Rayane Abou Jaoude
The Daily Star
May El Khalil’s positivity radiates across the
room. The president of the Beirut Marathon Association, a proven success for 14
years, is a self-proclaimed dreamer, her story an inspiration to hundreds of
sports enthusiasts and, of course, women. However, Khalil’s optimism fades when
she acknowledges the gaping gender gap in Lebanon.
“I say not only sadly that we are still way
behind,” she said, but adds that while women in Lebanon have had a tough year
following a series of domestic abuse cases that surfaced in recent months and a
draft law criminalizing family violence still waiting for adoption by
Parliament, the year has served as a “wake-up call” for Lebanese.
“Honestly, and I started repeating this, I
feel as though we are at a turning point in our lives, and it is definitely a
road of no return,” she said.
According to Khalil, this year marks perhaps
the first time in Lebanese history where awareness about women’s rights made
gains across society. It is not only the nonprofit organizations voicing their
concerns anymore, she said, but Lebanese society as a whole. And, true to her
optimistic nature, she believes the Lebanese will no longer accept inaction and
apathy.
It is hard to imagine how Khalil bounced back,
and with so much vigor. In 2001, the runner was training for a marathon when
she was hit by a minivan which sandwiched her against a wall. She spent two
years in hospital, recovering from a coma and undergoing 36 surgeries. Her
doctors were unsure if she would ever even walk again, she told The Daily Star.
“When I woke up I realized that I was no
longer the same person or the same runner that I used to be,” she said,
maintaining an air of calm as she recalled her story.
“My reality [at the time] was being at that
hospital, but it became more of a dream and the reality was more of me wanting
to come back to life and wanting to contribute, pay back to my community and be
a better person, support other runners, bring international runners to come to
Lebanon, and put Lebanon on the international map,” she said.
These objectives, she added, gave her a reason
to stand on her feet, fight and become more proactive.
Launching and heading the Beirut Marathon was
no easy task either, but Khalil claims that being a woman did not hinder her
efforts. When asked whether it would have been easier had she been a man, she
was dismissive.
“I don’t think so, and I don’t think being a
woman facilitated the mission either,” she said.
“When you are genuine, people stop looking at
you as a figure, whether a male or a female. You allow them to dive more into
the message ... I never faced any [challenges], though in the Middle East
sports is more male dominant,” she said.
The Beirut Marathon is launching its second
women’s race on May 4. This year, men will be allowed to take part in the
5-kilometer race, but only if they wear pink T-shirts, Khalil explained with a
chuckle.
Growing up in Mount Lebanon town of Aley,
Khalil, who comes from a conservative, middle-class family, said being close to
nature and coming of age in a place devoid of hypocrisy and bureaucracy taught
her quite a bit about being grounded and active.
“I learned from my mom and my dad about how to
be tough, and at the same time, always invest in inner strength,” she said.
“I was very spontaneous and very genuine and I
always had this feeling that being positive gave me courage, even at a young
age,” she said.
A mother of four, Khalil said that family has
a large influence on how children are raised, particularly young girls, and
both parents should do their part. Her husband Faysal, a successful
entrepreneur, is both supportive and grounded, traits that her two daughters
learned growing up, she said.
Khalil maintains that while most Lebanese were
aware of the problems surrounding violence against women and in spite of the
communities’ calls for change, there are no concrete solutions.
“We are all highlighting the problems, and we
all know the different challenges that we’re facing, but where are the
solutions? What are the solutions?” she asked.
While she claims not to be a feminist or part
of the women’s activist movement, she said there is a need for more rallying to
be done around the issue. Khalil also said more sit-ins needed to be organized
in front of Parliament, and there needs to be a strategy to push people to the
point of “annoyance.”
“Unfortunately, you have to become a bit
arrogant when asking for your rights otherwise these rights will never be
given,” she said, adding that boycotting voting during elections would be an
effective strategy.
“If, let’s say, there are elections, and women
all over Lebanon agree not to vote, there will be no elections. I think this
solidarity ... is what we need,” she said.
In a final message to young Lebanese women,
Khalil said it was important they realize that they have a role to play in
society, and are, in fact, its “future leaders.”
“They can be mothers, they
can be sisters, they can be friends, but they have a role to play as well, and
their role is to really change mentalities and share their talents to make
their society better.”The Daily Star
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