Women in the World 2011 Video Highlights
Watch the most riveting moments.
El Saadawi: Revolution Transforms Us
Nawal El Saadawi, acclaimed Egyptian writer, activist, physician, and psychiatrist, proves that age ain't nothin' but a number. The 79-year-old talked about what kept her going in Tahrir Square during the protests: "The revolution...gives us women and men, individuals, new life," she said.
Elizabeth Smart On Facing Her Captors
Eight years after she was kidnapped, Smart told Juju Chang that her decision to testify recently against the man who kidnapped her "was just something that had to be done, so I made the decision, and I did it."
A Traditional Cambodian Dance
Talk about a crowd pleaser. Sokha Chen, a student, performed during the segment "10 x 10," which highlighted actions global leaders and corporations can take to help empower girls in developing countries to break the cycle of poverty.
Lip Gloss: The Gateway Drug
Rachel Simmons, co-founder of the Girls Leadership Institute, shared stunning data during the segment "Raising Strong Girls, Raising Strong Leaders." Simmons said that marketers have identified pre-teen girls as central in directing their families' purchases, and are buying makeup at increasingly younger ages.
What Does Jersey Shore Do for Women, MTV?
The conversation was always frank at Newsweek The Daily Beast's Women in the World summit. Among the questions Tina Brown put to Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks: What's Jersey Shore doing for women?
Huffington Naysays Nikki Finke
How to deal with negative reviews? Well, Nikki Finke pronounced the Huffington Post dead on arrival when it was just five hours old, a fact Arianna Huffington has some fun with at the Women in the World "Women and Media 3.0" panel.
Clinton Endorses No-Fly Zone Over Libya
Former president Bill Clinton, came out strongly for the controversial military measure to help the Libyan rebels in their struggle to topple Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. "We have the planes to make an appropriate contribution to this," the 42nd president said at Newsweek and The Daily Beast’s Women in the World summit. "I wouldn't do it if they hadn't asked," Clinton said, referring to anti-Gaddafi rebel leaders who have publicly and repeatedly requested the no-fly zone to stop bombardment from Gaddafi's air force. "We should do it."
Ali: Muslims Must Choose Their Morality
During an energetic debate about the impact of niqabs on women's rights, Ayaan Hirsi Ali had the last word: "I respect Islam, but I refuse to respect that side of islam."
Do Burkas Oppress Women?
During a fiery panel about the French ban on the niqab, Isobel Coleman, a fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations, said: "I'm never going to stand up on a stage and say the burka has any positive thing at all." Cue the debate!
Should It Be Illegal for Women to Wear Niqabs?
Discussing France's controversial ban on Muslim head coverings, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, founder of the AHA Foundation, said throughout history, men have spent an excessive amount of time determining how much clothing women ought to be able to wear.
If You Knew Me, You Would Care
Zainab Salbi read moving stories from Congolese women who have worked with her organization, Women for Women International. Here she tells the story about a mother of seven who was captured by soldiers and raped repeatedly.
Aung San Suu Kyi "Has No Fear"
Why does the Burmese government fear the 65-year-old "extremely peaceful" Kyi? Alyse Nelson discussed her private visit with the Nobel Laureate.
Bachelet: Rape Is Everyone's Problem
How can we prevent and punish rape? Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said this issue must be treated as society's problem when discussing rape in war-torn areas.
Secretary Clinton's Keynote Speech
In an electrifying keynote address at Friday's Women in the World summit, Hillary Clinton spoke about one of the great "unfinished businesses" of human history: The full emancipation and equality of women.
Training Child Soldiers in the Hospital
Here's a novel idea: Dr. Deqo Mohamed takes child soldiers off the streets of Somalia and into the hospital. There, the children are given tours and white coats. "They put the gun down," she said.
The Vatican Is Responsible for Italian TV Nudity
How is it possible that, in spite of the Vatican, there's nudity on Italian television? If you ask Italian politician Emma Bonino, it's because of the Vatican. In a panel about Italian women saying "Basta!" and fighting back, Bonino didn't mince words.
Chouchou Namegabe: The Meaning of Rape
Through her radio broadcasts, Chouchou Namegabe told the world about the vicious rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But because it was a new phenomenon in her country, first they had to find a word that conveyed a specific meaning: the destruction of women.
Women Don't Negotiate For Themselves
Why don't women negotiate for themselves? Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg has a theory: People react badly to it. That is, both men and women want to work with them less.
Absence of Women's Rights Sign of Danger in Society
When you see a place where women are treated poorly, it's often a sign that something else is wrong in society. At least that's what Secretaries of State Condoleeza Rice and Madeleine Albright believe. "In a sense, when you see the absence of women's rights," Rice said, "You're seeing something fundamentally dangerous in the country." More on their talk here.
DVF on Abandoning People Like a 'Soufflé'
In the panel "Making a 'Must Have' Market," Diane von Furstenberg said that the last thing you want to do is build people's expectations by helping them, then abandon them. Listen to her story about making jewelry with Rebecca Lolosoli, matriarch of the Umoja Uaso women's village.
Who Are the Millennials?
Dr. Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania and "digital immigrant," tells Cheryl Dorsey who the "millennials" are. They believe in two things: social networking and making a difference.
Islam and Liberalization: Turbulent Time in Middle East Ahead
Are there dangers in the liberalization of politics in the Middle East? Condoleeza Rice said that it's inevitable that voices will emerge that we don't like hearing. The role of Islam in conjuncture with individual rights, politics, and women will lead to some turbulent times.
The Women Who Ended Craigslist Trafficking
Malika Saada Saar, founder and director of The Rebecca Project for Human Rights, said an end to trafficking can come about through the summit's own maxim—stories and solutions. Here, she explains how women who had once been trafficked through Craigslist came up with a solution to end it.
Wendi Murdoch: Rupert Hasn't Learned Chinese
Is there anything the News Corp boss can't do? There is, apparently: Speaking about raising her children, Wendi Murdoch said there's only one person in her family who hasn't learned how to speak Chinese.
What Does China Think of the Tiger Mother?
Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, quipped that when her book about strict parenting came out in China, it was perceived as normal.
Ashley Judd: Children Are Not for Sex
Actress and activist Judd introduced the panel "'No Such Thing': Trafficking of Girls in the United States" with a heart-wrenching personal anecdote about a young woman who was forced into prostitution in Atlanta.
What Issues Are Worth Fighting For?
Former Secretaries of State Condoleeza Rice and Madeleine Albright agree that for Americans to fight for women's rights in the Middle East, we first must understand what the women in the countries actually want.
Bringing Modern Healthcare to Africa
In the segment, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Reaching Beyond the Connected World," Amy G. Lehman, MD, MBA, spoke about her fascination with Lake Tanganika and what led her to found the Floating Health Clinic in the African Great Lake.
An Acid Violence Survivor's Story
In the panel called "Stealing Beauty," Yem Chhoun recounted when her husband's mistress attacked her and her newborn baby with acid. Her village told her to let her daughter die, but with the help of panelist Dr. Ebby Elahi, both have recovered.
Bill Clinton: The Problem with the Peter King Hearings
While there have been instances of American Muslims engaging in terrorist activities, President Bill Clinton said that most of what we know about these dangerous acts has come from other Muslims. If Rep. Peter King acknowledged this point, Clinton continued, then America might truly move past "two-dimensional stereotypes" and learn something about Islam.
Voices from the Uprising
Iranian actress Shohreh Aghdashloo reads powerful dispatches from the protests in the Middle East. "I'll never forget what I saw," she read. "Mothers dragging their children along so they could witness history."
When Will There Be a Woman President?
There was talk between Tina Brown and Bill Clinton of Libya, of Egypt, and even the Peter King hearings, but one question that brought a chuckle to audience was this one: When will there be a woman president?
Saudi Arabia Lives in Darkness
Will the Middle East revolutions spread to Saudi Arabia? In a panel titled "Firebrands: Pioneers in the New Age of Dissent," Wajeha H. Al-Huwaider, Saudi Arabian journalist and activist, said that a revolution is already happening in her country. The only problem is that no one is listening.
Foundations Are Catalytic Wedges
If foundations can only make a minor difference in the world when compared to governments, then what's the point? In a conversation with Charlie Rose, Melinda Gates said that foundations must act as catalysts to spurn governments into action.
DVF Shows Matriarch Her “Village”
Diane von Furstenberg welcomed attendees with a story about showing Rebecca Lolosoli, the matriarch of an all-female village in Kenya who was forced to flee her village, von Furstenberg's own "village." Together, they made jewelry.
The Women in Mayor Bloomberg’s World
New York City is home to more than four million women, who make up half of the population who, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, do more than half the work. Bloomberg described how, when faced with a tough issue, he calls on another woman—his 102-year-old mother.
Women Bloggers and the Revolution
Dalia Ziada, Egyptian author and activist, may be just a Muslim housewife to outsiders. But the online realm is different. "I write on my blog, no one cares if I am a man or a women, if I look good or look bad," she said. "They only care for my mind."
Bill Clinton on America's Response to Libya
How should the U.S. handle the conflict in Libya? It's a tough balance, Bill Clinton told Tina Brown. We should support "legitimate popular movements," Clinton said, but he is sympathetic to Obama not wanting to enforce a no-fly zone without Europe signing on. Still, he said, “We should do it.”
Society's Treatment of Women is a Marker of Civillization
Newsweek and The Daily Beast editor-in-chief Tina Brown welcomed the free-thinking, firebrands, social revolutionaries, and dangerous rabble rousers assembled at the Women in the World summit. "These are revolutionary days," she said. "In the Middle East women are in the forefront of the fight against oppression affecting hundreds of millions in the region."