The Step Up Chicago team hosted Egyptian fellow Marwa Mohssen as part of the U.S. State Department's Professional Fellows Program (PFP) in November 2017. Marwa connected with our staff and teens by sharing her experience as a Community Schools Field Supervisor for CARE International in Cairo, Egypt. Her insights on improving the education of Syrian refugees and empowering young women translated directly into my daily practice with Step Up teens. In February 2018, I was selected for the Reverse PFP Exchange as a US Fellow, where I traveled to Cairo to meet Egyptian social service leaders firsthand. On this International Women's Day, I reflect on my experience and question why the success of women and girls is such a surprise.
"You went where?"
Surprise (n.): something that makes a strong impression because it is so unexpected
Women all around the world, of all ages, are surprising themselves and surprising others. When I explained to friends and colleagues that I was missing Step Up programming to participate in a fellowship program in Egypt, the ubiquitous emotional response was shock and surprise. Maybe they thought I was taking a vacation to Wisconsin or attending a conference in St. Louis (both of which I value greatly), but they didn't expect me to be doing this. Part of me loves surprising others. One of the best summations of my character came from a grad school friend who pointed me out as "the unassuming one". Yet in reveling in this mystery-shock-surprise cycle, I can't help but question: Why is everyone so surprised by my achievements? Did they think where I was going was too far? Too risky? Too difficult? Too different?
"I didn't know I had any talents"
While in Cairo, I met with local grassroots organizations, government agencies, international NGOS, and religious leaders. I visited Marwa's community school and bonded with several girls who were learning handicrafts such as knitting and sewing. They presented their work with pride. One tied a bracelet she made around my wrist. Another pulled me into a circle and taught me the "Watermelon" game without speaking a word of English (it involves a lot of slurping noises). I also visited a local development program called Future Eve, which aims to bring women's labor from the informal economy to the formal economy. It's a collective of women who tapped into the skills they have from daily household chores, like baking bread and sewing clothes, to make additional products to sell for profit. They were previously isolated in their own homes. Now, they join a community of women and contribute to society in new ways, receiving additional income to support their families in the meantime. One woman stood up to share her story and said, "I didn't know I had any talents." This is a sentiment I hear from my Step Up teens all the time. But when they're given a safe and brave space to try, their newfound skills bring more than tangible rewards. The women at Future Eve agreed: they have increased confidence, improved relationships, and better mental health.
Inspired, Not Surprised.
My aim is certainly not to downplay the great challenges women and girls face in reaching their full potential. It is still socially and politically dangerous in many places for women to reclaim power. We met a girl in Egypt, for example, who had to sneak behind her family's back to attend secondary school. However, being "surprised" by these acts of bravery sends the message that we never expected a woman or girl to be able to do such a thing. Let's shift our language to be "inspired" rather than "surprised." This shows we are using each another's success as fuel to keep the momentum going in our own unique way.
Inspire (v.): 1. to fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative; 2. to give rise to, bring about, motivate
Spoiler Alert: We're going places.
The reality is, women and girls are going places: geographically, professionally, personally, and politically. We are pushing boundaries and breaking assumptions. Syrian girls are leaving war zones to pursue an education. Egyptian women with no formal work experience are becoming financially self-sufficient by starting their own companies. And American girls from underserved communities across the US are graduating high school with the tools, resources, and people they need to secure their dream careers. Our achievements are becoming the norm rather than the exception. So while you may find yourself being less surprised by our success, you may instead find ways to be inspired by it. Oh, and you should definitely still celebrate it with us.
