Women Hit Hardest in Food Crisis
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm | posted by Erin Erlenborn, ONE Policy StaffThe front page of Sunday’s Washington Post featured story of women being disproportionately affected by the food crisis. Women grow, buy, and cook food but eat last and least. The following is an excerpt from WP’s story.
After she woke in the dark to sweep city streets, after she walked an hour to buy less than $2 worth of food, after she cooked for two hours in the searing noon heat, Fanta Lingani served her family’s only meal of the day. First she set out a bowl of corn mush, seasoned with tree leaves, dried fish and wood ashes, for the 11 smallest children, who tore into it with bare hands. Then she set out a bowl for her husband. Then two bowls for a dozen older children. Then finally, after everyone else had finished, a bowl for herself. She always eats last.
Read the rest of Fanta’s story or watch the video to follow a day in her life.
-Erin Erlenborn
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Thanks Erin for this post and the video link from Burkina Faso. The unfortunate truth is - this is NOT recent news.
Women & their children have always bore the brunt of poverty - whether in this country or around the world. The term “feminization of poverty” has proven to be a very unfortunate reality for me in this country ….and for millions of women around the world who struggle daily in extreme poverty.
That is just another reason WHY I have always been an active ONE volunteer - because I know that the hardships that I go through on a daily basis here in the USA are amplified in the lives of women around the world….and I feel a kinship & a solidarity with them that far surpasses ideologies & politics.
We are Sisters under the skin.
ONE HEART, ONE HOPE, ONE VOICE, ONE LOVE - debbie
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