NEW YORK—They are the women who build this city. They head development projects, bring the city its news, lead community groups, and forge business deals that impact all New Yorkers.
City and State Newspaper honored 25 women at its Above and Beyond: Honoring Women of Public and Civic Mind, award ceremony and forum Wednesday night.
“I think there are misconceptions that Arab and Muslim women do not hold leadership positions, or they need the approval from the men in their community,” said honoree Linda Sarsour, 32, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, in a phone interview on Thursday.
She said in the Arab-American Muslim community there is always an opportunity for women to lead, but other obstacles such as child rearing exist. With three of her own at home, she is grateful for a supportive family that helps mind the children.
Balancing babies and careers seems to still be the lot of women more than men. A 2008 U.S. Bureau of Statistics report found that women employed full time are more likely to spend time on household activities and childcare than their husbands.
Some women on a panel that preceded the ceremony said they waited until later in life to have children. Honoree Julie Menin, Community Board 1 chair, said in an interview that being a mom and publicly active is manageable—she has become great at organizing and multitasking.
