Paper Example on Women's Rights: How Far Have We Really Come?

Introduction

The journey concerning the fight for women's rights can be likened to the fight for freedom from slavery by the African American community. During the Antebellum era, slaves used to work on cotton fields. Each day of cotton picking, slaves went to the fields with sacks that they were expected to fill as many as possible. Meanwhile, during the laborious efforts, their white counterparts lashed them to ensure they worked as quickly as possible (Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860). Similarly, in the struggle for women's rights, from as early as 1962, women have been barred from exercising their basic rights like voting.

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Men in places like Pakistan believe that women embody their honor, thereby banning their women from voting. In provinces such as Dir, once controlled by the Taliban, women used to be treated poorly, being denied basic rights like the rights to expression and the right to vote (Jaffery). Comparing it to the antebellum years in slavery by African Americans, slaves had no rights but were subjected to obey their masters' commands no matter what the situations were. During the time, when cotton growing became famous in American, an overseer used to measure each individual slave's daily yield. Any slave who did not pick two hundred pounds of cotton during the day were whipped, without inquiry of why they performed poorly for that day (Cotton is King: The Antebellum South, 1800-1860).

Through time, there have been tireless fights to ensure women's rights, with commissions being formed to spearhead the fights. For example, the Scottish Human Rights Commission called for more action to make sure that women's rights are fulfilled. Scottish ministers are expected to ensure that problems faced by women are addressed in the development of new social security system for Scotland. Additionally, reports suggest progress made in tackling violence against women including the recent Domestic Abuse Act. However, there needs to be further concerted action, specifically in relation to sexual harassment and misogynistic bullying experienced by women. Similarly, during the slave trade era, Protestantism achieved much trying to shape the views of many Americans. Religious camps spread the word that people, including the slaves, could bring about their own salvation. Missionaries brought the message of the Awakening across the United States, including slaves. Many slaveholders, consequently encouraged their slaves to become Christians (Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860). Women got the chance to think about their society in empowering ways during the spirit of religious awakening during the antebellum era, however, abolition resulted in one of the earliest feminist movements in the United States.

Campaigns, such as #metoo have repeatedly exposed the reality of how women face violation of their rights, to security and safety. Woman have continuously been under-represented in public life, with disabled women, women from low incomes and women from black ethnic communities being more disadvantaged more (More action urged on women's rights). Governments have, however, beefed-up the fight against gender inequality, striving for more women to enjoy all of their rights. For instance, Pakistan's Election commission refused to accept council election results of Dir, having no woman voting. The commission ruled that at least 10% of the votes cast in each constituency must constitute women votes for the election to be valid (Jaffery).

Such robust actions by public bodies and commissions have given women an edge to get involved in the election in Pakistan, with others like Hameeda Shahid not only exercising her rights to vote but run for office. Men are, however, still trying to cope up with the advancements that have come with the fight for women's rights. Men in Dir, for instance, are still getting used to seeing a woman on a campaign trail.

Unfortunately, the fight for women's rights has not faced opposition from men only. Other women have been feeling that the fight for rights has gone too far. For instance, the #metoo campaign has faced opposition from Margaret Atwood. She opted to back author Steven Galloway, who is accused of bullying and sexual harassment. Margaret claims that Steven Galloway was denied due process by the University of British Columbia (Margaret Atwood faces feminist backlach for #MeToo op-ed).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the fight for women's rights has been active for a long time and the fights have been fruitful, allowing women to become competitive in environments dominated by men. However, it is inevitable that if women keep acting like the victims, the fight can advance to power struggles among women, which can tear down the feminine gender down.

Work Cited

"Antebellum Idealism and Reform Impulses, 1820-1860." n.d. 361-388. Document. <http://cnx.org/content/col11740/1.3>.

"Cotton is King: The Antebellum South, 1800-1860." n.d. 329-360. Document. <http://cnx.org/content/col11740/1.3>.

Jaffery, Shumaila. Change in Pakistan as women seize right to vote. 24 July 2018. Document. 24 July 2018. <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44901521?>.

Margaret Atwood faces feminist backlach for #MeToo op-ed. 16 January 2018. Document. 24 July 2018. <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42708522>.

More action urged on women's rights. 23 July 2018. Document. 24 July 2018. <https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-politics-44918644?>.