Wednesday, December 1, 2010

thINK 3: Women's Rights

“The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, ‘It’s a girl.’” This quote, by Shirley Chisholm, is discouraging because it’s true, especially in some countries. Ever since the fourteenth and fifteenth amendment, it seems that people have overlooked women’s rights. Sadly, some countries overlook women’s rights altogether.

“Despite many successes in empowering women, numerous issues still exist in all areas of life, ranging from cultural, political to the economic.” It has been stated that gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lifetime. For example, women often work just as hard as men yet are paid less. Women and girls are often the ones that suffer the most hardship. Gender equality furthers the cause of child survival and development for all society, so the importance of women’s rights and gender equality should not be underestimated.

In comparison to women’s oppression in many countries, I am proud to live in the United States where women have stood up for what they believe in and have become an example for younger girls like me to have that same courage as they did. Many women like Abigail Adams, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton have done that exact thing. However, even though we have our rights here, others should have the right to fight for theirs also. Some may think that women’s rights are better than they used to be, like it is in the U.S., but there are women all over the world that are still crying out for help as they are forced to do and be someone they are not.