Seventy Years . . .

Seventy years of life is cause for a celebration. Yet, many women my age are finding it to be a very daunting threshold. In fact, I am discovering that it is a very liberating time of life. Being an Arab woman living in the United States, I am realizing even more the exhilarating effects of that freedom. No doubt women of my era and all across this world have faced numerous challenges. We have surmounted many of those, and much more remain to be overcome. However, being an Arab woman has made my ground-breaking existence on so many different levels all the more challenging. In retrospect, and notwithstanding the heartaches, it makes it very worthwhile. Recently, Gloria Steinem when asked about feminism, and whether the women’s movement had succeeded or failed, responded that it will take a century for the effects of that revolution to be incorporated into all levels of society. A Century! That makes me even prouder to have been part of that revolution and to have played my very small role in effecting change. As I look around at my daughters and their contemporaries I am delighted to see what they have achieved, and I know that without my efforts and the efforts of Arab women like me, they would have been left behind as so many of their sisters in the Arab world are!

Living in the United States has had its many challenges. This country is immense and its population is very diverse. It has fantastic aspects and it can also drive a person nuts! It can be charming, amusing, bewildering and maddening. It is, at the end of the day, the New World: young, inexperienced, rich, arrogant, exuberant, innovative and malleable. The rest of the world by comparison seems to be old, grumpy, bored and set in its ways – no wonder that the young across the globe look to America!

At seventy, I realize that I did not see all the changes that I had hoped for come to fruition. Some did, of course. I also realize that I cannot change this chaotic world we all live in as much as I would like to, and that whilst sometimes I am so pessimistic about the future, at others I seem to be quite hopeful. However, I have always been an opinionated woman and maybe it’s just time for me, before I gracefully – and I do hope to do it gracefully! – exit the stage, to simply air out my opinions and share some of my experiences. Maybe one person, or two, or maybe more, will find an idea in there that they might relate to and know that they are not alone; or be inspired to do something that might bring on a positive change and, perhaps, in the fast-paced world of the younger generation, they can effect some of those changes more rapidly and more effectively! Perhaps!

Update on December of 2020: If Gloria Steinem is right – and I believe that she is – then 50 years have passed, and there’s fifty more to go! I will definitely not be around, but for those who will be: Hang In There!

Update on June 30, 2024: Sadly and Unfortunately, there are many women all across the world being daily murdered by their partners, gangs, or other violent acts. There are many being trafficked. Many others are being subjected to bullying, abuse and online crimes. We are not in a good place across the world and it pains me that rather than promoting Progressive Regulations we are seeing many countries promoting Repressive Agendas. It is disheartening, but more reason to continue demanding Equality and Humanity for All! And, yes, hang in there!

Update on February 28, 2025: As I look across the World I am finding that the situation of Women seems to be getting worse rather than better. Of course, one reason is that Technology and Social Media Platforms, plus Investigative Journalists with Integrity are Raising Our Awareness nowadays more than ever. The other reason is that the more Wars, Famines and Unsettling Conditions that Occur the higher the price that Women seem to be paying. The Dire Situations that many Women are finding themselves in are not only in nations where there are unsettling conditions, but are occurring in these United States and European Nations as well where we had all believed that Women had overcome Rape, Abuse, Disrespect, Inequality, Patriarchal Dominance and Subjugation. Not so, sadly! While many Women have made great strides, we are finding that there is a concerted effort by Radical Political, Cultural and Religious Ideologies to take back the gains that have been achieved and to replace those with Depriving Women of Independence and “put us back in our place” so to speak! What will Women do about that? Give Up, or Fight Back? I do not know, but what I do know is that our situation at this moment is not Continuing the Trajectory towards Equality and Freedom that Women like Gloria Steinem and so many others fought long and hard for! This is very disconcerting and worrisome! Moreover, Rape, Abuse and Subjugation are happening to many, many Boys and Men which is also Unacceptable. We are in a Turbulent, Chaotic Period Of Human History Politically, Culturally, Socially and on so many other levels, and we will All Be Suffering the Repercussions of that! I wish that I could impart a more positive outlook, but this is where we sadly are! Hang in there!