Lucille Ball, Lily Tomlin, Mary Tyler Moore, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, Ellen Degeneres. All of these women are ridiculously funny. Thanks to Harvard-educated comedienne Sarah Haskins, audiences now have another name to add to that humorous list. 

Haskins is revolutionizing the way women watch television through her own unique show.  In “Target Women,” a segment of Current TV’s InfoMania, Haskins takes a closer look at commercials and shows aimed towards women. Her sarcastically simple tone always manages to point out the ridiculous nature of these female-targeted campaigns. Minus an angry vengeance towards popular culture, Haskins scrutinizes the fabric of mainstream media.  

In her most recent online clip, “Back 2 School,” Haskins adopts a tween persona as she plays with her “Miley Cyrus PSP” and wishes someone would “rock stare” her — if only she had enough “blingatude.”  Without making an angst-ridden attack on sparkly shoes and peppy, texting pre-pubescents, Haskins evokes the absurdity of seemingly normal commercials that appear on screen everyday. Watching thirty-year-old Haskins become a giddy schoolgirl is simply a riot. But beyond her obvious humor, by taking the ordinary (commercials we see again and again) and showing how truly extraordinary it all is, Haskins achieves the revolutionary feat of making us think differently. 

Haskins tends to transform the way her audiences perceive the media. Take my all-time favorite Haskins segment, “Your Garden.” The piece examines commercials in the United States and abroad for the Schick Quattro bikini razor. Haskins analyzes the topic of how awkwardly we search for the correct verbiage to describe female genitalia. The commercials use plant metaphors to allude to a “bush problem,” without ever directly addressing the all-too taboo subject of female grooming. A similarly-themed Australian commercial actually uses a beaver to symbolize femininity. 

Haskins is funny. Not only due to her comedic timing, but because her bluntness is laughable. Her dry, even-tempered delivery appears as an attempt to merely explain the footage she critics, not to offer a direct opinion. This understated temperament often proves to be the loudest piece of her commentary because what she is saying seems painfully obvious. Haskins trains her audience to think by showing what is both undeniable and hidden in the clips. While her sardonic wit makes “Target Women” interesting and entertaining, its brilliance lies in the fact that if you’re watching, there is no alternative but to witness the ridiculous clichés at hand.   

Despite her bold perspective, Haskins is far from preachy. She uses humor to get her point across so her show is not obnoxiously feminist. She sees the full picture, and shares it with her viewers. Haskins provides perspective, leaving the audience to formulate its own opinions, thereby developing thinkers — not vengeful bra burners.

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Zaiba Habib Durrani heard the threats at least once a week. But as she told the McClatchy Newspapers, vows to kill her or disfigure her face with acid did little to deter her from running for one of 124 provincial council seats in her country’s latest elections.

Afghanistan’s 2009 campaigns have left an already volatile nation even more distressed in the aftermath. Lost among reports of possible election fraud and senseless violence, however is a critical message of steadfast bravery and tireless hope. Out of 41 presidential candidates, two were women. And 333 out of more than 3,000 contenders for provincial council belonged to the fairer sex. For a state where over 80 percent of women are illiterate and maternal mortality is the second highest in the world, the existence of these female politicians is nothing short of miraculous.

The role of women in Afghan society hasn’t always been one of invisibility and subjugation. By the 1950s, a growing movement began to churn as women entered the workforce becoming teachers, nurses and even politicians. An open culture was developing, marked by the lifting of the veil in 1959 and female enfranchisement in 1964. Until the 1990s, Afghanistan was on its way to modernity. Civil war and the rise of the Taliban soon quashed any social advances taking shape.

With the Taliban government now retreating, Afghan women have emerged from what has arguably been their bleakest moment in history. But if new legislation is any indication of civil support for social change — Afghan men were recently given the right to starve their wives if sexual demands were not met — women’s rights has a slow and torturous uphill battle.

The mere presence of women in politics signals a definite crack in the Afghan status quo. Although female voter turnout fell from the previous election, the fact that any woman even cast her vote, especially being favorite targets of the Taliban for election-day violence, hints at a persistent female voice rumbling beneath the fundamentalist regime. As women continue to step forth to offer their services in government roles, they demonstrate that women will participate in Afghanistan’s political, economic and civil arenas.

A New York Times article addressing the fight against global poverty declared that “the greatest unexploited resource isn’t oil fields or veins of gold; it is the women and girls who aren’t educated and never become a major presence in the formal economy.”

Empowering women isn’t simply the right thing to do; it’s also a crucial step to ensuring the success of the world’s future. These Afghan women don’t have to win office to become agents of change. By showing the next generation they have a chance in the political process, these brave few are leading the vanguard in Afghan women’s rights. If these women are able to survive and come into the light in one of the world’s poorest and most misogynistic nations, then other women around the globe may also have a chance to flourish.

Afghan women, afghanistan, Afghanistan’s 2009 campaigns, Civil war, economy, election-day violence, elections, Empowering women, female enfranchisement, female politicians, fundamentalist regime, global poverty, government, McClatchy Newspapers, new york times, politics, presidential candidates, taliban, women, women’s rights, Zaiba Habib Durrani Hide

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I had dinner last night with a dear friend. Epitomizing the persnickety, overly healthy stereotype of Los Angeles restaurants he appropriately ordered a meatless macro burger, and I peanut enriched kale dish. Fittingly we sat there in LA’s latest dining limelight catching up on the past month or so of each other’s life changing adventures.

As usual with this particular friend, our traditional dinner time lapsed into a time span commensurate with two movies, four back to back episodes of The Office or a drive to and from Santa Barbara. However, it was in hour three of the four that our topic of conversation resonated with me the most. What is it about love, relationships and the “soul mates” debate that evoke such a curiosity?

For me, I’ve loved and lost, and lost and loved some more. I certainly don’t have a methodology, a tried and tested philosophy, or a proven formula that ensures love’s success. Even my dating record, or lack their of, wouldn’t qualify me to advise others, but it wasn’t our theory based answers that peaked my fascination, it was more in the infinite quandaries that kept me up that night.

I have to admit that I’ve laid to rest the fairytale that my prince will arrive on a shining, white stead or that I myself am adorned in a diamond studded tiara. Because honestly, I think it’s these childish, unrealistic, unattainable expectations that leave people disappointed and disenchanted by their less than happy, “happy ending.” However, that doesn’t mean my expectations aren’t extraordinarily high or that my standards aren’t near impossible; it just means that what I’m looking for (and unwilling to settel for less than) will take the same patience and meticulous searching as a needle in a haystack and quite frankly, I’m banking on the fact it will be worth it.

Because here’s the deal, I do believe love and relationships can be magical, but I am well aware of the fact that the kind I speak of are far and very few between. I also think it’s terrifying to entertain that notion because by admitting the possibility that a truly powerful, mind blowing, “one plus one makes 10” relationship exists means you’re left with the reality that realistically you may never find it, or worse, that you end up settling for something subpar. Both of which for some, make the journey to finding the ever elusive, love of your life, not worthy of the hunt in the first place.

That’s when it occurred to me that like any good treasure hunt, there is a legitimate fear your journey might possibly be done in vain, and yet for me, that gamble pales in comparison to the treasure that potentially awaits you. Then again, what in life are we guaranteed? Not success, health, wealth, or even life for that matter; so what makes the journey to find love anymore terrifying than chasing down your dreams or striving for success?

I guess that’s where for me, it’s a matter of faith, believing in something profound that I have yet to see or experience firsthand. So maybe I haven’t met my perfectly flawed prince charming, or maybe I have and like Superman his true identity is being kept secret from my heart’s eyes for the time being. But either way, to muster up the courage, rather, the audacity required is not for the faint of heart. Then again mediocrity is for the simple, willing to settle, comfort-loving individuals who dare not. But for those of you inspired by the mere possibility of having a powerhouse relationship, I promise your life’s treasure hunt to find what you’re looking for, your fortitude in not settling, your faithful resilience, and your passionate quest will not be done in vain. I promise that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what is in store for those treasure hunters determined to discover life’s greatest fortune, a love worthy of the hunt.

Pictures courtesy of: Mathforum, Oceangrams

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It was a Saturday afternoon and I was just wrapping up another rewarding session volunteering for the public library’s literacy program, when a mother approached me to thank me for my efforts with her daughter. After chatting for a bit I discovered that she was a former elementary school counselor; so with great enthusiasm I immediately informed her of my ambitions to become an educator. Her response to this was not expected. She paused, took a breath, leaned over and just as I thought she was about to tell me the secret to success she said “Look, don’t expect to change the world, because nobody cares. I’m just warning you, nobody cares”. I was expecting words of wisdom and instead I got a warning! I felt like a child who had just been told that Santa Clause did not exist. Why would she try to shatter my optimism? It was evident from the tone in her voice that there must have been some event that left her demoralized or maybe her spirit had been gradually crushed by an education system that had failed her. Either way, she had been burned and left apathetic. So with a compassionate intent I borrowed some powerful words from Ghandi and responded with “We have to be the change we wish to see in the world.” Meaning that you have to start somewhere and that “somewhere” is with yourself. Apathy can be contagious but then again so can compassion.

On my drive home as I was reflecting upon why this woman believes that nobody cares I began to shift my focus to why do “I care”? Why do I devote hours of my time to the literacy program? Why is tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club a priority of mine? What motivated my decision to teach at an impoverished school in Costa Rica? It wasn’t long before my thoughts became lucid and I came to realize that my passion is born from my awareness that education is directly linked to a bright future and an improved quality of life.

My parents taught me this early on. My mother once told me that the reason she invested so much energy into my education is because her and my father know how hard life is without one. She believed that education was a prerequisite for success. Neither of my parents received a college education. My father came to this country from Peru 32 years ago with the ambitions to earn a degree in Economics from the University of Houston. As fate would have it, before that dream was realized he met a beautiful red head and started a family. After only one semester he left school, took a job as a welder and became a provider for his family. My childhood was characterized by economic hardship and I know that my parents attributed our privation to their incomplete educations.

My father’s heroes weren’t sports celebrities, movie stars, or politicians. They were ordinary people with white-collared jobs who appeared to have the American dream. With admiration, he often talked about his boss Victor the “engineer” who had a five-bedroom house and a swimming pool or his friend Fred the “lawyer” who took extravagant vacations. He always finished these stories with “Daughter, I tell you one thing, you better get that education.” With those words my father planted a seed in me and I went on to earn a formal college education. I realize that my passion for the welfare and education of children sprouted from that seed planted so many years ago. I still heed the words of my father, but I apply them to a grander scale. Yes, my education improved the quality of my life, but now I am aware that the collective education of all children leads to an improved quality of life for society as a whole. Therefore, I care. I’ve seen what a difference little efforts make. I know what its like to tutor a child who is struggling to read. I watch them as they painstakingly defeat each page and with each page conquered I can actually see their confidence grow. At the culmination of a tutoring session there is usually a celebration of high-fives and inside I feel a small victory. Albeit the action small, I know in my heart it will have a ripple effect and I am reminded that you have to start somewhere.

I know that the former counselor I met will not be the last apathetic voice that will attempt to taint my passion. Regardless, I will continue my efforts to plant seeds of learning and confidence in the hearts of the children I tutor and eventually in the hearts of the students in my classroom. In these actions I am the change I wish to see in the world and I hope that through example I inspire empathy in those around me.

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