Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy | Samera Al-Ali, director of the Iraqi women's organization, gestures as she talks about...... read more read more
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By Sgt. 1st Class Kerensa Hardy
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
CAMP STRIKER, Iraq – Several Iraqi female professionals sat down with U.S. female Soldiers to talk about the future of women in Iraq, Feb. 12, at the Radwaniyah Palace Complex Civil Military Operations Center.
As part of a Task Force Marne initiative, Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) are taking steps to establish a dialogue with Iraqi women and learn what can be done to improve their overall condition. A primary goal is to better understand the women of Iraq and generate ideas to help them achieve personal and professional goals.
There are obvious needs that affect both genders and all economic classes – shortages of potable water, electricity, teachers and medical care. The group of professional women had one suggestion to remedy some of those problems.
"Our culture should provide these women with school or training to help them have a good life in the future," said Samera Al-Ali, head of Iraqi women's organization. She said by learning a vocational or technical skill, women would become more confident.
A point raised during the meeting was that needs of women differ based on whether they live in a city or in a village in a more rural area. One argument was that women in cities have more time on their hands to work than those who live in rural areas.
"We need to focus on helping the women who live in the cities," Samera said. "The women who live in the villages, in rural areas, already have jobs – they cook, clean, tend to the land and cows and take care of their homes and families."
Samera wants to start a vocational-technical center to teach women trades where they can earn money to help care for their families. "We can support these women by (making them) dependent on themselves and make contributions to the society," she said.
Perceived security in any area will play a role in whether or not women participate in training outside the home.
All the attendees at the meeting agreed that men must play an integral role in achieving change.
What will make a difference in this male-dominated society is for sheiks to lead by example by allowing their wives to participate in programs that are initiated, said Spc. Eman Palaez, an Arabic interpreter who works for 3rd BCT 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT). There are plans to host a forum for sheiks and tribal leaders of the community to explain the initiatives for Iraqi women and attempt to gain their support.
The Soldiers left the meeting armed with insight to use in future engagements with Iraqi women.
"It was a positive experience interacting with established bilingual, bicultural advisors in hopes of gaining knowledge and understanding to assist other Iraqi women with social and economic needs," said Capt. Martrell Gamble, the officer in charge of the women's outreach project for 3rd BCT, 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT).
Female service members plan to meet with Iraqi women in Mahmudiyah and Lutifiyah within the next week.
"We would like the opportunity to solicit and better (meet) the needs of the local Iraqi women in the Mahmudiyah Qada," Gamble said.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2008 16:08 |
| Story ID: | 16401 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 506 |
| Downloads: | 485 |
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