This week I’ve had a series of interviews with representatives of women’s organizations, in a quest to better understand Jeju Island’s culture as it relates to women. Jeju is well known for its strong women, a resilience and independence born of the necessity for enduring hardship.

I am reminded by these conversations that women remain disenfranchised in most areas of the globe. And as long as women–our sisters, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, wives, selves–are disregarded and discriminated against, the world will continue to suffer not only inequality but a dearth of nourishment.

Women in positions equal to those of men, women in leadership, bring with them their biologically driven propensity to nurture. Women also bring along their emotional selves, and throughout the globe we could benefit by bringing feeling out of the shadow. Further, women tend toward peace and away from aggression.

We could all use more of that.

2010 saw many changes for women around the globe. May 2011 be the year that the culture of women advances everywhere, and that discrimination–in any form–is laid to rest.

“Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” ~Emma Lazarus, 19th century poet of New York City whose work is included at the Statue of Liberty