From Outrage to Courage: Women Taking Action for Health and Justice

by Anne Firth Murray, Paul Farmer (Foreword)

From sex-selective abortions to millions of girls who are "disappeared," from 90 million girls who do not go to school to HIV/AIDS spreading fastest among adolescent girls, women face unique health challenges, writes Anne Firth Murray. In this searing cradle-to-grave review, Murray tackles health issues from prenatal care to challenges faced by aging women. Looking at how gender inequality affects basic nutrition, Murray makes clear the issues are political more than they are medical. In an inspiring look, From Outrage to Courage shows how women are organizing the world over. Women’s courage to transform their situations and communities provides inspiration and models for change. From China to India, from Indonesia to Kenya, Anne Firth Murray takes readers on a whirlwind tour of devastation—and resistance.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Social Justice, Politics, Social Issues, Anthropology, Poverty

330 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2008

About the author

Anne Firth Murray is an activist, author, nonprofit founder and teacher at Stanford University. Murray is the founding president of the Global Fund for Women, which raises and gives away money to groups around the world supporting women's human rights. She founded the organization in 1987 and continued to act as president until 1996.

She previously led philanthropic efforts on population and environmental issues for the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation from 1978 to 1987. Prior to that, she was a writer at the United Nations and an editor at the Stanford, Oxford, and Yale university presses.

Reviews

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for an online class about global women's health taught by the author. A comprehensive introduction to the health issues women around the world face each day. Eye-opening.

[Meghana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I had to read it for an online course taught by the author at Stanford University, and it's been a life-changing, paradigm-shifting read for me. It's THAT kind of book.

Murray is a woman of tremendous knowledge and compassion, who's channeled decades of experience and research into her hard-hitting work. I loved how the chapters focused on each period of a woman's life, from childhood to adolescence to maternity and finally to old age. Each chapter also ends with the names and descriptions of organizations around the world that deal with the pertinent problems and issues.

The author keeps the thread of the book running seamlessly, forcing the reader to rethink all their previous notions of gender, sexuality, privilege, and feminism. I now understand much more about feminism; what it means, what it entails, and why it's so desperately needed.

The only thing I wish I could change about this book would be to incorporate more anecdotes and personal stories- although they broke my heart- because the gamut of statistics made the book a rather slow read for me. However, this is a book that everyone needs to read, particularly if they identify as a feminist- because the things you don't know about women around the world will shock, humble, and ultimately awe you.

[Oriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and heartbreaking. This book details all of the insane and horrific monstrosities being perpetrated internationally upon women, from child prostitution to genital mutilation to poverty and starvation. The most amazing thing, though, is that the book is peppered throughout with profiles of these incredible women's groups that are coming together, in the worst conditions in the worst countries, to try to make their lives, and the lives of others, better. It's devastating and intensely hopeful.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not as compelling of a read as 'Half the Sky' given that it's more statistic-laden and academic in voice (it took me 8 months to get through it). But I was particularly struck by the profiles provided on grass-roots groups of women who are standing up and making changes in their own countries and cultures. That recognition of self-worth is powerful stuff. Seen within a worldwide and throughout-time perspective, I am baffled by how lucky I am for my circumstances and knowledge.

[Matt Gosney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it as part of the free online course on Coursera - International Women's Health and Human Rights. Opened my mind up to some of the overlooked issues facing women and overall a thoughtful calm read while tackling tough topics.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you are interested in knowing the situation of women around the world. It summarises everything. I loved it. Full review to come.

[Beauty Boois · Rating 5 out of 5]

An in-depth and extensive look into all the issues that affect women around the world as well as insight regarding the innovative and inspirits solutions that feminist organisations and activists world wide are coming up with to overcome those issues. A must-read for anyone interested in acknowledging the problems but also celebrating the solutions faced by all women.

[Woodall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took many notes while reading this book. It has opened my eyes to the atrocities occurring in our world against women. It has also made me realize and begin to question my own values and others' values of my worth as a women in our society. Murray has painted a very vivid picture – to provide assistance where help is needed and in turn teach courage, strength, and most of all, self-worth. We have differences and we are unique. Yet, we share common experiences, dreams, and expectations. We need to honor and respect each other for all of these qualities. And most of all, we need to remember that we are all human. We have come a long way but there is still a long road to travel for the freedoms of equality in humanity.

[Feisty Harriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of really heartbreaking pieces in this book about the plight of women around the world backed up with some pretty serious statistics. That being said, it was not as compelling for me as Half the Sky, not even close (it took me about 6 months to finish this book...well, 2 weeks on, and then 5 months off, and then another 10 days or so).

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most fun stuff to learn about. Nevertheless, it is important information about the plight of many, or most, of the women in the world.

[Alla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this textbook as part of the course of Stanford University - International Women's Health and Human Rights. Eye-opening book that can educate you about the following topics: sex-selective abortion (connected to a deadly preference to have sons in India, China, etc.), denial of access to education for girls, early marriages, early pregnancies, female genital mutilation, female face of HIV/AIDS in Africa, reproductive rights, violence against women, rape pandemic, effects of war on women and mass rape as a form of genocide, employment discrimination, sex work and sex trafficking and feminisation of aging. It is simply impossible not to become a feminist after finishing this book.

[Aisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were less preachy moral phrases like "right thing to do", "putting justice in center" which make previous awsome sentences sound less meaningful to me. Justice and rigt things are not same to everyone (otherwise there would not be an issue with gender inequality), and I guess for person with anti-fem position reading this book and assuming everything is good with women, it will be completely useless and will prevent him from changing opinion.
But for sure, for its main audience, every part of it is perfect, I am glad that it was written, it is a huge step in helping people to look at the problem againg. This type of books should exist, shelves in bookstores should be filled with them, they have to be included in universities reading programs, and it still not done, despite we in fact have very few resuorces and researches giving us information on the issue.

[Mylinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book after I saw a photography exhibit entitled "Beloved Daughters" at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. That exhibit talked about the women and girls in India and their struggles. This book talks about the global issues that affect women. While the "blurbs" on different organizations are informative, I found that they could disrupt the flow of the overall narrative. After a while I skipped the blurbs altogether. Very good book to follow up my experience at the art museum.

[Xinh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only read the first chapter, but did hear about it in my book club.

It's a comprehensive overview of women's issues, particularly related to their health and wellness, around the world. It's also supposed to be depressing to read.

I would recommend it to anyone who has even a slight interest in poverty or women's issues, because it does bring together so many facts about violence and discrimination against women in so many places.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening text, so much that I have enrolled in grad school in order to try and make a difference in women's rights internationally. I would recommend every college and university have this text available for their students in order to gain a better understanding of the inequality and violation of women's rights.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leí este libro para un curso online que oferta la Universidad de Stanford sobre Derechos y Salud de la mujer y me ha encantado. La autora nos muestra una visión completa, apasionante, congruente, crítica y sensible de la situación de la mujer en diversas partes del mundo.

Maravillosamente argumentado y con una profunda investigación detrás.

100% recomendado.

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book by an amazing author! Eye opening and life changing. The statistics were shocking, personal stories heartbreaking, yet there is hope written in these pages of women's groups coming together to change the world.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST read. Anne Firth Murray outlines the challenges and triumphs of women around the world fighting for human rights.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far it's a page turner. like Half the Sky.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about womens rights and health.

[Teri Temme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Overwhelming. Learn more at http://www.internationalwomenshealth.....

[mondayxius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to avoid textbooks with lots of statistics and case studies as they become outdated as soon as they're published due to constant changes and fluctuations in whatever they're dealing with. But this book is a really good summary of many different issues women around the world face, aspects of women's lives both widely recognised and often overlooked.

I took Anne Firth Murray's course on Coursera last year and learned so much from it that I decided to buy this book and I don't regret it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about women's health and human rights.

[Stephani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for an online class taught by the author. This book is excellent at providing resources, factual, and analytical information. The resources provided in the text are helpful for researching non-profits and organizations that fight for women's rights in numerous countries. In conjunction with the author's online class this book is even better, since she provides supplemental resources and lecture/interviews to enrich the readings. I highly recommend the book on its own though.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter covers a different topic on women's situation in the world. It includes statistics and data from WHO and other resources. I read it for the online course by Anne Firth Murray on International Women's Health and Human Rights and I found it very interesting, not heavy at all to read. I really liked the fact that at the end of every chapter there is a list of local groups which work towards improving the issues explained in the chapter.

[Adisha Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completed this book as a part of a certificate course and I was amazed by the quality of data that has been put into it. The case studies and examples are extremely far-reached. While at certain points I felt that the same points are being repeated again and again, yet on a larger scale, the book is a must read for people who want an insight into struggles of women.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out about this book from the author’s course on Coursera (from Stanford) and thanks God, I did. This book not only shows how long a way we still need to go to achieve the gender equality, but also gives hope that it’s possible by telling about all the women’s rights organisations all around the world fighting to make this possible.

[Zeinab Aghamiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot by reading this book. The very literature of feminism and what is it like to be a woman in this world are mentioned throughout its pages.
It cleared a path for me about being a woman and understanding our obligations toward ourselves and others.
I recommend this book to absolutely everyone, whether man or woman.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow! very well articulated, researched and told. A must read for anyone in or trying to understand gender inequality, or wanting to do something in human rights. Thank you Dr. Murray for this incredible work.

[Mari Paes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important insights on the fight for women’s health and how it’s an essential aspect of the fight for human and women’s rights.