings were so prevalent, let alone rampant worldwide, “Half the Sky” gave me the means to educate myself on the issues and suggested ways that I as a college student in Boston could help.

www.halftheskymovement.org has a tab dedicated to ways we can help: donations, lists of organizations that need volunteers, links to companies that allow you to buy with a purpose - all very doable things. These are practical ways that harness energy into “Doing Good,” which is something I greatly admire and respect about the movement; it aims to call attention to the problems and then follows through by arming women with a means to mutually empower and uplift.

When the lights came on at 11 p.m. Monday night, they revealed a room full of women changed for the better. To quote Wicked, they were “changed for good,” each in her own way. Whether that meant hosting a viewing event for part two of the documentary on the following night, or a call to investigate further into the issues addressed, or a recommendation for a great book to read next, or a realization of a new career path, each woman in that room walked out unquestionably changed for good.

Columbus, Ohio –Delta Gamma Fraternity is proud to have partnered with the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) to coordinate viewing parties for the launch of the PBS documentary, “Half the Sky.” If you missed the original airing, you can watch it here: http://video.pbs.org/video/2283557115 until October 8. For more information, click here.