WINTER SOLSTICE 1995 - Issue Number 34
Sitting here in this winter snowy wonderland, I find it hard to imagine that just a few months ago I was deeply involved with the Women's conference, and my life in China. In a few columns of words, I will try to capture and share some of my thoughts during the 4th World Conference on Women.
My chief role in China was to take care of my one year old cousin 24 hours a day since my aunt is the Director of the Association for Progressive Communica tions (APC). APC had a staff of women from around the globe who were in charge of the computer networking for the NGO (non governmental organiza tions) forum and UN (United Nations) conference. APC helped participants access their free email accounts and taught them how to use the technology or helped in getting as much information about the NGO Forum/UN conference as possible online for everyone to access. The situation was ideal for me because I desperately wanted to go to the forum yet saw no feasible way financially. Fortunately, my aunt needed a babysitter so, by being employed, I was able to get to China and experience the forum/conference. Despite the fact that I had a one year old charge, I saw much more of the forum than I originally expected.
We arrived in Huairou, a suburb of Beijing, five days before the actual NGO Forum started. In those five days, I explored Huairou and became familiar with the town that would be my home for the next two weeks. I watched the transformation of Huairou as the finishing touches for the forum were conducted, met lots of different women who were arriving by the bus load, and helped APC women cope with the bureaucratic rules of the Chinese govern ment that had to be dealt with just to get the essential NGO Forum pass. I had already encountered numerous samples of China's governmental "systems" by spending six months attempting to attain a VISA.
Walking under the inflated rainbow arches on the first day of the forum was amazing. It symbolized for me the beginning of my journey as one of the participants of the NGO Forum. The streets of Huairou were filled with women from over 180 countries decked out in traditional garb and many with incredible hairdos. The various languages echoed down the streets as people shared their story of what hardships, accom plishments, and celebrations they had endured. Everyone was there represent ing a different strand of the world wide fabric. Who knows how many people were actually there, the counts range from 18,000-60,000 and I got to know only a small percentage of them. I wanted to break myself up into a million pieces to attend all the activities and meet all the people, and then reassemble myself a much more educated, inspired, and enriched person. In restaurants, at concerts, and walking down the streets, I'd immediately fall into conversation with people, and would often run into them again enabling us to share more stories.
I filled my days attending workshops: watching a dance performance by the women of the Western Sahara describing their lives under the Moroccan military occupation, singing with Sweet Honey in the Rock, or discussing how young women and men need to work together to solve current issues. Sometimes I'd just stroll around visiting all the tents and talking with people. Yes, I did wade through water that was almost up to my knees, but everyone just grabbed their umbrellas, carried an extra pair of shoes, and didn't worry about it. A couple of times I was fortunate enough to meet women with whom I'd been previously communicating for my senior project which was an intensive research project I conducted about the conference/forum for my senior seminar class last year.
Putting a name with a face and seeing these women in action was incredibly exciting. I made a point of visiting all the regional tents and listening to their caucuses and all the individual tents to share in their discussions too. I sang in the healing tent at the international song fest, relaxed in the quiet tent, and watched a reunion of women who have been living in refugee camps in the displaced women tent. Generally, I was overwhelmed by the support and unassuming nature of people. I talked with a leader of Ethiopia and others who had instituted huge change in their countries to eliminate poverty. I partici pated and observed many kinds of protests ranging from meditations, loud chanting sessions, silent vigils wearing all black to signify your concern for violence, marches with signs, and singing for a particular cause.
I always wondered where people were going when I passed them on the streets. Were they attending one of the 50 or so choices each hour from the schedule, were they watching the cultural event, were they active in one tent all week, had they just noticed a new event on the orange poster and decided to attend that, or like me, were they trying to do it all? Surprisingly enough, I'd meet people who not only knew Vermont, but would say "What town are you from?" I'd casually respond, "A little town called Craftbury Common," assuming that no one knew my town, a population of 102. Completely astounding me, they'd often respond, "Yea, the rowing center." There I was in China, 12 time zones away meeting people who'd probably gone by my family's farm on their way to Craftsbury Rowing Center!
Not only did I experience the incredible world forum scene, but I had a dose of the movie star mentality, although not by choice. My cousin and I had our picture taken about 100 times a day. We were printed in numerous papers, on Chinese TV and the talk of the forum. What made us so appealing? Take a young fair red-haired woman and put her carrying in modern backpack a fair red-haired little boy. My cousin was one of a handful of kids at the forum so everyone came up to talk to us. In that sense it was great to have him because I met people continually, yet the misconceptions were as plentiful as the photos. I'd hear people muttering about "That's the problem with America, children having children," or others would comment, "You're obviously pro-family". Some would ask, "Now, how many did you leave at home?" Or others would say, "My you're young to have kids!" Some took it as far to say, "I see you're single, you don't have a ring on your finger," and still others would ask, "Is your partner here?" In that politically correct environment, that statement would imply numerous things. In an attempt to explain my situation and not be labeled incorrectly, I made a sign in nine languages that explained that I was carrying my cousin, not my son. This eliminated some of the explaining I had to do but opened up the door to why I was carrying him if he wasn't my son. Sadly, I never really took part in the youth tent because I'd go in to be a part of discussions and find people saying, "Why is she here? She's not a youth anymore."
In retrospect, it was a good experience to be labeled as something I wasn't and to feel some strains of discrimination on that part. I realized that even myself, who I'd like to think of as accepting, have in the past looked at a teenage mother thinking what is she doing, and she had such a future, oh. Even in this active, accepting, diverse world community teen age mothers were a source of discrimina tion. I think it's something we've all been conditioned to for years.
All too soon the NGO Forum was over and I found myself heading for Beijing and the UN conference. The atmosphere changed drastically. Everyone had to wear fancy clothes. Leaders arrived in dark closed cars with numer ous body guards. Meetings were closed and no protests or signs were allowed. Many more men were making the final decisions instead of being a part of the process which was very different from the NGO Forum which was so open. For example, at the Forum I wore shorts while conversing with world leaders. It was interesting to see both sides of the coin, so to speak. At the UN I was able to attend a post Beijing meeting, a press conference conducted by the United States UN representatives, talk extensively with a Ford Foundation representa tive, attend some caucuses, and watch and listen to the important meetings on the English TV. I witnessed a secret protest be planned and executed by the Latin American women which was a huge no-no in the UN rules of conduct. It was neat to see the affects of the lobbying done by the NGO's with their particular representatives. I had a harsh realization about many of the freedoms that I enjoy which are not universal. I listened to countries state what a family is, why girls shouldn't be allowed education, why abortion is wrong in every instance.
As for my opinion on the outcome of the NGO Forum/UN conference, I'd say it's predominantly positive. The Platform for Action (PFA), the nonbinding docu ment we were working on, is all encompassing and made people talk about abortion, equal rights to inheritance, education, homosexuality, all issues that have never been discussed at such a global level. APC was able to supply the first free flow of information from China anywhere, anytime, so consequently thousands of people were learning about the conference long before the news reports ever got there and were able to lobby online for certain issues. Campared to 1975 in Mexico City, or 1980 in Nairobi or 1985 in Copenhagen, the changes in numbers and participation in China was incredible. The word is getting out, people are becoming motivated and some exciting things are changing. In China at the NGO Forum there were more men then ever before. Men from ages 6-85 were a part of the emphasis on working together for the next century. Any time that people sit and talk about sensitive issues, I think it's positive.
I haven't really given justice to what I would call the most incredible experience of my life. The whole conference/forum thoroughly inspired me to remain involved with social causes all my life, and reminded me that issues that I'm dealing with in the US are worldwide. Domestic violence, illiteracy, poverty, peace, all these issues cross cultural, country and class lines. I was exposed to and educated about many issues that I don't think about: daily clean water, education for girls, sexual rights. I celebrated with others the steps forward that we have taken and discussed the numerous ones we have yet to take. I reveled in the world community that I was lucky to be a part of and I look forward to the next world women's conference!
Serin Houston, 17, was extremely fortunate to have been able to attend the 4th World Conference on Women. She graduated from Craftsbury Academy last June and the conference was a part of her active year between schools. In January Serin hopes to talk to all interested groups about China, show slides and share all her paraphernalia that she carted home. Anyone interested can contact her at Craftsbury Common, VT 05827.
Return to the Index of Synapse 34, Winter Solstice 1995