I have a friend from Iran.
She’s been living in Houston since I met her while attending The
University of Houston, back around 2002.
I was working on my MBA, she was studying Information Systems. She completed her Doctoral Studies, and is
now a professor at St. Thomas University in Houston. To me, she’s a great example of why we should
all seek to empower women.
Recently, I visited Saudi Arabia for a few days. On my return, I emailed “Dr. Elham” (I love calling her that) and told her about my
trip. I contrasted the lack of
opportunity for Saudi women with those available to her here in the USA. Saudi women are only just now being allowed
to drive cars. They still do not leave
home without the company of a male member of the family. And covered from head to toe, all you see of
them, are their eyes.
Hearing my reactions, Elham said she didn’t realize that I
was such a” feminist”. Well, maybe I didn’t realize it myself. I have sons, no daughters, so maybe there are
things about empowering women that just never really occurred to me. But as I think about how many women and girls
there are in my immediate family, I’m thinking maybe I should shift my
priorities.
The Women in my life:
Mom
A great Step-Mom
a Mother-in-Law
(world’s greatest, actually)
a dear, lovely
Wife
two Sisters (one
here, one gone)
two Sisters-in-Law
a new Daughter-in-Law
a Girl-friend-in-Law (if there is such a title)
five wonderful Nieces
one (cute!) grand-daughter
more than a dozen girl
cousins
several great female
friends
Go Girls !!
