It is not a secret that crisis and specialized committees tend to be male dominated. Throughout my years participating in Model UN, I’ve noticed that the vast majority of character based committees rarely have female delegates among their participants, let alone female characters or officials in the dossiers.
The gender imbalance across delegates and characters is directly correlated to historical and enduring gender inequality in leadership areas. However, it also illuminates the societal tendency to relegate women-centered stories to side narratives. As this article shows, there are plenty of opportunities for female centric committees that just aren’t being run!
As a young woman in Model UN, having the opportunity to represent other women is a rarity! When it occurs, I cannot help but feel immensely empowered and inspired, as well as saddened that so many other women in Model UN never get this chance: one that I believe all delegates should have regardless of their gender.
Expanding equality-related topics and female representation beyond solely General Assemblies can also lead to more gender parity across committee types, by motivating women to participate in crisis and specialized committees. Ultimately, equality is a conversation that all genders should partake in, and the issue itself can be applicable to exciting committees of all kinds!
To celebrate International Women’s Day this week, here are six crisis and specialized committee suggestions centered on the theme of women’s empowerment — from organizations that fight for girls’ education and governments that exhibit gender parity, to unique historical and fictional storylines in which women play significant roles.
Cabinet of Finland, 2019 – Crisis
The Finnish government made history in December 2019, electing its youngest ever prime minister, Social Democrat Sanna Marin. She leads a coalition government whose four other parties are all led by women. The Marin Cabinet consists of 19 ministers from the Social Democratic Party, the Centre Party, the Green League, the Left Alliance, and the Swedish People’s Party.
Aside from setting the agenda for the next few years of Finnish governance, the Cabinet will have to take on their nation’s European Union Presidency, manage the labor strikes that led to the resignation of the former Prime Minister, handle the controversial repatriation of Syrian Al-Hawl refugees, and effectively address the #1 concern of Finnish voters: climate change.
Aside from creating an opportunity to discuss relevant topics, a committee on the Marin Cabinet would be a major step forward for gender equality. This government is revolutionarily led by a majority of female officials across the political spectrum.
Committee on the Organization of the #MeToo Movement (2017) – Specialized
Initiated by Tarana Burke, #MeToo exploded in 2017, becoming an international movement for raising awareness about sexual harassment and assault and generating conversations and policies. This committee, centered on strategizing the #MeToo movement, can involve characters ranging from activists and celebrities to journalists and policymakers from around the world.
Now that the hashtag has become viral, committee members will have to determine what priorities and policies they want to champion and decide how to expand the movement in nations with internet censorship, or where sexual assault is a taboo topic. Potential committee objectives could be writing a #MeToo manifesto and dealing with interactive media elements, such as press conferences and Twitter updates.
Including this specialized committee on the Model UN circuit can contribute to awareness and problem solving around the issue of sexual assault, as well as take a topic often incorporated into General Assemblies to another, more dynamic level. Ultimately, this can inspire more female delegates to participate in specialized committees and increase open-mindedness for all participants.
Night Witches: 588th Night Bomber Regiment – Crisis
The “Night Witches” was a nickname German World War II soldiers used for the notorious all female military aviators of the Soviet Air Force’s 588th Night Bomber Regiment. The regiment flew precision bombing missions against the German military from 1942 until the end of the war, and was the first and most highly decorated female unit in the Soviet Air Force. The Nazis feared and hated them, automatically granting any German airman who downed a member of their regiment the prestigious Iron Cross medal.
Beginning with negotiations for the inclusion of women in the Air Force, this committee can span World War II and involve military strategy, historic battles, and incredible women often excluded from history books.
On multiple occasions, I’ve found myself in a committee with an all male cast of characters. Delving into the story of the Night Witches is not only fascinating, but it turns the tables with an all female group of historical figures — a rare occurrence in Model UN. This committee also dispels the common idea that women are disinterested in military topics.
The Republic of Gilead – Crisis
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. It is set in future New England, after a theonomic and totalitarian movement overthrows the United States government and establishes the Republic of Gilead. The story explores repression in a patriarchal society, and includes complex female characters who resist the regime and aim to gain independence.
The Handmaid’s Tale could be adapted into an advanced crisis committee, with delegates representing Handmaids and strategizing how to gain freedom and upend the social order. Alternatively, it can be structured as a committee meeting of the ‘Mayday’ resistance, an underground network working to overthrow the Republic of Gilead.
Either direction taken can lead to a captivating committee that explores gender inequality, totalitarian regimes, and rebellion in times of repression.
Malala Fund – Specialized
The Malala Fund was funded in 2013 by Malala Yousafzai and her father Ziauddin Yousafzai. Through its Gulmakai Network, the organization supports the work of education champions in developing countries and works to promote girls’ education and empowerment. Several past initiatives of the Malala Fund include building an all-girls school in Kenya, creating an education program for Pakistani children fleeing conflict and natural disasters, and building classrooms for over 1,000 girls in Sierra Leone.
The committee can consist of Malala Fund staff, board members, leadership council members, and partner representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Apple, Starbucks, etc. Simulated as a specialized committee, the Malala Fund can be a dynamic experience that generates productive dialogue and innovative solutions for gender inequality in education.
MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America) – Crisis
J.K. Rowling’s new screenplays, now the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them films, are amazing stories that not only take the magic of the wizarding world beyond Hogwarts but include gender parity among its complex characters. Simulating an assembly of the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA), led by President Seraphina Picquery, would make for an exciting fantasy crisis committee.
Occurring in the 1920s, this committee can involve characters from MACUSA itself, as well as other witches and wizards from the Fantastic Beasts storyline. Committee objectives would include responding to the crisis of “magizoologist” Newt Scamander’s creatures breaking loose throughout New York City, addressing the resurgent desire of non-magical people to expose and persecute witches and wizards, and collaborating with the non-magical U.S. Congress to ensure national security in response to the threats of dark magic.
By including more diverse committees with well-rounded casts of characters — of all genders — Model UN can not only be a vehicle for discussing gender equality, but also for normalizing it and achieving it across the board!
To learn more about organizing conferences, orchestrating committees like these, and taking on club officer roles in Model UN, the Student Leadership program at the Model UN Institute is an amazing and impactful summer experience.
Through this program, students who will become the next generation of conference organizers and who are looking to become more empowered and aware as leaders will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge on how to lead their MUN organizations to success and make a difference through leadership and diplomacy.
