The War on Equality
“Sound?”
“Check”
“Great. And are you ready?” Speaking to the interviewee. “I’m just going to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind. Feel free to take your time and pause whenever you need to.”
*fumbles through a few sheets of loose leaf paper and adjusts own microphone* *Clears throat*
“How do you think this initiative impacts the future of female entrepreneurship?”
“I think this initiative is perfect. And the notion of focusing on intelligence, on minds, makes it different because there are many such initiatives. But this is really different. And I have been one of those who for decades has been fighting for recognizing the intelligence of women. Because women have been put aside in so many situations, they actually have developed a kind of intelligence that is not exactly what the men, in whatever their profession, have developed.” Columbia University Professor Saskia Sassen answered.
“Cut. That was great Professor Sassen. Thank you. Is there anything else you’d like to add?”
“No, thank you. Very nice to meet you and good luck with your studies.”
After I complete the interviews, I set out to find Elizabeth Filippouli, founder and CEO of Global Thinkers’ Forum, ‘a social-purpose think-tank and platform bringing together incumbent and future leaders to exchange ideas, knowledge and promote excellence.’ Filippouli launched this Forum during her time at Oxford University’s Said Business School and in her time before attending Oxford, she was a top journalist for renowned journals such as Greek Press TV, Al Jazeera English, and CNN. Today, I was at one of Global Thinkers’ Forum’s event titled ‘Athena40, The Era of Women,’ which was a panel comprised of 40 of the top female world leaders. Upon interviewing Elizabeth, herself, for a project of my own through USC (which I will discuss in further blog posts), she invited me to conduct interviews for the event’s media release. Ever since meeting Elizabeth, her story has inspired my own career direction, in a way that I have yet to discover. Her mission, tapping into the potential of the empowered woman by looking beyond the status quo of society, has ignited my passion to redefine what it means to be a woman in business, politics, and society today. Throughout this class, I hope to delve deeper into my own voice carving down to the basis of my personal beliefs, motivations, and passions for social justice married with enterprise and self-defined ‘success.’
Yet, how did I arrive here? What moment in time, led me to this room filled with such inspiring, passionate and achieved women? Approximately a year and a half prior, I had made the bold decision to apply to USC Levan Institute’s Oxford Consortium during spring break. When at first I was flatly denied from the program, I appealed and was accepted when I expressed my newfound passion for women and human rights after reading various International Criminal Court cases in my International Law course and The War on Women in my free time. While studying International Relations and Global Business as my major, the chord never really struck so hard until Oxford when I was in a room filled with 50 other students and professors from around the world united by a passion for human rights. This is where I met Doctor Lyn Boyd Judson, my mentor and role model, who has since introduced me to Elizabeth Filippouli and others of her kind. It has been Dr. Boyd Judson who has opened my eyes to the ever-so real and intimate world of women who live within and throughout war zones. And here, in this Writing 340 class, is where I will greater explore my voice in the social construct of a woman’s perspective, beyond the male-dominated historical accounts of the Peloponnesian Wars, the Oddysey, World War II, Syria, and beyond.
When I find Elizabeth through the hustle and bustle of the event, she asks me to compile the interviews, films, consent forms and miscellaneous items, and concludes her requests by sincerely thanking me for my efforts. She allows me to go mingle with the panelists and attendees afterwards, and I can’t help but think, one day, I hope to be one of these women too. Until then, I will take a stance, define my cause, and allow the world’s problems to gnaw at my core until I can come up with at least one or two solutions. Until then, I will write HER story, and the next, and the next, one after another until SHE has equal footing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7gfGzMoRQ
