Women and Movements Who Inspire Change: Stories of Activism and Advocacy on International Women's Day
Inspirational Women: Honouring the Courage and Resilience of Feminist Trailblazers
International Women's Day is celebrated globally on March 8th every year to recognize women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The day also serves as a call to action for equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. Each year, International Women's Day is celebrated with a theme. This year's theme is "Choose to Challenge," which encourages us to challenge gender bias and inequality while celebrating women's achievements and working towards creating a more inclusive world.
As a man who supports feminism and the advancement of women's rights, I believe that one of the most important ways to support women is to amplify their voices. That's why, in honour of International Women's Day, I would like to highlight some remarkable women and change movements from different parts of the world who are working tirelessly to advance women's rights. These women are community leaders who make a difference through activism and advocacy. They have a unique understanding of the challenges facing women today, and they are fighting tirelessly to address them.
All too often, well-meaning men inject their own male perspectives into women's issues when in reality, all we have to do is listen to women, help them reach an audience, let them define the issues they want to advocate for, and help them when asked for. Supporting and amplifying voices like theirs is my small act of feminism. The experience of being a woman in a patriarchal world and the legal, social, and sex-based challenges could only truly be understood by those who live it. By highlighting the stories of these remarkable women, I hope to inspire and empower readers to take action toward equality and women's empowerment.
Yasmine Mohammed
My dear friend Yasmine Mohammed comes to mind first as we celebrate the courage and resilience of women worldwide who fight for equality and women's rights. She is a Canadian anti-Islamism activist, author, and founder of the nonprofit organization Free Hearts Free Minds.
Yasmine's journey to activism began in her childhood, growing up in a strict, fundamentalist Muslim household in Canada. Forced to wear a niqab at the age of nine, Yasmine experienced firsthand the oppressive cultural practices that limit women's freedom and autonomy. As a teenager, she was forced into a violent marriage with a man who turned out to be an Al-Qaeda operative. After escaping this abusive marriage, Yasmine went on to become an advocate for women's rights through her nonprofit organization, Free Hearts Free Minds.
Today, Yasmine is a fierce advocate for women living under Islam across the world. Her experiences have shaped her views and led her to speak out against oppressive cultural practices and advocate for women's rights. She is also a professor and married to a non-Muslim man.
Through her organization, Free Hearts Free Minds, Yasmine provides support to ex-Muslims and members of the LGBT community who are at risk of persecution or execution for their beliefs or identity. Leaving Islam is punishable by death in 12 Muslim-majority countries, and Yasmine's organization offers psychological support and raises awareness about the issues facing ex-Muslims and members of the LGBT community in these countries.
One of Yasmine's most powerful tools in promoting women's rights is her podcast, "Forgotten Feminists." The podcast features conversations with inspirational women from restrictive religious backgrounds who have fought and overcome oppression. Some of the women featured on the podcast include Malala Yousufzai and Ayaan Hirsi Ali. By sharing these women's stories, Yasmine provides a platform for them to share their experiences and inspire others to speak out against injustice. It's a powerful testament to the strength and resilience of women fighting for their freedom and right to live without oppression.
Yasmine helped me get my own voice out when I was going through my own asylum application with the UNHCR. I invite my readers to watch one of her podcast episodes below.
In addition to her podcast, Yasmine has written a book titled "Unveiled: How Western Liberals Empower Radical Islam." The book tells the story of how Yasmine dealt with the conflict of being born in the Western world yet raised in a fundamentalist Islamic home. It also discusses the public debate about Islam since September 11th, 2001, and how it has become polarized.
On a day like this, let's celebrate Yasmine Mohammed and the many other women around the world fighting for equality and women's rights. Yasmine's work as an anti-Islamism activist is crucial in promoting women's rights and challenging oppressive cultural practices. She is a shining example of how one person can make a difference and inspire change.
Aurat March: Women's March
Pakistan's women's rights movement has a storied history, dating back to the late 1970s when the country was under the military dictatorship of General Zia-ul-Haq. Under his oppressive regime, women were stripped of their fundamental human rights, prompting women activists to campaign tirelessly for their rights and refuse to back down until Zia's rule ended with his death in 1988. Despite peaceful general elections and the return of the Pakistan Peoples Party to national power, General Zia-ul-Haq's imprint on society and the religious beliefs that empowered it still run deep in Pakistani institutions.
Over the years, Pakistan has witnessed the emergence of a new wave of feminist activism that has gained momentum in recent years. Since 2018, women across the country have come together on March 8th, International Women's Day, to raise their voices and demand gender equality and minority rights. They call themselves the Aurat March, which translates to Women's March, and they take to the streets in cities across the country to assert their presence and claim their rights. The Lahore chapter of the Aurat March is historical, and this documentary explores what goes into organizing this important event.
Despite progress in recent years, women in Pakistan still face discrimination and violence in their daily lives. The Aurat March provides a platform for them to raise awareness of these issues and demand change. Through interviews with organizers and participants, this film delves into the challenges women face today in Pakistan and their reasons for marching.
The Aurat March represents a powerful symbol of women's strength and resilience in adversity. Through their activism, women in Pakistan are rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a woman in their society and paving the way for a brighter, more equal future.
My dear friend and ex-Muslim, “Nasra”, along with her two children, today attended the Aurat March in Lahore, Pakistan. I have included this march in honour of her participation in the women’s rights movement in Pakistan. She texted me videos from the march, which I would have loved to include, but I can’t due to safety and security reasons. Instead, I am sharing the film she shared with me.
Roya Mahboob
Roya Mahboob is a visionary and pioneering Afghan entrepreneur who has shattered gender stereotypes and made remarkable strides in empowering women through technology. As the CEO and founder of Afghan Citadel Software Company (ACSC), located in the city of Herat, she has been an instrumental force in advancing women's rights and catalyzing change in Afghanistan and beyond.
Mahboob's unyielding dedication to advancing women's rights through technology has earned her global recognition and admiration. In 2013, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people, and on International Day of the Girl, she was celebrated as Afghanistan's first female tech CEO, a role model for the next generation of women leaders in STEM.
Through her work at ACSC and her philanthropic efforts, Mahboob has transformed countless lives, elevating women and children in Afghanistan and beyond and empowering them to seize opportunities through technology. Her commitment to empowering others through technology inspires all who seek to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Mahboob is a fervent advocate for Bitcoin in Afghanistan and has been among the first entrepreneurs to introduce this digital currency to the country. She views Bitcoin as a means of safeguarding one's savings and investing in a brighter future. While living in New York, Mahboob often utilizes Bitcoin to remit money to her loved ones, friends, and vendors in Afghanistan. Furthermore, she intends to host a Bitcoin conference in Afghanistan through her nonprofit, the Digital Citizen Fund, where she serves as CEO and co-founder.
In addition to her work on Bitcoin, Mahboob has focused on building digital literacy and skills for women and children in developing countries, particularly in Afghanistan. At the young age of 23, she founded ACSC, where she predominantly hired female engineers and employees. The company swiftly gained recognition, securing contracts with major institutions, including U.S. and Afghan government agencies.
Mahboob is also the CEO and co-founder of the Digital Citizen Fund, a nonprofit that has enrolled over 9,000 Afghan women and girls in education programs. Through this organization, she continues to drive transformation and promote access to education and digital literacy for women.
Mahboob's intention to organize a Bitcoin conference in Afghanistan to showcase projects developed by female Afghan entrepreneurs is a testament to her unwavering dedication to promoting gender equality and financial independence for Afghan women. Through her use of Bitcoin, she has empowered several women through the Digital Citizen Fund, helping them access technology and financial independence.
Bitcoin holds immense promise in enabling women to overcome financial barriers and achieve independence, particularly in Afghanistan. For instance, Bitcoin has allowed at least 2,000 girls to be paid for their blogging and social media skills, and impoverished Afghan women have received emergency aid through Bitcoin donations when traditional banking systems have fallen short under Taliban rule. The reduced risk of confiscation and increased portability of Bitcoin donations make it a powerful tool for empowering women.
Although challenges remain in expanding Bitcoin businesses within Afghanistan due to the nature of how early it is in Bitcoin's adoption stage, Mahboob's work in advancing Bitcoin is a beacon of hope and inspiration.
On this International Women's Day, it is imperative to acknowledge Roya Mahboob's invaluable contributions to the advancement of women's rights through Bitcoin and related technologies. Her unwavering dedication to empowering women and promoting their access to education and digital literacy is genuinely admirable. Mahboob's efforts have not only broken down barriers for women in Afghanistan but have also inspired others worldwide to work towards achieving gender equality. As a pioneering female entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mahboob is a role model for all of us who aspire to impact the world positively. She is a woman worthy of remembrance and celebration on this significant occasion.
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