The topic for this class was on the issue of women’s
rights as human rights. This is a very big topic for this class as everything
surrounds the idea of women’s rights. This presentation discussed how the
rights of women are not always recognized worldwide and many women are often
discriminated against on the basis of their gender. Women’s rights are often
affected in a physical, sexual, and political sense, and this varies from
country to country. For example in a country such as Canada women’s sexual and
physical rights are not as badly affected as in a country such as India or
China. In these countries there is not much regard for women and women are
actually considered to be more of a burden than a blessing in these countries.
An article by Charlotte Bunch titled, ‘Women’s Rights as Human Rights: Toward a
Re-Vision of Human Rights,’ discussed how in these countries being a woman is
actually detrimental as, females are aborted at a rate of 99 percent, during
childhood girls are fed less, breast fed for shorter periods, taken to the
doctors less frequently which causes mental and physical health effects and in
some cases even death (Bunch, 1990). Female's rights are also violated as
children as in some countries girls are not allowed to attend school because
they are to stay home and help out, education is often only permissible for
boys. For women who are able to survive and make it to see adulthood, their
rights still continue to be violated. This can be seen in a physical, sexual
sense where in some countries women do not have any control over their bodies,
some are forced to endure procedures of genital mutilation to ensure that they
do not become sexually active and when they are married their procedures are
undone, so that they appear ‘pure’ to their husbands. Some countries do not
allow women to choose their own husbands, rather they are subject to arranged
marriages, some females find themselves marrying men who are twice their age.
Being a woman has different effects on different women and often times not only
are women discriminated on the basis of their gender, but they are also
discriminated on the basis of their race, class and sexual orientation. On a
constant basis women’s basic rights are violated and despite attempts to bring
about change by advocacy groups, human rights, and the UN, to name a few, not
much change has happened.
With these issues in mind, I believe resilience is
acted out in many instances, in the ways in which the women being affected try
to stand up for their rights, despite the consequences that may come with such
decisions. I believe that women have gained control over their sexual and reproductive
rights in countries like Canada, with their ability to use contraceptives such as
birth control which allow women to control the amount of children that they
have. Women in countries like Canada have also had the freedom to decide their
sexuality without fear of being punished or killed and I believe that this is a
form of resilience, as much advocacy and protest was done to grant homosexual
women these rights. In speaking with a few of my friends who are of South Asian
decent they have told me that arranged marriages have changed over the years,
women now have the opportunity to play an active role in choosing who their
lifelong spouse will be. They are presented with a potential spouse and if they
don’t see something they like than they are allowed to pass.
While all these advancements are great we still need
to address the fact that not all women have equal human rights. Why do some
women have more rights than others and they live in the same country? Why
should a woman not be granted the same rights simply on the basis of race,
class, sexuality? Human rights are supposed to be universal, yet the rights of
some women in certain countries continue to be violated. In wrapping this piece
up the last question that came to mind was, how can I/we say that women’s rights
are being violated, such as sexual reproductive rights, when many of these
procedures are part of tradition? Is it acceptable for us to look at the ways
of life for another country and tell them what they’re doing is wrong and/or
violating human rights, when in fact to them that is considered normal?
I agree! Women's rights should be recognized as human rights, specifically recognizing their gender specific experiences that differ from men.
ReplyDelete"Is it acceptable for us to look at the ways of life for another country and tell them what they’re doing is wrong and/or violating human rights, when in fact to them that is considered normal?"
The answer to this question is not easy. I often find it hard to draw the line between cultural practises versus gender oppression or violation of human rights. If the women consent to the practise, then I believe it would be inappropriate for outsiders to judge. However, if women go along with a practise because its "tradition/normal", then outsiders may have room to offer their perspective, however, the ultimate decision should come down to the women!
I agree that if the women consent, it's not really appropriate for outsiders to judge. After all, freedom of choice is a human right, too!
DeleteHowever, you touched on a very tricky point -- *why* she agrees and consents is another matter to take into consideration. Sometimes it's as easily seen through as "because it's what's considered normal", but sometimes it can get very hazy between what *her* society thinks is normal, and what she *truly* believes in.
In addition to this, one way of dispelling or loosening the noose is to slowly but surely disprove traditions in a way they can accept. With female genital mutilation (FGM), the basis is that
1) women are more lusty than men (a not uncommon perception in many cultures, even in the West, though we've *mostly* outgrown it);
2) the procedure of FGM will curb a girl's sexual desires (b/c of the removal of or restrictions to the clitoris) and
3) of course, physically keep a woman "pure" until marriage by acting as a physical barrier. (the labia are sewn shut)
Thus, we can (and are!) educating many of the men *and women* that cutting it off isn't going to make a girl not desire what she desires. While we can't disprove that women are more lusty than men, we *can* tell them what our research has shown about puberty, and hormones.
But again, it's indeed very tricky to determine if a woman consents to what we call oppression because she believes in it and supports it wholeheartedly, or if she's also been mislead!
We really do need to be careful to see if, in our campaign for women's rights, we're actually adversely limiting freedom of choice, diversity, and pushing our Western (let's face it, most of it is!) ideas on someone else.
I think that you pose a very interesting stance. It is true that here in the Western world many of the practices that are done in other countries are absurb, but when they look at us they probably will say that freedom of sexuality and the outrightness of homosexuality that we have become tolerant to is just abhorring. However, when you strip a woman from her fundamental right to be who she was intended to be, her God-given right to be a woman and exercise control over her body, her mind and her desires. When these principles are smothered then I think there is an infringement and inequality occurs.
ReplyDeleteI think you bring to light two interesting points. Considering the strides that have been made worldwide to bring light to this issue of gender inequality and discrimination of women and the abuse they face, we still have a long way to go. Many organizations worldwide are attacking this problem but we are still lacking.
As well I have to agree with your stance on resilience. Women have adapted to their circumstances and can rejoice that they are overcoming. It is a shame that in the process some of the finesse of being a woman has had to be left at the door as we attempt to make it a still male dominated society, but woman are standing ground and standing unity which I also believe has brought the changes we now see.
One thing I would note is that as much as Canada has made strides to change the mentality of this issue the currents still run deep. We would like to think that we are so far advanced yet why is there still a need to protest just be heard in a nation that professes equality? Are we truly that far ahead.
Great insight.
Shanique
I also agree with what has been said above . I find that it all goes back to the foundation of most societies ; patriarchal . Therefore all the patriarchal values are what we have come to normalize and accept as have society should be run. I also find that without addressing the issues that the most vulnerable (racialized women , women with disabilities , women living in poverty, etc) in society face , our society will never fully progress. So yes ,as you stated Wendy, the ultimate decision has to come to women. It makes sense because it is their lives that are being affected .
ReplyDeleteWendy, while I agree with your excellent research and work published here, I have concern with one of your commentators. The decision does not always comes down to the women because women under 16 or in some cases 18 years, do not make decisions independent of parents. This is why works like yours and media exposure to these vulnerable women is highly imperative. For instance arranged marriages that become futile ends in honour killings in some situations, even right here in Canada. So women's right is sometimes limited because of ageism.
ReplyDeleteWow, the craziest thing I read in that paragraph was "females are aborted at a rate of 99 percent" in some places, that's truly shocking. In regards to your question I don't believe that tradition has any weight on what is ethical as human beings. In a quick glimpse at history you can see tradition after tradition that has been changed or completely erased because they were unethical, slavery being the first one that comes to mind. Everything was tradition at some point that should not be justification to not change something that is unfair or sexist.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad to hear that women are still being mistreated in various places around the world. Although there is so much discussion in today's society about gender equality and equal rights, it is almost as if it is all for show. People continuously talk but there is very little action done to try and fix these issues. With that said, from time to time there are slight changes and new advancements but, for the most part a lot of work still needs to be done. It was quite staggering to read that in places like India and China women may have there sexual organs sealed. The thought of not being in control of your own body is extremely appalling. Even the thought of not being in control of who you choose to be with is tough to swallow. Gender equality is almost as plaguing as racism in certain cases. One can even say everything goes hand in hand. If we can minimize or even abolish one the other will soon follow suit.
ReplyDeleteTo conclude, if group leaders can come together and really try to make a valiant effort to put an end to these gender biases it would be amazing. If countries as well stepped in , that would make a significant change. We all have morals whether or not we live in the same countries. People know what is right and wrong.
Here's a link that someone had sent me that goes really well with this topic: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/dowd-dont-tread-on-us.html?_r=2&ref=maureendowd.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading everyone's comments I do agree with idea that women's experiences differ from men's which is why their rights need to be recognized. I think that in regards to tradition, I am still undecisive on this because, I think that for traditions that women go along with such as FGM, they do consent to these procedures, but as outsiders we should be able to step in and say something because our healthcare is so advanced to allow to know that the conditions that these women are subjecting themselves to are not safe. I definitely agree with the comment that we need to disprove traditions such as FGM again, which is done because women are seen to me more lustful than men. I think it falls again on educating these countries, but in our campaigns we do need to ensure that we are not limiting women's choice. The question about why there is still a need for protest in a country like Canada is one that still continues to boggle my mind as well, since we are a country that does promote equality amongst its citizens.