Essay on Men and Women Equal Rights

Introduction

Gender equality has been one the most debated topics across the globe. Different countries have made dramatic efforts to create a balance in the roles of men and women in society, especially in employment and education. However, gender equality is still a major problem in many developing nations. In these countries, men are predisposed to lucrative jobs and roles that generate more income and empowerment as compared to women.

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As stated in the above thesis, gender equality is still a major problem in many developing nations. In these countries, women face a lot of challenges since they are not empowered and most lucrative jobs and rights are given to men. Some of these countries have as low as 35 percent of female literacy. Women are denied the basic human rights such as education, occupation, dress, marriage, healthcare, politics and travel ("Gender Inequality" 1). Discrimination of women is still a major problem in these countries and it will continue to cause turmoil in them. These are some of the worst countries that women should live in. A country that does not allow a woman to choose their career is doomed to fail economically. Anyone, irrespective of their gender should get jobs based on their skills, talents, and ability to perform on the job. However, most institutions in such countries still allocate jobs based on gender. The situation is worsened by denying women a right to higher education or the simple right to work outside home.

One of the major causes of denying women the fundamental rights in the developing nations is the portrayal of women as lesser beings as compared to men. In relation to education, women should be given equal chance to learn just as men. However, such societies do not allow women to go to school since they are supposed to stay home and do housework while the men go to work. Women's lack of education inhibits them from understanding what is right or wrong, hence they fully abide by what the society tells them ("Gender Inequality" 1). There are specific jobs that women are not entitled to. For instance, my aunt got her master's degree in software engineering which is a field that is dominated by men and even though she graduated with high GPA and from a good school in the US. They still preferred men over her for that job. This makes women fail to stand up for their rights and demand for change in governance and policies that govern them. Many women are inclined to specific careers since society tells them that they cannot do certain jobs, and some do not feel confident enough to face society and life to play it safe. I admit that some jobs are more suitable for men than women, but there are many women that believe that they are capable of doing these jobs so why not just let them be? Women have been fighting for equal rights for the longest time. Although many people think that women are now equal to men, it is not true. Men receive benefits than women do. When men and women have the same career, the chances are men are going to get paid more than women even when she is doing a better job than him. For some countries, in some companies, jobs are taken away from women simply because of her gender even if she is more qualified than whoever they will grant the job. Women are strong enough to be able to work for a living and take care of their kids as well. Women also struggle to get good healthcare. They wholly depend on men for medical bills and for economic sustenance hence they cannot make decisions on their own. Women being hindered from getting an education means that they cannot secure jobs. Hence, they cannot earn for themselves and their families. This makes them completely dependent on men who feel more dominant and in control of their wives. As a result of their plight, many organizations have come up to help these women to act upon the challenges they face in their lives. This has brought some few changes in these male dominating nations. Some societies currently allow women to receive a better education and the number of women seen driving is steadily increasing.

The plight of women in some nations boils down to specific dress codes of women that are defined by the societies they live in. Some of these nations such as Yemen forces their women to wear long dresses that cover their whole body despite their environment being very hot. These women also have to wear a large headscarf which covers their head and most part of their faces. Women in male dominating societies do not really have options when it comes to dressing whereas men tend to wear what they want. Additionally, the marriage of women is defined by their fathers, with the girls or their mothers having no say at all in the occasion (Sharoni 27). Men marry off their daughters especially at the age of eighteen and they are usually married off to older men. This increases the rate of domestic violence since the men will demand full submission of the woman to them. Filing for a divorce by the women who are oppressed in their marriages also depends on the consent of their fathers or elders ((Sharoni 27). As a result, most women feel trapped in the marriages despite their plight. Early marriages also predisposed women to numerous unplanned children which they cannot provide for or nurture, and many divorces.

Early marriage is a serious issue in Syria. Many women are being bargained into marriage with older men. Syrians defend this by lowering the burden of taking care of the children since they have one less mouth to feed while still earning a dowry. There numerous cases of young girls being married off at attender age and less than a year later, seek for divorce or suffer from sexual, physical and mental abuse. The most recent incidence of early marriage is of a nine-year-old girl who was informed that she was to be married off to a much older man but refused and ran away. This is just one of the ordeals that young girls face in their hands of their fathers. Another girl also narrated a story of how she hid from her husband for ten days but she was forced back to marriage by her sisters who were totally brainwashed by the society and acted based on sheer ignorance. They told her that she was shaming the family for rejecting the husband (Seguino 22).

The freedom of women to travel anywhere is also violated by some of the growing nations. They have to seek permission from the fathers or husbands when they want to travel. This grossly demote the statuses of women since they have to rely on a male figure in order to leave for anywhere. This clearly indicates male dominance in such regions and it grossly undermines the right of a woman to free travel and privacy. Politics is a fundamental is a fundamentally social activity that should be inclusive of both men and women. However, women are not included in politics in most developing nations since they are either undermined by the society or they are not educated enough on how the government or politics runs in general. Surprisingly, some developing nations do not even include women in the voting process, a fundamental process that expresses one's right and efforts towards the progress of a nation. The exclusion of women in the political decision-making process keeps them off from having a say in the government or in any law-making, thus rendering them unable to fight for their rights.

Different organizations are currently working in different nations that still undermine the basic rights of women. Organizations such as UNICEF help these societies by reducing poverty level and providing basic necessities. CARE is a special organization that not only helps in poverty reduction but also help the women in getting their basic rights such as education and quality healthcare (Seguino 22). These organizations work to empower the women in relation to their roles in society. Since most girls are not educated, these organizations strive to expand their knowledge and teach them basic lessons. The educational plan is not only restricted to women but also men who are educated on the importance of educating women in improving the society and the conditions of their countries. These organizations are making a difference in the lives of women living in male-dominated societies.

Several actions have been taken to fix the plight of women in developing nations and many aid organizations are at the center of encouraging the government to enact laws that quantify a specific age that a girl can get married based on her personal decision. However, most governments have not resolved the issue since most of these nations are Islamic states. These nations firmly believe in religious practices that unfortunately encourages early marriage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, women in developing nations are marginalized groups that struggle with gaining the same rights as men. Although the gender equality of most countries has improved, it is still not anywhere close to being resolved. The women in these nations still lack basic human needs such as education and better health. The lives of this woman have greatly been improved by aid organizations and other services. These organizations have improved their conditions and empower them to stand up for themselves.

Works Cited

"Gender Inequality." Gender Inequality in the Public Sector in Pakistan,

Seguino, Stephanie. "Financing for Gender Equality: Reframing and Prioritizing Public Expenditures to Promote Gender Equality." Financing for Gender Equality, 2017, pp. 5-24.

Sharoni, Simona. "Women and Gender in Middle East Studies: Trends, Prospects, and Challenges." Middle East Report, no. 205, 1997, p. 27.