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Destination: India One Woman's Journey Jennifer M. Henderson I have accepted an internship with the United Nations Development Fund for Women. UNIFEM is a branch of the UN dedicated to improving the lives of women across the globe. I am located in New Delhi, India. My own role involves working with women's groups in South Asia on different programs and research projects that focus on women's economic, political and social empowerment.

27 November, 2000

<-- Safdarjang Tomb, excellent example of Moghul architecture in Delhi.

I am moving to India. Tomorrow. I am headed to Delhi to begin an internship with UNIFEM, The United Nations Development Fund for Women. This is still hard for me to grasp, and even harder for others. My parents are being terribly supportive at this point (even going to Los Angeles' "Little India"), but it has taken them some time to get used to the idea. I am often asked by incredulous friends, "You are moving to India? You mean India?" Others merely shake their head, explain that they themselves could never do it, and wish me luck.

I admit this is a bit unusual. After all, I am a white (of Scandinavian and Irish ancestry) American woman who grew up in an upper-middle class suburb of Los Angeles. I have traveled extensively, but have never lived in a developing country. At 27, I am uprooting my life, just as many of my friends are settling down into theirs. I find myself moving against the immigration tide from East to West, as I move West to East. I am making my way to the other side of the globe to begin a new internship and a new adventure. I will work for women's empowerment and gender equality (my passion for the last decade) in South Asia (my region of interest) in a way that involves outreach, direct service and grassroots organizing (my philosophy). After years of planning and months of intensive fundraising and preparation, I am finally on my way. Tomorrow. As much as I am filled with excitement and anticipation, I must admit to some second thoughts (some that I share with my family and friends, and many that I do not). In these moments of doubt I remind myself of why this work is so important to me and of how I got to this point.

To begin with, I am not usually thought of as a victim of discrimination and inequality. In fact, to many, I embody the very definition of 'privilege' that feels so oppressive. My "whiteness," my (family's) socio-economic standing and my "American-ness" contribute to an overall sense of individual advantage. This is true: I am able to take for granted many aspects of my life and daily experience that others cannot.

Yet, none of these "privileges" protected me from the pain that I felt and saw, and the violence I observed and experienced as a result of being a woman. I have personally struggled and have seen girls and women who were close to me struggle with: sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, eating disorders, depression and an overall sense of low self-worth that is intrinsically connected to being a woman in this society. Perhaps because of or in spite of this, these girls and women are also pillars of strength and resilience, fountains of hope and inspiration.

I translated these experiences into an academic focus, earning my B.A. in Women's Studies in 1994. For me, this translation necessitated that I address the issues in my life that were causing me pain. Integral to my healing and critical to my feminist awakening was the connection I made between what I was struggling with, and how this personal struggle was intimately connected to the larger battles women face within our society.

After college graduation, I worked with underprivileged adolescent girls. I deepened my understanding of what girls struggle with in this society, and how their experiences are often compounded by poverty and racial discrimination. In my desire to continue working with girls and women, I returned to school in 1997, pursuing my MA in Psychology. During my graduate program, I became increasingly interested in muliticultural issues and cross-cultural exchange. As many of my colleagues fixed their focus on the North American context, I broadened mine, looking towards the international arena. I began to think critically about women's experiences worldwide.

Upon completing my master's degree, I looked for a job that would allow me to continue developing my interests in women's issues internationally. After months of soul-searching, researching and networking (along with several odd jobs, unpaid internships and many tears), I was invited to intern with the South Asia Regional Office for UNIFEM, based in Delhi. Although another unpaid internship, this was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. My internship with UNIFEM will afford me the opportunity to learn first-hand about current projects and programs in the region (related to women's economic, political and social empowerment), and give me the opportunity to work with and learn from South Asian women. South Asia has been a region of interest since I was young, and has become even more so as I developed an interest in women's issues worldwide. I am increasingly interested in ways that many South Asian women's organizations empower and organize women as they work for change.

I embarked upon an intensive fundraising campaign to cover my living expenses for the year. I soon found myself in the uncomfortable position of asking people I did and didn't know (I still don't know which was more difficult) to support this work, and to support me as I dedicate myself to it. I appealed for donations from individuals, business and professional associations, corporations, faith-based groups and South Asian Women's organizations. I posted messages on international development and women's websites, seeking ideas and linkages for this work. I placed an ad in a local South Asian community paper, looking for sponsors and collaborators. My fundraising campaign soon took on an education and advocacy spin, as I found myself talking to South Asian and non-South Asian groups alike about gender inequality worldwide and issues specific to the region.

As a European-American woman, it has been extremely important for me to talk to and learn from South Asian and South Asian-American women. I am aware that my "whiteness" and my "American-ness" shape the way that I see the world, and am myself seen (both in the US and abroad). This, in turn, affects the work that I do. Yet, my background, education and experiences help me understand and address gender discrimination in my own way, and I bring this understanding to my work. This has led to fruitful collaborations, including one with Saheli, a Boston-based women's group providing support, resources and assistance to South Asian women in New England. Together, we have explored ways that I can advance the causes and concerns of Saheli while in India as they provide me with support and insight.

Here I am, on the eve of my departure, thinking about my journey, looking forward to my time in India, and looking back on how I have reached this point. Of course, there is no way to know what lies ahead. I am headed to India with an open mind, a desire to learn, and a commitment to improving the lives of women worldwide. I plan on remaining as open to myself and to my experiences while in India as I have up to this point. I also plan on remaining open to sharing with and learning from others. To follow my time in India and to learn more about South Asian Women's organizations, projects and programs in the US and abroad, visit http://www.jenihenderson.com or write to me at jenihenderson@hotmail.com

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