The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures in collaboration with the Institute of Gender Studies at UWI, Mona present a film screening titled, “Poto Mitan Haitian Women Pillars of the Global Economy.” The screening takes place on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7 pm at N4.

The event is designed to commemorate International Women’s Day and to educate and support the public about Haiti’s past, present and future rebuilding.

The documentary is produced by Tet Arsanm and tells the story of five courageous Haitian women workers. Each woman’s personal story explains neoliberal globalization, how it is gendered, and how it impacts Haiti: inhumane working/living conditions, violence, poverty, lack of education, and poor health care. While Poto Mitan offers in-depth understanding of Haiti, its focus on women’s subjugation, worker exploitation, poverty, and resistance demonstrates these are global struggles. Finally, through their collective activism, these women demonstrate that despite monumental obstacles in a poor country like Haiti, collective action makes change possible.

The university community and the public are invited.