8.2.7 Equal Rights for Women
Completion requirements
8.2.7 Equal Rights for Women
How should I respond to globalization?
Globalization and women's rights: Throughout history, women have had few rights. In fact, five Alberta women went to court in the late 1920s to have themselves declared persons! As the nations of the world become more connected, women around
the world are demanding equal rights. Women's rights have been improving steadily in most of the world over the past several years.
In many parts of the world, women are still discriminated against.
Some of these "rules" are based on cultural norms and religious beliefs. Sometimes, they are based on the perspective that women need to be protected from men.
In many parts of the world, women are still discriminated against.
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The average woman still does not earn as much as the average man earns.
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Women do not have the same rights in marriage as men do.
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In some countries, women cannot vote, drive cars, or even leave their houses without male relatives accompanying them.
Some of these "rules" are based on cultural norms and religious beliefs. Sometimes, they are based on the perspective that women need to be protected from men.
Some issues with women's rights:
- Right to control one's own body
- Right to vote and hold office
- Right to work for fair wages
- Right to own property
- Right to education
- Rights within marriage
- Rights as a parent
- Religious rights
- Right to serve in the army
- Right to participate in legal contracts
In many countries, women own nothing, inherit nothing, and earn nothing.
Three out of four of the poorest billion people in the world are women.
- Gro Harlem Brundtland, 2006
Woman in Zanzibar
Courtesy of D. Bates
Courtesy of D. Bates
Several issues concern women and work.
Low pay: Women on average are paid less than men are for the same hours of work. Traditional "women's jobs" such as childcare, retail sales, and health care are lower paid than jobs in industry and resource extraction are.
Right to work: In some parts of the world, women are forbidden to work outside the home. However, in the global economy, more women are working in outsourced industries as well as local employment. As the Industrial Revolution showed, when people begin to earn income, they also begin to demand political freedom.
Entrepreneurship gives women opportunities to achieve equal rights. When women become entrepreneurs, selling their own handicrafts or agricultural produce, or starting their own businesses, they can make their own income. This provides better standards of living for them and their families, and it gives them greater independence from men. As they gain financial power in the global economy, they can demand equal rights.
Labour laws: In many parts of the world, women are not protected by labour laws that should control the hours they work, the rates of pay, or the conditions in which they work. Sweatshops are one example, but migrant farm labour, coffee farming, childcare, and serving as domestic servants or babysitters are other examples. as our economies become more inter-connected, come multinational corporations exploit the unfair laws of the developing world to get as much work for as little pay as possible. Others, under global pressure from consumers, are establishing better labour laws that protect workers in their operations worldwide. This means that better labour laws for women are coming into effect.
Low pay: Women on average are paid less than men are for the same hours of work. Traditional "women's jobs" such as childcare, retail sales, and health care are lower paid than jobs in industry and resource extraction are.
Right to work: In some parts of the world, women are forbidden to work outside the home. However, in the global economy, more women are working in outsourced industries as well as local employment. As the Industrial Revolution showed, when people begin to earn income, they also begin to demand political freedom.
Entrepreneurship gives women opportunities to achieve equal rights. When women become entrepreneurs, selling their own handicrafts or agricultural produce, or starting their own businesses, they can make their own income. This provides better standards of living for them and their families, and it gives them greater independence from men. As they gain financial power in the global economy, they can demand equal rights.
Labour laws: In many parts of the world, women are not protected by labour laws that should control the hours they work, the rates of pay, or the conditions in which they work. Sweatshops are one example, but migrant farm labour, coffee farming, childcare, and serving as domestic servants or babysitters are other examples. as our economies become more inter-connected, come multinational corporations exploit the unfair laws of the developing world to get as much work for as little pay as possible. Others, under global pressure from consumers, are establishing better labour laws that protect workers in their operations worldwide. This means that better labour laws for women are coming into effect.
Reflect
Although men make the decisions in politics and business in most of the world, women are often the most important factor in the economic success of the family unit. In fact, women do most of the world's unpaid work. Economists believe that if
women did more paid work, the world could be much richer.
Lack of education of women and limited job opportunities are important factors in the developing world, but the problem exists in the developed world also where women usually earn less than men earn. Women often have to choose between having children or having jobs, and most choose family. In countries where women have low tax rates and good earning power, they can have both jobs and families.
From a human rights perspective, many people believe that, if women do not have equal rights with men, society cannot be just. As the world becomes more of a global village, women and men are standing up for the rights of women. Women's rights are human rights.
From the perspective of many people within certain cultures, the rules that may seem to treat women as less equal are designed to protect them. In Unit One, you considered the hijbab and reasons Islamic women wear it. What one group may see as an infringement of human rights, others may see as necessary protection. Is there a line between protecting women and oppressing them?
Is a balance possible between making money and having time for family life?
Lack of education of women and limited job opportunities are important factors in the developing world, but the problem exists in the developed world also where women usually earn less than men earn. Women often have to choose between having children or having jobs, and most choose family. In countries where women have low tax rates and good earning power, they can have both jobs and families.
From a human rights perspective, many people believe that, if women do not have equal rights with men, society cannot be just. As the world becomes more of a global village, women and men are standing up for the rights of women. Women's rights are human rights.
From the perspective of many people within certain cultures, the rules that may seem to treat women as less equal are designed to protect them. In Unit One, you considered the hijbab and reasons Islamic women wear it. What one group may see as an infringement of human rights, others may see as necessary protection. Is there a line between protecting women and oppressing them?
Is a balance possible between making money and having time for family life?