Now Lebanon - Girl power

Talking To
Girl power
Talking to activist Farah Zalka
Aline Sara, July 26, 2010

The collective Nasawiya, which means “feminism” in Arabic, recognizes there is not just one type of feminism but several, something it wholeheartedly endorses. The movement – which aims to free the country of sexism and all the negative “isms” that come with it (racism, elitism, classism and more) – gave itself a provocative name, as “feminism” is not a widely-used term in Lebanon.

NOW Lebanon sits down with Nasawiya coordinator Farah Salka for an in-depth look at the collective’s projects.

Can you give us an overall description of the organization and what it does?

Farah Salka: Nasawiya is a collective of young men and women with a feminist ideology. We are based in Beirut and work on several gender justice and rights issues. We are not an NGO and do not have a hierarchal structure. So far, I am the only staff person, and I coordinate between the members. There is no board of directors either; just 25 core members as well as many supporters, which include both men and women.

Tell us a bit more about the members of the collective.

Salka: It’s very hard for those who consider themselves feminists to find a space to come together because the word scares people off – people, NGOs … People rarely call themselves feminists. It is also hard for young people to be welcome in NGOs or organizations without feeling discriminated against on the basis of age. We are open to anyone who wants to make change, as long as they agree to our core 21 feminist causes, because we have an all-or-nothing approach. For example, we don’t accept people who say, “Let’s talk about everything, but avoid the topic of abortion.” We are very clear on homosexuality, abortion, violence... There is no ambiguity or beating around the bush.

Nasawiya officially started in January, but many members have known each other for a long time.

Have you been stigmatized given what you stand for?

Salka: We obviously face instances where people are not happy with what we do and what we believe in, but we also benefit from all the positive energy from our members, who are so passionate. At the end of the day, we don’t identify as an organization – we are a peaceful movement. The things we are fighting for are sometimes taboo, but we are convinced in our mission and ultimately, there is nothing wrong with what we stand for.

What would you say are the most worrisome issues in Lebanon?

Salka: We do not prioritize issues. Whether homosexuality, marital rape, women’s right to nationality or others, they are equally important. In Lebanon, we think the major problem is lack of awareness, especially for women. Women do not realize the severity of the situation. Many are living on a cloud, unaware of their own rights. This is why we created a training program, “Ghayreh 3adtik Bitzeed S3adtik – Feminist Tools for Change” to empower women to learn and bring about change. It’s a workshop that lasts about two hours, for women of all ages, ranging from less than 15 years old to women above 50, in Beirut and the rest of the country. It is a means for us to enroll more people and address pressing issues.

What type of school brings you in?

Salka: The training is not only for schools. We also meet with universities, mixed crowds, such as informal groups of women in the South, for example. We try to get the word out as much as possible. We approach them in a general manner, usually saying we have training about women’s rights and responsibilities. It depends on where we are going; we assess the group and see how ready it is to tackle certain topics. We give them the floor to speak as well. We’ve even been with groups of women who were already feminists, but didn’t know the term “feminism.” As far as schools, we already visited Adma, IC...There is often an inside person who teaches a relevant class or an open-minded professor that helps bring us in.

Is the movement strictly Lebanon-focused?

Salka: We understand the fact that many problems are Lebanon-specific, but many problems are common to the region. We, as Arab women, face challenges that have the same root, and this is why, early this year, many of our members in their individual capacity were part of the launching of the Young Arab Feminist Network in Cairo. We don’t like how the situation for women in Lebanon is always compared to that of women in Saudi Arabia, supposedly saying that women here are much better off when they are not even aware of what is happening. So yes, we focus on Lebanon, but at the same time, women in other countries are inspired by our work and have contacted us. There is a mutual inspiration between women here and those in the rest of the region.