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Jordan: Art, Activism, and Empowerment – In conversation with Laila Ajjawi

November 26, 2016 By Correspondent

Minying Huang, Amman, Jordan, SSH Blog Correspondent

Laila Ajjawi is a renowned Palestinian graffiti artist and activist living in Irbid, Jordan, working to help empower women and communities of refugees. Through her artwork, she seeks to highlight discrimination, navigate Palestinian identities, deconstruct gender ideology, and reclaim the largely male-dominated Jordanian public space. By placing women at the centre of her pieces and celebrating female potential in all facets of life, she is challenging patriarchal attitudes and changing social perceptions.

This is my interview with her.

Have there been difficulties? Have you faced any opposition or resistance, or has the feedback been overwhelmingly positive and supportive?

Sometimes I will get positive feedback, even during the painting process. Passers-by will give compliments; some try to help. A few respond negatively and there is always criticism! But I’m always friendly because I don’t need enemies, especially when there’s the constant risk that someone will take down my art, maybe within an hour of me finishing.

Common themes found in your work include: freedom and oppression, the stigmatisation of refugees, the role of women in society, cultures of silence, and humanity’s ability to transcend boundaries. Is Jordanian society responsive to the messages you are hoping to convey?

Most of it relates to how people see themselves from the inside, the invisible boundaries and stereotypes that people impose on themselves. In my country, these sorts of feelings limit your vision and, by extension, your achievements, because from a young age society is dictating what you can and can’t do, what you should and shouldn’t do, depending on your gender, your age, where you live, or where you come from… I can’t say that all of Jordanian society suffers from gender-based violence… and, to varying extents and in varying degrees, all societies suffer the same problems. But we cannot merely rely on statistics as, for example, many do not report violence. There are so many problems, so many crimes against humanity, that go unheard of, unpunished, and unseen.

Your work is bold, brave, and powerful, rich with imagery and symbolism. Can you detail your creative process? What inspires you to create?

The key is always the location, no matter what my chosen subject is. I will always have a look around the surrounding area and talk to local people of all ages and genders. I call this the scouting process and it’s very important to me.Usually, I have the sketch ready in advance, completed in a moment of inspiration. I then have to scout out different locations to determine a good spot that attracts a lot of people. Once I’ve found my location, I will chat with the site owner, among others. At this point, I might rethink my original ideas and revise the sketch completely! This is followed by a quick draft on the wall after which the regular painting process begins. The finishing touches are the details.

Do you think all art is political in some capacity? Would you say that artists have a responsibility to try and effect change in their communities?

Not all art, surely. You know, cavemen used to document their hunting journeys through art… and it’s since developed into a tool to express an array of feelings and thoughts, some of which are political. As for an artist’s responsibility, it really varies from artist to artist. Factors to consider include: background, environment, level of self-education (sometimes level of formal education), level of general awareness, inherited and personal notions of responsibility, and one’s relationship with their surroundings and the wider world. Each artist sees the world from a distinctly unique perspective, and their experiences will shape – and be reflected in – their artwork. Some create art merely for fun; some view art as a means of self-expression; others believe themselves to be messengers of peace, for example.

Can you share one or two defining experiences that have shaped your values? How has your life influenced your art?

One defining moment was when I noticed how visually impactful graffiti can be, how it transforms the spaces it occupies. Graffiti is a great tactic to use when you want to convey a message, especially in social issue campaigns, as its presence in public spaces means that your thoughts will be able to reach more people and influence the public mind. The realization that graffiti perfectly combines art and activism then inspired me to take it to the next level, gain more experience, and learn more about social activism and the role art has to play. I have a very strong sense of responsibility, social and otherwise, which ties into why I do what I do.

Maybe this is because I’ve been brought up in a good family where everyone works so hard simply to be able to afford basic necessities and where getting an education was the main priority. Living in a refugee camp my entire life wasn’t easy. My family literally started from zero. My parents had no bank accounts, no land, no property. They were always working hard to keep the family afloat; and so, being the oldest, I had to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. When I graduated, I worked so many different jobs so as to become financially independent, pay back my loans, and help supplement the family income. I studied science – and I do love science – as I couldn’t afford to study art. I had to teach myself through university library visits and would go to art professors for guidance.

How did you get into graffiti? What about it speaks to you over other art forms?

The cornerstone of my graffiti journey was participating, for the first time in my life, in a regional art festival, organized by Women on Walls (WOW). This event took place in the capital of Amman, just over an hour away from my city of Irbid, and gave me the chance to step outside my community and meet other artists who were working with different forms and materials.Prior to that, I had experimented within the walls of Irbid Refugee Camp, where I had used spray colours to depict something relating to the resistance in occupied Palestine. I wanted to build on this experience further by painting a large mural, drawing on watercolour art for inspiration. It was so challenging and I think I must have spent two days just staring at the wall before actually starting the piece.

For some reason I lost all sense of time and my surroundings; I was solely focused on the wall, the art, the steadiness of my hand. I was thrilled to discover just how fast I could work, how quick I was to adapt to this new medium. It was exciting to know I was just as capable of working to such a large scale as I was of drawing on regular A4 paper. I felt such passion in that moment. In other words, graffiti gave me such a high! And when I finished, I felt as though something within me had been set free and cast onto that wall.

Thank you for shedding light on the many challenges and injustices women encounter in their daily lives, from gender-based violence enshrined within a rigid honour code to limited access to education. What are the existing social and legal obstacles to progress here in Jordan and the Middle East where women’s issues are concerned?

Some obstacles to progress I see in this community, as in other communities, are: poverty, unemployment, social injustice, government corruption, unequal access to education, work, and decent services. I would add that these are challenges and injustices people of all genders are facing. It’s natural to expect more problems within communities that struggle to meet basic needs, in which people are unable to secure a good income (both in terms of salary and the nature of the work).Law is another crucial issue. Here in Jordan, we have some laws that divide such communities, directly and indirectly, whereby one side is given more power than another which results in more injustice for victims.

You have worked with enormously impactful organisations and initiatives such as Women on Walls, ActionAid ARI (Arab Regional Initiative), and SheFighter. Can you tell us a little bit about these projects?

All the above organizations share similar ideas as regards empowering women in society at large. They invited me to work with them, which is an honour and shows me that my work and my message have been met with recognition.

Women are breaking the silence, fighting for their rights, and striving to assume control of their own lives. Do you feel that now more than ever this region is ready for – and open to – a real shift in attitudes and behaviour?

Not all the initiatives are smart and practical. A lot of them target, and operate within, areas where women can, for the most part, do whatever they want. They don’t target the more closed communities beyond the capital city and cosmopolitan coastal areas. But it’s in these closed communities that women suffer the most. A lot of the activism is just talk, whether about the problems or the victims, but few are taking active steps to tackle the root of the problem, which is what I’m trying to do. By filling the streets with images of strong, empowered women, I’m trying to change public perceptions and attitudes.A small organisation that, in my opinion, is doing meaningful work in the field of female empowerment is IRC Jordan (International Rescue Committee).

Is feminism considered a dirty word in the Arab world?

Yes, because there are those who misunderstand the actual meaning of the word. Feminists have a reputation for hating men here. And some do act out aggressively against society, make generalisations, and talk about men as if they were monsters, wanting female superiority, and breaking with the idea that men and women each hold up half the sky. Meanwhile, there are feminists, who understand the true meaning of feminism, working to empower women in poor communities; they are setting up start-up projects, encouraging women to work, and promoting self-development. There are feminists campaigning for equality to be enshrined in law; they are campaigning for fairer salaries in the private sector, for example, and rallying against the unjust laws concerning honour killings, citizenship, and nationality.

At this point in time, what are your goals? What are your personal and professional aspirations?

I need to break down the stereotypes people around the world have of Arab girls, both Muslim and non-Muslim, and of the Arab region in general.I also want to show young people that they have the power to start something great, to effect change from within. I want them to believe in themselves.

What are you working on at the moment? Do you have any upcoming projects Stop Street Harassment readers should keep an eye out for?

I’m still undecided as I left my job and got married with a plan to leave the country and move to Saudi Arabia! Before I leave, I hope to gift a few more graffiti pieces to my community. I have so many unfinished projects that I will continue to work on in Saudi Arabia, one of which is a science-fiction novel. I’m also designing an art studio for myself, a much-needed space in which I can figure out what my next big move is.

You can keep up-to-date with Laila and her work on Facebook, Instagram @lailanajjawi, and Twitter @Laila_Ajjawi.

Minying is a 20-year-old student from Cambridge, England. She is studying for a BA in Spanish and Arabic at Oxford University and spent the last academic year living in Amman, Jordan. You can find her on Twitter @minyingh, Instagram @minyingh, and Facebook @minyinghuangpoetry.

Canada: How to Make Cities more Inclusive and Safe for Women (Part II)

November 19, 2016 By Correspondent

A talk with Kathryn Travers from Women in Cities International about the principles of design that shape our perception of the places we live in.

Alexandra Jurecko, Montreal, Canada, SSH Blog Correspondent

The first part of my interview with Kathryn Travers from Women in Cities International (WICI) revolved around everyday street harassment in Montreal and other urban centers and the culture that enables it. This second part sets out to explore how design influences the ways in which we perceive our surroundings and how urban development could make our cities more inclusive and safe for everyone.

Design can be a powerful factor in shaping our perception of public space. Just in thinking about my own neighbourhood in Montreal, I immediately know which places feel open and comfortable, and which routes I like to avoid at night. “There are important gender gaps that should be addressed in cities”, says Kathryn.

When it comes to implementing design principles to create safer public spaces for women, “Montreal is actually kind of a pioneering city,” Kathryn points out. Six of the seven principles of design employed by WICI to conduct women’s safety audits across the world have originated from the Femmes et Ville program conducted by the City of Montreal in the 1990s.

These principles were developed by the City of Montreal to create a standard for gender-inclusive urban planning. “One of the first applications of these principles of design were the Montreal metro station exits”, explains Kathryn. “Before, you would walk up from the metro and be in this closed brick box. You never knew what was on the other side.” By implementing the first principle of design, “See and be seen”, the city redesigned the exits to be more open, with window fronts for better visibility.

The principles furthermore include instructions on how to ensure the ability to “Hear and be heard”, to “Get away and get help”, to “Know where you are and where you are going”, to “Live in a clean and welcoming environment”, and lastly, to “Work together” through community participation and social activities. Their work on the Creating safer Communities for Marginalized Women and Everyone project (2007-2011) inspired WICI to add a seventh principle of design, the principle of “Accessibility and Inclusion”.

WICI’s approach is based on cooperation with local groups: “These groups already have an established relationship of trust with local women.” In doing so, WICI gives local groups the tools to document their experiences while allowing them to develop their own ideas and recommendations for change. “We never come with solutions. We don’t have solutions,” Kathryn stresses.

By reaching out to those who are most excluded within their own communities, WICI strives to make cities more inclusive for everyone. “If we can be more inclusive now as we are working to address these gender gaps”, Kathryn explains, “then our cities will be able to better respond to the diverse needs of women and men who live there. This is how we build more inclusive cities.”

One such project brought WICI together with women from the association of Action de femmes handicapées in Montreal. In their work together they focused on the relocation of a paratransit stop at a Montreal university. “The paratransit stop was in the loading dock in the back of the university. These women who are wheelchair-dependent had to wait in the loading zone after classes at night; it made no sense,” remembers Kathryn. Once a local group has identified a problem, WICI supports their cause by establishing channels of communications to municipal or state-level governments. “We lobbied to move the stop across the street where there was already a bus stop and a space to wait with proper lighting. It took a lot of time but we eventually got it. It was a really significant achievement.”

In focusing on gender equality and women’s participation in urban development, WICI highlights how design influences the ways in which we move through public space. Design can force us to experience exclusion, or make us feel unsafe. Or, in adhering to basic principles of design, urban planning can become a powerful tool in making our cities safer and more accessible for everyone.

Alexandra is a freelance writer and recent graduate of Heidelberg University in Germany, where she earned a BA in South Asian Studies and English Literature. Having moved across the pond to live and work in Montreal, she now focuses on refreshing her French skills while volunteering her time to various community-outreach programs. You can follow her on twitter @alexjurecko.

Even Olympic Runners Face Street Harassment

November 14, 2016 By HKearl

An October 2016 Runner’s World survey shows that street harassment is a problem for many, many women (and a few men). I wrote about this problem in a new article for TIME Magazine’s MOTTO section – read it here.

As part of my research for the article, I interviewed U.S. Olympian (x2) Kara Goucher and Runner’s World editor Meghan Kita, who oversaw the survey. I could only include a small portion of their interviews in the article, but because I thought they had many important things to say, they gave me permission to print more of their interviews here.

KARA GOUCHER:

Photo by Stewart Dawson, via Flickr — *Kara Goucher in the 2009 Boston Marathon. Photo by Stewart Dawson, via CC on Flickr*

First up is Kara Goucher, who in addition to running in two Olympics, has achievements that include: winning a NCAA Cross Country championship in 2000, winning the bronze medal in the 10,000m at the IAAF World Championships in 2007, and having the fastest-ever marathon debut for a woman in the world with 2:25:53 in New York City in 2008.

I falsely assumed that she must have a crew of people running with her and therefore, perhaps rarely or never experienced street harassment. I was wrong. Just like every other female runner I know, she’s faced harassment. Safety concerns impact her training regiment.

HOLLY: How old were you when you first began running?

KARA: I ran my first race at age 6, but started organized running at age 12.

HOLLY: Have you faced sexual harassment and/or had safety concerns during your running career?

KARA: Cat calls and whistles are common place. There have been times in my life where I actually felt threatened. I think that most women can relate to this.

HOLLY: What’s one specific example of sexual harassment you’ve experienced while running? How did it make you feel? What did you do when it happened?

KARA: The first time I felt truly scared was in 2000. Adam and I had qualified for the finals in the 5000 meters at the Olympic Trials that were held in Sacramento. We, along with our coach, had headed to Lake Tahoe to get away for a few days before the final. We arrived in Lake Tahoe as the sun was setting. We set off for our runs and Adam quickly ran away from me. A few minutes later a truck came along side me with two men inside. They started whistling and calling out to me. I turned down a road and started running as fast as I could. They drove off. But a few blocks later they turned onto the road I was on and started yelling out to me, harassing things. I was terrified. I sprinted back to our hotel and didn’t finish my run. That night I had nightmares about it. I have been followed running since, but that first time really stands out as the time I realized I was very vulnerable when I was out running alone.

HOLLY: Has sexual harassment and/or safety concerns affected your running career in any way? If so, how?

KARA: Absolutely. I am nervous when I run before sun up or after sun down. I try to follow paths that are lit or are naturally busier with other runners. I used to run on a beautiful single track trail in Portland, OR, until my coach informed me that his wife was chased by a man running there. I was too frightened to go back on my own. I realized just how easy it would be for someone to attack me. I try to not let it control my life, but it does affect choices I make in training.

HOLLY: Is there anything else you want to say on the topic?

KARA: Running makes me feel strong and capable so I don’t like the way the vulnerability can take that from me. Running is the greatest joy in my life aside from my personal relationships. I’m not going to let anyone take that from me.

MEGHAN KITA:

Meghan Kita, a marathoner, has worked as an editor at Runner’s World for five years. After three women runners in three different states were murdered, a blog post about it on the Runners World website became the site’s most popular post to date. Meghan followed it up with a post, “The Problem is Not Women Running Alone,” which also generated a lot of discussion. From there, she spearheaded a survey about runner safety and street harassment, the first of its kind. Here is my interview with her:

HOLLY: When did you first begin running?

MEGHAN: In 2002, 14 years ago. I was in high school and joined the track team to get in shape for soccer. I liked it so much that I ran cross country in the fall instead.

HOLLY: What has been your experience with street harassment while running?

MEGHAN: It doesn’t happen that often and I marked “sometimes” in the survey. Maybe I’ll hear a honk per month. Partially this is because I run early in the morning. If it happens, it usually is when I’m running at lunch near work. It happens often enough that it’s irritating. And occasionally it has been more serve. I was followed twice one year. I was followed by someone in a car both times. I’m not totally clear they were following me but they were acting weird and I couldn’t figure out any other reason for their behavior. Both times I just got out of there. I’ve faced enough creepy behavior to be on high alert.

HOLLY: Has street harassment or general safety concerns affected your running career?

MEGHAN: Yes. I bought pepper spray after the 1^st incident of following. I don’t carry it all the time, but I’ll carry it if I’m running early in the morning in parks when not that many people are around. Parks make me nervous as there’s not a quick way to get out. The second time I was followed, I didn’t have it as I didn’t think I was in danger. It just goes to show that harassment can happen anywhere and at any time and when you’re expecting it, it may not happen and vice versa. It’s unpredictable.

HOLLY: What are your thoughts on how street harassment and safety concerns cause most women to have different running experiences from men?

MEGHAN: Harassment feeds into pre-existing safety concerns. Every woman has been raised to think something bad can happen just because you’re a woman and may be an easier target, sexual violence is more of a likelihood for you. You’re already on high alert for that and street harassment reinforces that you’re vulnerable etc. Harassment keeps safety in the forefront of women’s mind even though it usually doesn’t lead to anything beyond annoyance.

It keeps us on high alert in a way that I don’t think men’s experience. There are several running routes men have recommended and I’ll spend the entire time thinking, there are woods on left and river on the right and the best way to get off the trail is 3 miles ahead, how is this fun? What if someone pops out and I would have to out run them? This thinking hinders my enjoyment of remote areas that men seem to enjoy running. I wish it wasn’t that way but it is self-preservation. You hear terrible stories, see men reacting badly and why wouldn’t you have your guard up?

Many thanks to Kara and Meghan for sharing their stories. Thank you also to Meghan for spearheading the survey. Thank you to Runner’s World for taking the issue seriously. And thank you to our ally and friend Michelle Hamilton for writing an article about street harassment and the survey in the December issue of Runner’s World. It will be on newsstands soon!

You can also listen to a Runner’s World Podcast episode about this issue + share your stories with #HarassedMidRun.

BASH Minneapolis

May 30, 2016 By HKearl

Twyla is a student at South High School in Minneapolis, MN. For her humanities finals she did a “ripple effect” project where she choose something that’s important to her and do something to make a difference about it. She chose sexual harassment in Minneapolis, MN. Her group and she created an informational website about how street harassment effects their community and ways to stop it.

#WEcount: Reclaiming our Streets for Women

May 27, 2016 By HKearl

The Women’s Equality Party is a political party that was founded last year in the UK. One of their agendas is addressing violence against women, including street harassment. Last week I had the honor to Skype with one of their co-founders and their Head of Policy & Partnerships, Halla Gunnarsdóttir. We brainstormed possible policy solutions they could suggest or campaigns they could run.

Fortunately, the new mayor of London Sadiq Khan identified the issue in his campaign, specifically on public transit, saying: “Women face specific challenges on our transport network that are not currently being addressed.” He promised, “As mayor I will take these problems seriously.”

And the Women’s Equality Party has already taken measures to begin to address the issue. The have campaign called #WEcount: Reclaiming Our Streets for Women. Here’s info from their website, including how you can participate:

“WE are now extending #WEcount across the UK so that women right across the country can make their voices heard and say: this must stop,” said Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party.

“WE are asking our supporters to post photos of their hands on social media with the hashtag #WEcount, showing a postcode or place where they have experienced sexual harassment, assault or verbal abuse. Alternatively, they can email their photos to WEcount@womensequality.emailnb.com to be posted anonymously.”

The campaign also includes a film featuring Pavan Amara, who built the “My Body Back” project after being attacked and has helped hundreds of women who have been assaulted to reclaim their lives.

Women can mark their experiences on an interactive map of the UK (wemap.org) by dropping a Google-maps-style pin. In London, this map will be on display for the week on a dedicated billboard at Westfield shopping centre, Shepherd’s Bush.

And in a digital first, the campaign will be brought to life for Londoners with the use of a new visual browsing app, BlippAR.

WE have painted 10 physical markers – which show the Google maps pin transformed into an exclamation mark – at locations around the capital, from the Houses of Parliament to Parliament Hill. People who ‘Blipp’ the mark will receive a host of content and information about the campaign, as well as details of what support is available.

Walker added: “An estimated 400,000 sexual offences against women occur in the UK each year. Despite their frequency, the majority of these incidents are unreported, and women are left feeling unsafe and unable to walk without fear on their own streets. WE want to reclaim our streets.”

“WE are the only party who are making the sexual abuse and harassment of women a political priority. WE will show that women right across the UK are affected by this every day – and that every one of us counts.”

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