TEDGlobal 2014
Laura Boushnak: For these women, reading is a daring act
Laura Boushnak: For disse kvinder er læsning en dristig handling
Filmed:
Readability: 5.3
919,431 views
I nogle dele af verden mangler halvdelen af kvinderne basale færdigheder i læsning og skrivning, Grundene varierer, men i mange tilfælde er læsefærdigheder ikke værdsat af fædre, ægtemænd, selv mødre. Fotograf og TED Fellow, Laura Boushnak, rejste rundt i lande som Yemen, Egypten og Tunesien for at fremhæve modige kvinder - skolepiger, politiske aktivister, 60-årige mødre - som kæmper imod statistikerne.
Laura Boushnak - Photographer
Laura Boushnak is a Kuwaiti-born Palestinian photographer whose work focuses on women, literacy and education reform in the Arab world. Full bio
Laura Boushnak is a Kuwaiti-born Palestinian photographer whose work focuses on women, literacy and education reform in the Arab world. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
As an Arab female photographer,
0
648
2137
Som en arabisk kvindelig fotograf
00:14
I have always found ample inspiration
for my projects in personal experiences.
for my projects in personal experiences.
1
2785
5132
har jeg altid fundet rigelig inspiration
til mine projekter i personlige oplevelser
til mine projekter i personlige oplevelser
00:20
The passion I developed for knowledge,
2
7917
1932
Passionen, jeg udviklede for viden,
00:22
which allowed me to break barriers
towards a better life
towards a better life
3
9849
3401
der tillod mig at bryde barrierer
mod et bedre liv,
mod et bedre liv,
00:25
was the motivation
for my project I Read I Write.
for my project I Read I Write.
4
13250
4349
var motivationen til mit projekt
Jeg Læser Jeg Skriver.
Jeg Læser Jeg Skriver.
00:29
Pushed by my own experience,
5
17599
1732
Skubbet af min egen erfaring,
00:31
as I was not allowed initially
to pursue my higher education,
to pursue my higher education,
6
19331
3975
i og med at jeg oprindeligt ikke var
tilladt at forfølge min højere uddannelse,
tilladt at forfølge min højere uddannelse,
00:35
I decided to explore and document
stories of other women
stories of other women
7
23306
4177
besluttede jeg at udforske og dokumentere
historierne fra andre kvinder,
historierne fra andre kvinder,
00:39
who changed their lives through education,
8
27483
2833
der ændrede deres liv gennem uddannelse,
00:42
while exposing and questioning
the barriers they face.
the barriers they face.
9
30316
3831
og samtidig afsløre og sætte spørgsmåls-
tegn ved de barrierer, de står imod.
tegn ved de barrierer, de står imod.
00:46
I covered a range of topics
that concern women's education,
that concern women's education,
10
34147
3686
Jeg dækkede en bred vifte af emner
omkring kvinders uddannelse,
omkring kvinders uddannelse,
00:50
keeping in mind the differences
among Arab countries
among Arab countries
11
37833
2618
når man overvejer forskellene
blandt arabiske lande
blandt arabiske lande
00:52
due to economic and social factors.
12
40451
3118
på grund af økonomi og sociale faktorer.
00:55
These issues include female illiteracy,
which is quite high in the region;
which is quite high in the region;
13
43569
4165
Disse problemer inkluderer kvindelig
analfabetisme, hvilket er høj i regionen;
analfabetisme, hvilket er høj i regionen;
00:59
educational reforms;
programs for dropout students;
programs for dropout students;
14
47734
4407
uddannelsesreformer; programmer
for frafaldne studerende;
for frafaldne studerende;
01:04
and political activism
among university students.
among university students.
15
52141
3059
og politisk aktivisme
blandt universitetsstuderende.
blandt universitetsstuderende.
01:08
As I started this work,
16
56110
1402
Da jeg startede arbejdet,
01:09
it was not always easy
to convince the women to participate.
to convince the women to participate.
17
57512
3560
var det ikke altid nemt,
at overbevise kvinderne om at deltage.
at overbevise kvinderne om at deltage.
01:13
Only after explaining to them
18
61072
1915
Først efter at have forklaret dem
01:15
how their stories
might influence other women's lives,
might influence other women's lives,
19
62987
2854
hvordan deres historier kunne
påvirke andre kvinders liv,
påvirke andre kvinders liv,
01:18
how they would become role models
for their own community, did some agree.
for their own community, did some agree.
20
65841
4806
hvordan de ville blive rollemodeller for
deres samfund, gik nogle med til det.
deres samfund, gik nogle med til det.
01:22
Seeking a collaborative
and reflexive approach,
and reflexive approach,
21
70647
3181
I et ønske om en kollaborativ
og refleksiv tilgang
og refleksiv tilgang
01:26
I asked them to write
their own words and ideas
their own words and ideas
22
73828
3204
bad jeg dem skrive deres egne ord og idéer
01:29
on prints of their own images.
23
77032
2229
på udprintede versioner af deres billeder.
01:31
Those images were then shared
in some of the classrooms,
in some of the classrooms,
24
79261
2810
De billeder blev så delt
i nogle af klasselokalerne,
i nogle af klasselokalerne,
01:34
and worked to inspire
and motivate other women
and motivate other women
25
82071
3250
til inspiration og motivation
af andre kvinder,
af andre kvinder,
01:37
going through similar educations
and situations.
and situations.
26
85321
4095
der går igennem lignende
uddannelser og situationer.
uddannelser og situationer.
01:42
Aisha, a teacher from Yemen, wrote,
27
90273
2827
Aisha, en lærer fra Yemen, skrev:
01:45
"I sought education in order
to be independent
to be independent
28
93100
3134
"Jeg søgte uddannelse
for at blive uafhængig
for at blive uafhængig
01:48
and to not count on men with everything."
29
96234
2299
og ikke behøve mænd til at klare alt."
01:51
One of my first subjects
was Umm El-Saad from Egypt.
was Umm El-Saad from Egypt.
30
99663
3695
En af mine første motiver var
Umm El-Saad fra Egypten.
Umm El-Saad fra Egypten.
01:55
When we first met, she was
barely able to write her name.
barely able to write her name.
31
103358
3441
Da vi først mødtes, var hun knapt i stand
til at skrive sit navn.
til at skrive sit navn.
Hun deltog i et 9-måneders
læsefærdighedsprogram
læsefærdighedsprogram
01:58
She was attending
a nine-month literacy program
a nine-month literacy program
32
106799
2252
02:01
run by a local NGO in the Cairo suburbs.
33
109051
2949
drevet af en lokal NGO i Kairos forstæder.
02:04
Months later, she was joking
that her husband
that her husband
34
112000
2229
Måneder senere jokede hun,
at hendes mand
at hendes mand
02:06
had threatened to pull her
out of the classes,
out of the classes,
35
114229
2531
havde truet med at
tage hende ud af timerne,
tage hende ud af timerne,
02:08
as he found out that his now literate wife
36
116760
2229
da han opdagede, at hans
nu læsekyndige kone
nu læsekyndige kone
02:11
was going through his phone text messages.
37
118989
2788
gik gennem hans sms'er.
02:13
(Laughter)
38
121777
1460
Frække Umm El-Saad.
02:15
Naughty Umm El-Saad.
39
123237
1748
02:17
Of course, that's not why
Umm El-Saad joined the program.
Umm El-Saad joined the program.
40
124985
4154
Selvfølgelig var det ikke derfor,
hun deltog i programmet.
hun deltog i programmet.
02:21
I saw how she was longing to gain
control over her simple daily routines,
control over her simple daily routines,
41
129139
4716
Jeg så, hvordan hun længtes efter at få
kontrol over sine simple daglige rutiner,
kontrol over sine simple daglige rutiner,
02:26
small details that we take for granted,
42
133855
1909
små detaljer, vi tager for givet,
02:27
from counting money at the market
to helping her kids in homework.
to helping her kids in homework.
43
135764
4198
fra at tælle penge ved markedet
til at hjælpe sine børn med deres lektier.
til at hjælpe sine børn med deres lektier.
På trods af sin fattigdom og
sit samfunds mentalitet,
sit samfunds mentalitet,
02:32
Despite her poverty
and her community's mindset,
and her community's mindset,
44
139962
2995
02:35
which belittles women's education,
45
142957
2085
som nedgør uddannelse af kvinder,
02:37
Umm El-Saad, along with
her Egyptian classmates,
her Egyptian classmates,
46
145042
2726
var Umm El-Saad sammen
med sine egyptiske klassekammerater
med sine egyptiske klassekammerater
02:39
was eager to learn how to read and write.
47
147768
3227
ivrige efter at lære at læse og skrive.
02:44
In Tunisia, I met Asma,
48
152175
2554
I Tunesien mødte jeg Asma,
02:46
one of the four activist women
I interviewed.
I interviewed.
49
154729
3042
en af de fire kvindelige aktivister,
jeg interviewede.
jeg interviewede.
02:49
The secular bioengineering student
is quite active on social media.
is quite active on social media.
50
157771
3382
Den sekulære bioteknologiske studerende
er ret aktiv på de sociale medier.
er ret aktiv på de sociale medier.
02:54
Regarding her country, which treasured
what has been called the Arab Spring,
what has been called the Arab Spring,
51
162235
5682
Omkring sit land, som værdsatte det,
der er blevet kaldt det arabiske forår,
der er blevet kaldt det arabiske forår,
har hun sagt:
"Jeg har altid drømt
om at opdage en ny bakterie.
om at opdage en ny bakterie.
03:00
she said, "I've always dreamt
of discovering a new bacteria.
of discovering a new bacteria.
52
167917
2926
Nu, efter revolutionen, har vi
en ny hver evig eneste dag."
en ny hver evig eneste dag."
03:03
Now, after the revolution,
we have a new one every single day."
we have a new one every single day."
53
170843
3760
03:06
Asma was referring to the rise
of religious fundamentalism in the region,
of religious fundamentalism in the region,
54
174603
4576
Asma refererede til stigningen i
religiøs fanatisme i regionen,
religiøs fanatisme i regionen,
03:11
which is another obstacle
to women in particular.
to women in particular.
55
179179
3074
hvilket er endnu en forhindring
for kvinder især.
for kvinder især.
03:15
Out of all the women I met,
Fayza from Yemen affected me the most.
Fayza from Yemen affected me the most.
56
183363
4866
Af alle de kvinder, jeg mødte, var Fayza
fra Yemen den,der påvirkede mig mest.
fra Yemen den,der påvirkede mig mest.
03:20
Fayza was forced to drop out of school
at the age of eight when she was married.
at the age of eight when she was married.
57
188229
4885
Fayza blev tvunget til at droppe ud af
skolen af en alder af 8, da hun blev gift.
skolen af en alder af 8, da hun blev gift.
03:25
That marriage lasted for a year.
58
193114
3247
Det ægteskab holdt i et år.
03:28
At 14, she became the third wife
of a 60-year-old man,
of a 60-year-old man,
59
196361
3868
I en alder af 14 blev hun den
3. kone til en 60-årig mand,
3. kone til en 60-årig mand,
03:32
and by the time she was 18,
she was a divorced mother of three.
she was a divorced mother of three.
60
200229
4690
og da hun var 18, var hun
en fraskilt mor til tre.
en fraskilt mor til tre.
03:37
Despite her poverty,
61
204919
2471
På trods af sin fattigdom,
03:39
despite her social status as a divorcée
in an ultra-conservative society,
in an ultra-conservative society,
62
207390
5270
på trods af sin sociale status som
fraskilt i et ultra-konservativt samfund,
fraskilt i et ultra-konservativt samfund,
og på trods af sine forældres modstand
for at hun gik tilbage til skolen,
for at hun gik tilbage til skolen,
03:44
and despite the opposition of her parents
to her going back to school,
to her going back to school,
63
212660
3878
vidste Fayza, at den eneste måde for hende
at styre sit liv, var gennem uddannelse.
at styre sit liv, var gennem uddannelse.
03:48
Fayza knew that her only way
to control her life was through education.
to control her life was through education.
64
216538
5172
Hun er nu 26.
03:53
She is now 26.
65
221710
1770
Hun modtog et tilskud fra en lokal NGO
03:55
She received a grant from a local NGO
66
223480
2160
som støtte til sine business-studier
ved universitetet.
ved universitetet.
03:57
to fund her business studies
at the university.
at the university.
67
225640
2879
Hendes mål er at finde et job,
leje et sted at bo,
leje et sted at bo,
04:00
Her goal is to find a job,
rent a place to live in,
rent a place to live in,
68
228519
3460
04:04
and bring her kids back with her.
69
231979
2019
og tage sine børn med sig.
04:07
The Arab states are going through
tremendous change,
tremendous change,
70
235158
4297
De arabiske stater er ved at
gå gennem kolossale ændringer,
gå gennem kolossale ændringer,
04:11
and the struggles women face
are overwhelming.
are overwhelming.
71
239455
2761
og de kampe, kvinder må kæmpe,
er overvældende .
er overvældende .
04:14
Just like the women I photographed,
72
242216
2242
Ligesom kvinderne, jeg fotograferede,
04:16
I had to overcome many barriers
to becoming the photographer I am today,
to becoming the photographer I am today,
73
244458
4432
skulle jeg overkomme mange barrierer
for at blive den fotograf, jeg er i dag,
for at blive den fotograf, jeg er i dag,
04:21
many people along the way
telling me what I can and cannot do.
telling me what I can and cannot do.
74
248890
3747
mange folk, der undervejs fortalte mig,
hvad jeg kan og ikke kan gøre.
hvad jeg kan og ikke kan gøre.
04:25
Umm El-Saad, Asma and Fayza,
and many women across the Arab world,
and many women across the Arab world,
75
253387
5306
Umm El-Saad, Asma, Fayza og mange
andre kvinder i den arabiske verden
andre kvinder i den arabiske verden
04:30
show that it is possible
to overcome barriers to education,
to overcome barriers to education,
76
258693
3958
beviser at det er muligt at overkomme
barrierer mod uddannelse,
barrierer mod uddannelse,
04:34
which they know is the best means
to a better future.
to a better future.
77
262651
3269
som de ved, er det bedste middel
for at opnå en bedre fremtid.
for at opnå en bedre fremtid.
04:39
And here I would like to end
with a quote by Yasmine,
with a quote by Yasmine,
78
266830
3367
Og her vil jeg slutte af
med et citat af Yasmine,
med et citat af Yasmine,
en af de fire kvindelige aktivister,
jeg interviewede i Tunesien.
jeg interviewede i Tunesien.
04:42
one of the four activist women
I interviewed in Tunisia.
I interviewed in Tunisia.
79
270197
3266
04:45
Yasmine wrote,
80
273463
1571
Yasmine skrev:
04:47
"Question your convictions.
81
275034
2380
"Sæt spørgsmålstegn ved
dine overbevisninger.
dine overbevisninger.
04:49
Be who you to want to be,
not who they want you to be.
not who they want you to be.
82
277414
3742
Vær den, du gerne vil være,
ikke den, de vil have, du er.
ikke den, de vil have, du er.
04:53
Don't accept their enslavement,
for your mother birthed you free."
for your mother birthed you free."
83
281156
3576
Accepter ikke deres undertrykkelse,
for din mor fødte dig fri."
for din mor fødte dig fri."
Tak.
04:56
Thank you.
84
284732
2229
(Bifald)
04:59
(Applause)
85
286961
4065
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Laura Boushnak - PhotographerLaura Boushnak is a Kuwaiti-born Palestinian photographer whose work focuses on women, literacy and education reform in the Arab world.
Why you should listen
Boushnak's documentary project I Read I Write explores the barriers women face accessing education and the role of literacy in improving the lives of women in Egypt, Yemen, Kuwait, Jordan, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. For the project, Boushnak encouraged women to write their thoughts on prints of their portraits, engaging them directly in the artistic process. Boushnak’s images have been widely published, and her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world. She is a co-founder of Rawiya, a collective that brings together the work and experience of female photographers from the Middle East.
Laura Boushnak | Speaker | TED.com