Pulitzer Center Update

Cynthia Gorney Discussed Widowhood Project at University of Texas at Austin

March 29, 2017 | Project news
By
Cynthia Gorney

Award-winning journalist Cynthia Gorney discussed her Pulitzer Center-supported National Geographic project, "For Widows, Life After Loss" at the University of Texas at Austin's Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice on March 21, 2017.

Worldwide, there are about 259 million widows. Nearly half live in poverty. Even where laws protect their rights, widows are sometimes mistreated.

In Uganda, as in many other parts of the world, widowhood is a sentence to a life of misery. After her husband died, Betty Nanozi was robbed of everything she owned, twice. Her cow was beaten to death. Her land was forcefully taken from her.

Gorney was joined by Pulitzer Center Executive Director Jon Sawyer. They spoke about both the field research behind her project—in India and Bosnia as well as Uganda—and how that reflects patterns of discrimination that are all too common across the globe.

Cynthia Gorney discusses her work on widows at the University of Texas at Austin's Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin. United States, 2017.

Cynthia Gorney discusses her work on widows at the University of Texas at Austin's Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin.  United States, 2017. 

Pulitzer Center Executive Director Jon Sawyer introduces Cynthia Gorney. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin. United States, 2017.

Pulitzer Center Executive Director Jon Sawyer introduces Cynthia Gorney. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin.  United States, 2017. 

Cynthia Gorney showcases her work in National Geographic. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin. United States, 2017.

Cynthia Gorney showcases her work in National Geographic. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin.  United States, 2017. 

Cynthia Gorney talks about the widows she met as part of her reporting. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin. United States, 2017.

Cynthia Gorney talks about the widows she met as part of her reporting. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin.  United States, 2017. 

Cynthia Gorney discusses her work. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin. United States, 2017.

Cynthia Gorney discusses her work. Image courtesy the University of Texas at Austin.  United States, 2017.