Women of the World Social Education 67(1), pp. 51-53 © 2003 National Council for the Social Studies Web-Based Resources for Teaching about Contemporary Women and Girls By Mary Anne Flournoy with André J. Patterson

his article looks at web-based resources for teaching about contemporary women and girls. These sites offer individual, organizational, and institutional perspectives on the human rights Tand everyday issues affecting girls and women. Global Resources The Women’s Human Rights Network, WHRNet (www. Women Watch: The United Nations Internet Gateway on the whrnet.org/aboutus.html), is an international coalition of women’s human Advancement and Empowerment of Women (www.un.org/ rights organizations working to enhance their advocacy and strategic initia- womenwatch) connects to the major UN initiatives related to women and tives. The site posts news alerts and features a talk forum in which students to the Women of the World 2000 report. It also links to the major documents and teachers can participate. and databases on women’s and girls’ rights. The United Nations Development Fund for Women (www.unifem.org) The United Nations Development Program Human Development details projects on the elimination of violence against women and on improving Report (hdr.undp.org/reports) has been measuring the well-being of citi- international gender-related statistics gathering. This is also a good place to zens of the world since 1990. The Human Development Report of 1995 look at the impact of HIV-AIDS in a particular region. The Coalition Against focuses on gender and development. The report ranks countries using a Trafficking in Women www.catwinternational.org( ) is useful for looking Human Development Index, which measures quality of life indices such as at the huge increase in the number of East European women, especially from life expectancy, access to health care, participation in the political process, and Russia and Ukraine, who have become unwilling sex slaves in Europe and the level of education. Their Gender-related Development Index adjusts the aver- Middle East. The organization’s Factbook provides specific information for age achievement of each country with the disparity in achievement between all parts of the world on this tragic issue. women and men. The Gender Empowerment Measure looks at the disparity In dealing with girl children, several websites provide use- in women’s decision-making participation, specifically in the economic and ful information. The Child Rights Information Network (www.crin. political spheres. The statistics will challenge middle and high school students’ org) links to a vast resource base of information on rights of the child. Click notions of what constitutes a high level of development. on “Regions” to find country reports. ECPAT www.ecpat.net/eng/index.( Women and Gender Equality (www.unesco.org/women) provides asp) is a network of groups working to eliminate child prostitution, child access to a site map of women’s organizations worldwide. Click on “Mapping pornography, and trafficking of children. UNICEF’s website www.unicef.( the World of Women’s Information Services” and search by country of origin org) outlines the organization’s work on issues such as sexual exploita- or type of group to link directly to organizations working on women’s issues. tion, children’s rights, and health, and has forums for interactions between Amnesty International (www.amnestyusa.org/women) and Human youth worldwide. GIRLS Rights (www.girlsrights.org), a collaboration of Rights Watch (www.humanrightswatch.org) cover women’s and girls’ NGOs, provides an overview of twenty-five countries with national plans human rights. Amnesty focuses on the passage of the Convention to End Dis- to address issues specific to the girl child. Under “What’s New,” click on crimination Against Women (CEDAW), honor killings, female genital muti- the Girls 2000 NGO’s Progress Report Since Beijing for an overview of lation, gender-based asylum, and women’s human rights defenders. Human girls’ rights issues. Rights Watch has a somewhat broader agenda, which includes women workers, Several useful sites provide comparative data on political and domestic and sexual violence, women and armed confict, trafficking, refugees economic rights for women worldwide. The International Labor and internally displaced women. Both produce annual reports, which are Organization’s e.quality@work (www.ilo.org/public/english/ posted online, as well as specific issue-focused reports. Human Rights Watch employment/gems/eeo/index.htm) is a megasite sponsored by the UN includes a section on children’s rights. The sites also provide avenues for that connects to a vast database of information on government policies and students to become involved in these issues. programs as well as global activities to promote equal employment oppor- Equality Now (www.equalitynow.org/brochure_eng_hub.html) tunities for men and women. Go to “Related Links” to search by region or is dedicated to “taking action for the human rights of women.” It offers country. The Interparliamentary Union (www.ipu.org/iss-e/women.htm) an archive of women’s actions around the world and a database of laws provides statistics on women’s participation in policy-making institutions. discriminating against women. Several sites offer information on these topics from a historical per- spective. The Women in World History Curriculum site (womenin-

January/February 2003 51 worldhistory.com) provides a goldmine of links to sources dealing with Governmental resources can also provide information on women’s lives. different historical periods. Go to “Current International Issues” for links The People’s Daily (english.peopledaily.com.cn) is the English version to international organizations and issues of concern to women world- of the Chinese government newspaper. Search for “Chinese women.” The wide. Go to “20th Century” to link to “Worldwide Guide to Women features are easily read by middle school students and older. in Leadership” (www.guide2womenleaders.com), which is a vast The Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (www.cao.go.jp/ database of women rulers, ministers, members of parliament, party lead- index-e.html) contains a section on gender equality. The site would make an ers, local leaders, ambassadors, and clergy around the world. Women’s excellent starting point for having students define gender equality. To look at History, a commercial site powered by History Net (womenshistory. these issues from the perspective of a network of Japanese nongovernmental about.com), is a megasite that links to articles on women in different regions groups, go to Femnet (www1.jca.apc.org/fem/index_en.html) and click of the world. on “English page.” Finding sources with “insiders” perspectives on women’s issues is cru- Africa cial for teaching this material. Japan Insight: Japan Information Network Africa Speaks: West African Students Write About Their Lives (www.uic. (jinjapan.org/insight) is an excellent site for gender-related information edu/classes/engl/engl161-patstoll/afspeaks.htm) provides excellent from the perspective of Japanese women. “Focus 5” (Women in Japan) primary sources for teaching about West African perspectives on child- provides a variety of articles on education, entrepreneurship, and trends hood, education, family, marriage, religious and spiritual beliefs, politics, shaping Japanese culture, family life, the younger generation, and Japanese and traditional versus modern life. This website includes essays and stories consumers. Women’s Online Media (wom-jp.org/indexE.html) presents by West African university students. It also links to a photo gallery, which Japanese women’s views on topics such as domestic violence, elderly care, can help students and teachers explore the lives of women and girls through single motherhood, employment of women, health care, child abuse, sexual images. The essays not only represent primary source information about life harassment, and the culture of marriage. in Africa but also represent the lives of African students within an African The Korean Women’s Development Institute (www2.kwdi. university context, countering mass media representations of an “uneducated re.kr:8090/ucgi-bin/webdriver?MIval=eng_home) con- and uncivilized” Africa. tains articles by women in Korea with regard to education, The Life in Africa Foundation (LiA) (www.lifeinafrica.com) explores empowerment, employment, welfare, and other issues. The the stories of women and their families from East African perspectives. The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan vignettes presented in the “Voices of Africa” and “Echoes of Africa” sections (witness.peacenet.or.kr/kindex.html) addresses the issue of explore the cultural, social, political, and economic contexts of the lives of Korean “comfort women” during World War II. Working Women’s women and their families. The site features “Letters from Uganda,” “Letters Network: Korean Women Workers Associations United (www. from West Africa,” “Life in Africa (LiA) Feature Stories,” and “Short Stories kwwnet.org/english/) provides information about working women in from Africa.” These stories and images debunk myths, stereotypes, and Korea and advertises educational opportunities. misconceptions by giving voice and representation to Africans, especially Finding material on young Asian women and girls is not dif- African women and girls. ficult. Ask Asia: Teenage Tokyo (www.askasia.org/students/ AllAfrica.com (allafrica.com/women) features hundreds of top news virtual_gallery/teenage/teen1.htm) is a virtual comic book about four stories from African papers posted (and archived) daily in English and junior high school teenagers in Tokyo: two girls and two boys. Cool Girls French on issues related to the lives of women in Africa. Japan/Tokyo Web Girls and Guys (coolgirlsjapan.com) is an online maga- zine with articles on fashion, music, cosmetics, and films, with personal East Asia profiles of both girls and boys. Nipponia www.jinjapan.org/nipponia( ) is The Asia for Educators website (afe.easia.columbia.edu) contains excel- an online magazine featuring interviews with young Japanese women, among lent primary sources related to the everyday lives of women in this region. them two Olympic swimming gold medalists and a master of the board game These sources can be easily infused into world history, world geography, and Go. One of their back issues is Elementary School in Japan. world cultures classes. Click on “Population Policy” for the one-child policy in China, and “Society and Culture” for material on the Chinese home and Latin America marriage. The “Literature” section links to women’s autobiographies. Las Mujeres (www.lasmujeres.com), an excellent resource for The Committee of Asian Women publishes the Asian Women Workers teaching about Latin American cultures and perspectives, presents Newsletter (members.tripod.com/~cawhk) quarterly, covering women biographical information on notable Latin American women in the arts, workers’ issues, news, and struggles. For teachers, a particularly useful, edu- politics, education, and business. cationally oriented site is Ask Asia (www.askasia.org/teachers) under the MADRE: An International Women’s Human Rights Organization auspices of the Asia Society, which contains, among other materials, essays by (www.madre.org) addresses women’s human rights from Latin American Japanese and Korean women on various aspects of their lives. The “Regional perspectives. MADRE is a women-operated group that addresses health, Resources Japan or Korea” offers access to numerous articles about arranged education, economic development, and other issues that have an impact on marriage, female workers, Japanese housewives, and the value and meaning women and families. MADRE has programs in Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, of the Korean family. The China Internet Information Center (www.china. Guatemala, and Nicaragua. The website links to “Travel with MADRE” for org.cn/english/), the authorized government portal site, is rich in materials information and photographs on its programmatic activities. from news agencies and interviews with local citizens. Click on “People” to find articles related to women’s lives. The All China Women’s Federation Middle East (www.women.org.cn/womenorg/English/) is a mass organization dedi- The Egyptian State Information Service: Egyptian Women (www.us.sis. cated to the advancement of Chinese women, to promoting equality between gov.eg/women/html/front2.htm) provides information about women men and women, and to improving girls’ involvement in education. and the women’s movement from the perspective of an Egyptian governmen-

Social Education 52 tal entity. The website provides links to chronological and historical over- covering women’s groups in Russia, activism, arts, life/work, health, politics, views as well as Egyptian women’s perspectives on motherhood, children’s and academic issues. rights, education, and the environment from the Egyptian National Council International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights Woman 2000 for Childhood and Motherhood. (www.ihf-hr.org/appeals/001109b.htm) compares and contrasts the sta- Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) tus of women in twenty-nine countries across the former Soviet Union. It is (www.rawa.org) is an excellent resource for teaching about women’s human the most complete look at women’s rights and gender issues in this area of rights and social justice from the perspective of nonfundamentalist Afghan the world on the web in English, demonstrating the contradiction between women. It provides extensive links to relevant reports, documents, articles, the official stance of gender equality in these countries and the reality of poems, songs, and video/audio clips. RAWA counters mainstream stereo- women’s lives. types of fundamentalism from a Middle East perspective. We/Myi, The Women’s Dialogue (www.we-myi.org/ The Arab Association for Human Rights (www.arabhra.org) reviews issues/28/index.html) is a women’s magazine with articles by Russian the Arab press in Israel and links to other human rights groups. Topics women, some of which are translated into English. include the Palestinian Arab minority in Israel, women’s rights, and human Network Women’s Programs (www.soros.org/women/html/ and civil rights education. Bat Shalom (www.batshalom.org/2002/1.htm) programs.htm) is the site of the Soros Foundation’s women’s projects in is an Israeli feminist peace organization working alongside the Jerusalem twenty-six countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The Center for Women, a Palestinian women’s organization, to establish a just projects cover violence against women, women’s human rights and participa- and equitable peace in the region. tion in public life, policy initiatives, women and education, Romani women, Women for Israel’s Tomorrow, also known as Women in Green (www. women’s health, women in confict zones, and more. womeningreen.org) because of the green hats they wear, offers a range of Initiative for Social Action and Renewal in Eurasia (www.isar.org) is articles and links to the group’s radio programs. The group supports a Jewish a nonprofit organization working for social justice and sustainable develop- state and a policy that does not give up any territory. The group also supports ment. The site offers access to articles about women, including those on the settlements in Hebron. female environmental activists. The news media have often provided valuable information about Mid- dle Eastern events. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) presented The Internet offers a wealth of information by international women. “In-Depth Iran,” on February 23, 2000 (news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/ More and more women’s groups are using the web to communicate with one middle_east/643526.stm), a feature that included a segment called “Ira- another, strategize, and advocate for their causes. G nian women seek equality.” Likewise, Frontline’s Muslims (www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/ Mary Anne Flournoy is associate director emerita of the Center for frontline/shows/muslims) is a PBS special that focused on the lives of ordi- International Studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She is also currently adjunct assistant professor of educational studies and co- nary Muslims including interviews on topics such as women and Islam. Three coordinator of the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching. She may Muslim women are interviewed on the topics of “Muslim Americans after be reached at [email protected]. André J. Patterson, formerly a social 9/11,” “The struggle for women’s rights in Malaysia,” and “The politics of studies and French teacher in Columbia, South Carolina, is currently a the head scarf” in Turkey. This site also offers answers to “Frequently Asked Ph.D. student in Social Studies Education and Global Education at The Questions” and links to readings or other sites, as well as a chat room and a Ohio State University, Columbus. He may be reached at patterson.330@ osu.edu. teacher’s guide. Association for Middle East Women’s Studies (www. amews.org) is an organization of scholars and others interested in the study of women in the Middle East. Its banner is pro-Palestinian and the site posts notes from women in Ramallah about the Israeli troop action there. Salam Iran: Women in Iran (www.salamiran.org/Women) is part of the Iranian embassy in Canada’s website. It contains links to the constitution of Iran as well as the government view on the current status of women in Iran. The site presents an exhibition of women’s paintings, and reports on the Islamic Countries Women’s Sport Solidarity Games, NGOs, rural women, women’s ethnic costumes, women’s arts and crafts, and governmental organizations. Turkish Daily News (www.turkishdailynews.com) is the only English daily in Turkey. The site offers numerous articles on women’s lives in its archives of past editions.

Russia, Slavic and Eastern Europe, and Central Asia Eurasianet’s Human Rights Website (www.eurasianet.org/ departments/rights/index.shtm) has up-to-date articles on human rights issues in central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia. Produced by the Central Eurasia Project of the Open Society Institute, the site is fully archived going back three years. The “Russian Feminist Resources” site (www.geocities.com/ Athens/2533/activism.html) provides links to English-language media

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