Part 1
The status of women can be categorized by four subgroups: Economic inequality, education, traditional beliefs, and sexualization by modern society.
Education
Women and girls in the developing world are often denied opportunities for education.
Women who do not receive an education have a difficult time finding a source of income, and are at a higher risk of trafficking and exploitation.
Many women are often forced into prostitution in order to have provide income to their families
Tradition
In some places, women are regarded as being the equals of men, but still have different roles in their community. This is due to instilled traditional values and beliefs dating back to the establishment of their civilizations.
The daily responsibilities of a woman are taxing and can include:
- gathering firewood
- tending family fields.
- Caring for children
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Caring for the elderly
Arranged marriages are common around the world even today in places such as China, Africa, and India. They are seen as a business deal between two families. Daughters are sold for money.
Over 700 million women alive today were married as children.
- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that two-fifths of all African girls are married before the age of 18
With just 11% of the world’s population, Africa accounts for more than 50% of maternal deaths.
Many underdeveloped regions do not have substantial medical care.
Traditional beliefs dictate the clothes women wear
Some parts of Islam, Saudi Arabia, and India have clothing "laws" set up to conserve the modesty of women. Although very few of these are legal laws, the people who strictly believe in the regulations punish women who try to rebel.
Some traditional coverings are:
- Hijabs
- Burkas
Sexualization by Modern Society
Social Media is notorious for over-sexualizing women and their bodies.
Clothing brands advertise their clothes using scantily clad women
The Prevalence of Street Harassment
An average 84% of teenage girls internationally are catcalled by the age of 17.
"Women are people, not walking male enjoyment"
Part 2
Status of Women Today
The status of women today affects their access to healthcare, education, and job wages.
Photo: http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/29/opinion/huffman-women-health/
Third world countries
People in poor countries have less access to health services than those in better-off countries, and within countries, the poor have less access to health services.
The global maternal mortality ratio was 210 deaths per 100,000 live births, with highest prevalence in parts of Africa and Asia due to high fertility rates and weak health care systems
Education
Today, women are more likely to receive an education, especially in well developed countries such as the United States.
In 2016, no country had closed less than 50% of their overall gender gap.
Gender Gaps in Job Wages
- Taking experience and education into account, women are paid 81 cents to every dollar men are paid for doing the same job.
- Major improvement: women only got paid 59 cents for each dollar three decades ago.
Opinions on gender inequality:
- Thirty-four percent of men** are very satisfied with the way women are treated in society, compared to only 18% of women
- women today also have higher expectations for equality now than they did 25 years ago.
Part 3
The status of women in Islam Faith and Saudi Arabia
Islamic Faith
Women in Islam are stereotyped as being oppressed, inferior, and unequal to men.
- Islam has empowered women with the most progressive rights since the 7th century.
- Islamic faith states women and men are equal, but in their own distinct ways: these differences are embraced as vital components to a healthy family and successful community structure.
- Islamic people believe God commands women to cover certain parts of their body, including their hair, to preserve their modesty. Men are also required to cover parts of their body out of modesty, but not in the same way as women.
Saudi Arabia
Despite efforts for gender equality, some people in the world blame women for being raped.
- Saudi Arabia’s law dictates that a male family member must accompany a woman at all times in public.
- After facing a barrage of questions at last week’s Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, promised the courts will review the sentence for the 20-year old woman who was raped—along with a male companion—by seven men.
The Saudi Arabian woman was sentenced to 200 lashes and 6 months in jail.
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