Chapter 9 - 10 Summary

Chapter 9 starts off with the authors in Afghanistan interviewing an educated entrepreneur. This brings up the topics of how women are treated in Muslim countries. Muslim women are ranked as being treated the worst in their cultures. Without being able to see a male doctor, they have no choice but to face their illness resulting in death due to lack of medical attention. The authors also go on to discuss how oppression may not be only in the religion, but may have something to do with culture. Other religions have had beliefs of treating women unfairly and multiple wives, but they have stepped passed that and progressed into what they are today. Islam is still stuck in the past. The authors interview a nineteen year old woman named Ellaha. She was forced by family to marry her younger cousin, and as an educated woman wanting to continue her studies, she fought back. In doing this, she was beaten and forced to run away. Unfortunately the running away didn’t get her far, since she was spotted and sent to jail. The jail they have in Afghanistan is typically for young girls without their hymens intact, because it is frowned upon before marriage. Ellaha was kept here for her life was in danger from her angry father. Even brilliant Americans like Bill Gates comments on these countries only using half of their population (men) and leaving women out of the picture. This is also depriving the country of economic growth because if women worked, a lot more production could get done like it does in countries such as the United States and China, opposed to production from women in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Insurgent-

Sakena grew up in Northern Afghanistan. She was accepted to a University in Kabul, but unable to attend due to violence. She started a string of underground schools educating almost thirty eight hundred as a secret. Deals were made if it was kept secret then teachers could get paid to help. After the fall of the Taliban, Sakena was able to move her schools back to Kabul, and employ many women to teach and work, students to learn, and even progress her students into the Kabul University programs.

Chapter Ten – Investing in Education

This chapter begins with Dai Manju, who lived in the hills of China with her family. Her hut had no running water or electricity, and they had little to no belongings. Dai was forced out of school after sixth grade, because the $13 dollars a year her school cost, her family wanted to spend it on other things like rice for food. After a generous donation from some Americans of 10,000, Dai was able to finish all of her normal schooling, then went on to study accounting, to become the executive in a Taiwanese electronic company. She sent money back to her family, making them one of the richest in the village. Managing menstruation in girls helps them stay in school. Also deworming, more salt in their diets for increase in brain development, even bribery. Mexican families are given cash for keeping their children in school. School feeling programs have successfully helped in their nutrition.