Every so often, women reach me wanting to tell their stories. A few years ago, I set up a space for this called Yalla Feminists. In Arabic, the word yalla means come on, let’s go, move it, keep going — and so much more. The idea was to create a platform for those who have something to say, and not enough places — or not enough freedom — to say it. We all have a voice, but sometimes what we need is a microphone!
Recently a 43-year old woman from Jordan reached out to me wanting to share her story. Jordanian women are still fighting for equal rights — just like we are everywhere else. They face discrimination in the law and in the legal codes that determine what they can — and can’t— do. Their freedoms are limited, and their protections too few. Jordanian women need the permission of a male guardian to marry and to travel with their children. Additionally, they face all forms of violence against women. That’s true everywhere, too.