Women across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) face many difficulties and restrictions that can leave them feeling worthless. A combination of male domination, traditional cultural pressures and a lack of empowerment results in suffering that ranges from social suffocation to severe abuse.
But that is not the whole story for women in the MENA region. A forthcoming programme on SAT-7 will showcase the lives of successful Arab women with the aim of raising the aspirations of female viewers. She’s the Story profiles various Arab women – from Egypt’s first female judge to a world squash champion – who have worked hard, overcome prejudice and made it to top positions in both the public and private sectors.
Rafik George, the programme’s producer and director, said, “The message of the programme is to tell women that no matter what their background or the circumstances they grew up in, they can still become successful, achieve their dreams and become special. Our guests have trodden rough paths to reach their high positions but with perseverance, patience and determination they reached their goals.”
In a series of candid interviews, She’s the Story guests talk about their childhoods, their education, their challenges and their achievements. Featuring in the first series are a member of parliament, a government minister, an academic professor, a Christian businesswoman, a charity founder, a journalist and a fashion designer. Whilst they are from a wide variety of backgrounds and have diverse interests, these women have a key thing in common – they have all managed not only to break social barriers but also to shatter the glass ceiling in their careers.
As International Women’s Day approaches on 8 March, She’s the Story celebrates Arab women’s achievements and sends a powerful message to female viewers in the region. In particular, SAT-7 wants to inspire young women with the aim of impacting the next generation of leaders and achievers.
She’s the Story is just one of a number of dedicated programmes for women on SAT-7 that seek to connect with their situations and offer them a new perspective based on a biblical view of male and female equality.
Please pray
- Pray that women in the MENA who are suffering oppression, injustice and abuse will come to know their value in God’s eyes.
- Pray that the guests on She’s the Story will inspire female viewers across the region to overcome inequalities and achieve their ambitions.