1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Hey, the Sanny and Samantha and welcome to Stephane. Never 2 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: told your protection of I Heart Radio. And we are 3 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: back with our Women Around the World series. I don't 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: know why I say that, like we've taken a break. 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: It's every week, but you know, here we are. But 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 1: you know what, it's been a bit of a rough 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: week for us in the United States, so we wanted 8 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: to take some time and find a moment to celebrate, 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: including the fact that we've been doing these weekly Women 10 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: Around the World series for a year and what two 11 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 1: or three months now? Yeah, yeah, I think you're right, 12 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: because I think it's March we started, right, we were 13 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,559 Speaker 1: like we were going to expand and we want to 14 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: go beyond and let's talk about women that we typically 15 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 1: don't talk about, or people who are film and we 16 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: just really want to celebrate what they're doing and what 17 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: they've been doing and then acknowledge their work and hopefully 18 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: bring some light to their work. And you know what, 19 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: it's it's been a joy to search out these people, right, 20 00:01:10,880 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: it has. I only hesitate because it was your amazing 21 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: idea to let my my love flourish and to find 22 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 1: fictional women who I want to talk about and I 23 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: think in my corner of the world they are not 24 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: unheard of, but I know for some people they might 25 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: be new to you. And I think that some of 26 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: them we've shown a light on have been kind of 27 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: rarer talked about characters. Some of them have been huge characters. 28 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: Um So I feel like I love it. It was 29 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: the next idea, thank you. But our experiences are vastly 30 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: different because I do usually have pretty easy access to information, 31 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: whether it's in my brain, are right, Wikipedia page, Star 32 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: Wars wiki or whatever. It is, Like, I can find stuff, 33 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: but you have a bit of a harder lifts. Well, 34 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: you know, coming in trying to find like, uh, specific 35 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: types of people who are doing this incredible work has 36 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: been interesting, especially because yes, when it comes to us media, 37 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: it's really hard to find more outward views. We are 38 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: very centric, which is sad for me, but you know, 39 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: it's been a good challenge. But I do say like, 40 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: I love that we have both the commendations of real 41 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 1: life people and heroes as well as fictional because the 42 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,320 Speaker 1: fictional are the representations that we really drastically need and 43 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: want and hope to see in real life, not necessarily 44 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 1: like space fighting. Maybe I don't know, maybe two d 45 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 1: yards down the road when we're far gone that exists, 46 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: but you know, like it is nice to see because 47 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 1: because it brings that level of for the longest, I'm 48 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: not having any of that representation for women in general, 49 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: and then for marginalized communities, and then just people who 50 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: identify as completely different and having these niche loves and lives. 51 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 1: And yes, you are a walking encyclopedia of these amazing characters. 52 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,079 Speaker 1: So I love that you bring that too, especially because 53 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: people the fan bases, they have an attachment that is 54 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: beyond they do and I speak as someone who does, yeah, 55 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: And I think it goes back to you. Like a 56 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: lot of stuff we've talked about that can range from 57 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: very kind of more serious things to very lighthearted things. 58 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: I think that's the power of good storytelling, is if 59 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: you can connect with somebody and that can be healing. 60 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: Like as I've said, for me, it was easier for 61 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: me to deal with trauma, my own trauma through a 62 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: fictional person, right, And that is powerful and that is 63 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: why this representation matters. But that's why I like, people 64 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 1: love these characters, um and they just resonate, and I 65 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: think that's really beautiful right. And on top of that, yes, 66 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: when we talk about these amazing people that have created 67 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: change or continue to create change, or continue to advocate 68 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: UH for for us as a community within UM this 69 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: marginalized being a woman, or being a person of color, 70 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: or being in the queer community or disabled, any of 71 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: those communities that bring it together and just really have 72 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: a moment to see heroes, true life heroes who is 73 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: passionate about their work. And I know not that I'm 74 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 1: one of them, but just working in a service industry 75 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: or social service field, it really is stressful and a 76 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: lot of pain and aches and most most of the 77 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:42,119 Speaker 1: times you rarely see the good. And so we wanted 78 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: to take this time to acknowledge the good that they 79 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: are doing UH and to acknowledge it worldwide because they 80 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 1: deserve that recognition while they're still with us UM, and 81 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: we don't want to wait too late to let them 82 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 1: know how amazing and how big their contribution truly is 83 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: and how we see it and we think them and 84 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: get them most flowers virtus. Yes, so much. Yes, And 85 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: when these hard times, especially when it feels like the 86 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: world is attacking and I want to say the world 87 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: to say, uh, the powers that be at this point 88 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: and gone those in powers seem to be attacking the 89 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: rights of women and film and queer and the marginalized 90 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: in general. It's hard to sometimes get to the good parts, 91 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: and we want these times to be the good parts 92 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,119 Speaker 1: and to recognize people are doing this work, and they've 93 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: been doing this work, and we have so many examples 94 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: of people doing this work, and we have generations coming 95 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: forward who are also doing this work and picking up 96 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: right where other people have left off. And it's gorgeous. Yeah, 97 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: And it's really really inspiring because it every every story 98 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: you bring on here, Smith, I feel like I'm always 99 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: kind of exhausted for them. Yeah, because it's hard. Like 100 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:04,880 Speaker 1: it's hard and often dangerous, and a lot of times 101 00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: there's some traumatic experience behind in their life story, are 102 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: multiple traumatic experiences in their life story, and it can 103 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: feel like I've done all this work and now it's 104 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 1: going backwards. But it does matter. It matters so much, 105 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: um and to have that strength of will. I'm just 106 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:41,200 Speaker 1: guys were recognizing it. Yes, we wanted to talk about 107 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: someone who has been and like we said, continues to 108 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: advocate for the marginalized communities around the world. As well 109 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: as for advocating for peace, which sometimes I forget, like, 110 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 1: oh yeah, it's just that general concept of peace which 111 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 1: is so out there. But we are celebrating the works 112 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,880 Speaker 1: of Shrine Sara of Sri Lanka Um and just a 113 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,679 Speaker 1: bit on her bio bography. Sor was born in Minar 114 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty nine with our Muslim family in a 115 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 1: neighborhood where Tumil's and Muslims resided together, but all that 116 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: would change after the violent death of a deer family 117 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: friend who was killed by a militant group that forced 118 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: many Muslim families out of the town. In n and 119 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: her family were forced to flee along with seventy five 120 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: thousand other Muslims when war hit their community. Uh Sor 121 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: and her family were forced to stay at a refugee 122 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: camps with other displaced families, and at the refugee camp, 123 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: she joined her father, who set up a community organization 124 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: to assist other refugees. He helped raise funds and also 125 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: helped teach Saroor the different strategies to organizing grassroots efforts. 126 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: At the age of twenty one, her father had died 127 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: um leaving her to take up his leadership role and 128 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: support her family by getting a job as a stockbroker, 129 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: but she would soon continue her advocacy on a larger scale. 130 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: So Roora completed her education at the University of Colombo 131 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: in which included feminist studies by the way Um, and 132 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: soon began her career and advocating for peace and working 133 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: of the rights of all in her community. Upon returning 134 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: to her home, Sor started working with women's rights activists 135 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: in her community who were seeking the rights to education 136 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,800 Speaker 1: as well as the simple human rights in general. She 137 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: soon started the Manar Women's Development Federation, which started her 138 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,239 Speaker 1: path to becoming a quote defender of women's rights. According 139 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: to her interview with You and Women dot org, and 140 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 1: that was only the beginning. After watching countless women disappear 141 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: and struggle during this time, she noticed that the women's 142 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: activist group she worked with starts, slow down and essentially disappear. 143 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: So she began the Women's Action Network or the w 144 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: a N in two thousand and nine. As it is 145 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: written for a Shoka dot Org, which is a fellow 146 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:44,680 Speaker 1: of she first started it quote recognizing the high possibility 147 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: of a dying movement, Sharine is creating the next generation 148 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 1: of young women leaders from representing all identities Muslim, Tamil, 149 00:08:52,679 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: Sinnalese that are working together to take the women's movement 150 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: in Sri Lanka from a mere survival mode to the 151 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: next level of advocating a larger women's rights. Yes uh 152 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: Siroa gathered nine women's collective throughout the country to help 153 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,679 Speaker 1: provide platforms, mentors, and to address women's issues across the nation. 154 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: And w a N quote not only firefights individual cases 155 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: against traditional women's issue like domestic violence and war related 156 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: issues like enforced disappearance and resettlement, but also advocates at 157 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: a national and international level for policy reforms. W a 158 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 1: N is located in Sri Lanka and is a quote 159 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: collective of women's groups that empowers and advocates for women 160 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: and women's survivors of war, violence and other injustices and 161 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,440 Speaker 1: with the efforts the organizations have made. One of the 162 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: big proponents to the organizations is to teach and mentor 163 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: young activists to become leaders themselves. So Roor is a 164 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: fierce advocate in including young women and their organizations and 165 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: activism so they are quote always aware of the state 166 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: of human rights in their country and take up these 167 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 1: issues when they grow up. And with that, she also 168 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: pushes to empower survivors as well, and in You and 169 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 1: in reviews, or says, a key principle that we abide 170 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: by is not to take up the place of survivors 171 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 1: or to speak on their behalf, but to empower them 172 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: in their own struggle for justice, and to help them 173 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: only if there is a space to do so, and 174 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: if they want us to. Our intent is not to 175 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: build an organization, but a women's rights movement, and it 176 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 1: is our strong belief that is only by survivors coming 177 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 1: together that strong movements are birth. We do not own 178 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: the movements, we do not hold onto them, and we 179 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,840 Speaker 1: certainly do not take credit for them. This makes Women's 180 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: Action Network a proud collective of women with their own 181 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: story interwoven with the issues of women in a postwar context, 182 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 1: along with their experiences of resistance and aspirations for the future. Yeah. 183 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 1: I love that. I love that whole idea in general. 184 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: Of course, she as being actually from Sri Lanka during 185 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: the war times as well as being refugee, understands the 186 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: power it is to allow for the survivors to do 187 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 1: it on their own pace. And I think that's overall 188 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: for anybody who's gone through any type of trauma, and 189 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: she makes to hold she makes sure to hold did 190 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: that in her policies and in her work as an activist, 191 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: and that's something we need to remember. And her work 192 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: has drawn of course, a lot of accolades and recognitions, 193 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 1: including the two thousand eight Voices of Courage Award from 194 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,560 Speaker 1: the International Rescue Committees Women's Refugee Commission in her work 195 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,319 Speaker 1: for the internally Displaced Women, the two thousand and eleven 196 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:21,599 Speaker 1: and Peace Award, the twenty seventeen Franco German Prize for 197 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: the Human Rights and the Rule of Land, and in 198 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: this that same year became the Ashoka Fellow that we 199 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: talked about earlier, which we've we've mentioned a few Shoka Fellows, 200 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 1: so and she was also featured in a two thousand 201 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:38,239 Speaker 1: four documentary film called Leading the Way to Peace Women Peacemakers. 202 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, thank you so much, so or for your 203 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: amazing work and just seeing her being recognized and continuing 204 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: in this fight is so powerful. It is, and I 205 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: think we've seen a lot we being symanthanized specifically, but 206 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: in a larger scales well, the power of women in 207 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,839 Speaker 1: these organizations, in these activist roles, and in government, and 208 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: how that it's so important, and how including voices of 209 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,040 Speaker 1: people who are going to be most impacted or people 210 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: who have long been ignored UH is incredibly vital to 211 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:17,479 Speaker 1: building these healthier societies. So thank you so much, flowers 212 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 1: to you. We look forward to seeing what else you accomplish. 213 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: And yeah, as always, if you have any suggestions of 214 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: people or organizations we should shout out in these segments, 215 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,360 Speaker 1: please let us know. You can emails at Stephanie your Mom, 216 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: Stuff that I Hurt mea dot com. You can pat 217 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: us on Twitter at mom Stuff podcast or on Instagram 218 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: and stuff What Never Told You. Thanks it's always to 219 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 1: our super producer Christina, an amazing woman as well. M 220 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,679 Speaker 1: and thanks to you for listening stuff on ever told 221 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: his protection of I Heart Radio. For more, podcast from 222 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: my Heart Radio is the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or 223 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: reveryl listen to your favorite shows