"The pandemic underscored the ways in which broken systems hurt women, from rising domestic violence to disproportionate job losses. When we sat down last fall to conceive a version of this project that could become an ongoing tradition, we chose to spotlight leaders who are working to create a better future for women everywhere. Our 2022 Women of the Year list features 12 individuals who have reached across communities, generations, and borders to fight for a more inclusive and equitable world." write TIME Executive Editor Naina Bajekal and Senior Editor Lucy Feldman, who oversaw the project.
Joya is part of a disappearing breed: an Afghan fremale journalist. Afghanistan has long been an extremely dangerous place to be a female journalist. Time writes that according to Reporters Without Borders, 80% of women journalists have lost their jobs since the collapse of the Afghan government in August. Joya, who founded Rukhshana Media in 2020 with a focus on stories by and about Afghan women, was among those forced to flee the country.
She was forced to flee her country for her own safety. Now based in London, Joya continues to tell the stories of Afghanistan's women.
"Even though they are in hiding, they are working. Because it is our aim to work for our future. We are asking women who protest to write their experience and share their experience. It is very painful and sad. Honestly, we don’t do simple journalism these days; we are trying to write for our freedom. We are not allowed to work as journalists anymore. We don’t have access to information. But still, we are working."
Tracy Chou was one of the outspoken women who brought attention to the gender and racial inequality that exists in Silicon Valley. She was instrumental in getting the big high-tech firms to release the data of their racial demographics of their employees and the positions they held.
In her research she also found that online abuse was rampant and urged the social media platforms to take measures to monitor the abuse.
Nguyen, an advocate for sexual abuse victims, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She lobbied Congress for the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights that President Obama signed.
She was also instrumental in bringing to light the rising number of attacks against Asian Americans. After several AAPI elderly were attacked in 2020, she used her extensive social media platforms to rally the Asian American community and lobbied mainstream media to cover the racist trend.
“Change comes from our innate values. We can speak up—not only because we want to, but because we have to. The opposite of love isn’t hated. It’s apathy. What I want people to understand is that we can always make the choice to be better,” Nguyen told Chanel Miller, a rape survivor who interviewed Nguyen for Time.
“Change comes from our innate values. We can speak up—not only because we want to, but because we have to. The opposite of love isn’t hated. It’s apathy. What I want people to understand is that we can always make the choice to be better,” Nguyen told Chanel Miller, a rape survivor who interviewed Nguyen for Time.
The inaugural Women of the Year list and gala builds on the success of TIME's 2020 Women of the Year project, which recognized 100 leaders, innovators, activists, entertainers, athletes and artists who defined a century, ranging from Amelia Earhart and Beyoncé to Eva Perón and Malala Yousafzai. That project was the result of a partnership between TIME and filmmaker Alma Har'el, known for genre-redefining creativity and a relentless dedication to gender equality behind and in front of the camera; and P&G, whose brands reach 5 billion people daily and is committed to creating a world free from gender bias with an equal voice, equal opportunity, and equal representation for all individuals.
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.
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