She has something to say, but she isn’t safe to say it…

Every so often, women reach me wanting to tell their stories. A few years ago, I set up a space for this called <a href="https://yallafeminists.home.blog/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Yalla Feminists</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/18/elephant-in-the-room-jordanian-womens-struggle-for-rights" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">still fighting</a> 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 t<a href="https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/jordan#49dda6" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">o marry and to travel with their children</a>. Additionally, they face all forms of violence against women. That’s true everywhere, too. <a href="https://linaabirafeh.medium.com/she-has-something-to-say-but-she-isnt-safe-to-say-it-f8386e8ee4ca">Website</a>