This year, the United Nations marked the theme of International Women’s Day, observed on March 8, as “Rights and Justice for Women.” The day is often used by the UN to highlight global progress and the remaining challenges facing women. This year’s theme reflects the reality that while there has been significant progress, women have not yet achieved equitable rights and justice worldwide.
Over the past 50 to 70 years, women’s rights have expanded significantly in many parts of the world. Nearly all countries now grant women the right to vote and run for office. Although still insufficient, more women serve as heads of state or government than in previous decades.
In many countries, girls’ access to primary and secondary education is now close to equal to that of boys, and women make up a large share of university graduates globally. Laws against domestic violence, workplace discrimination and sexual harassment have been adopted in many countries. International treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) have also set global standards.
Women are increasingly active in professional fields, business leadership and entrepreneurship. But despite this progress, major gaps remain worldwide.
Women hold only about one-quarter of parliamentary seats globally, and many countries have never had a female head of government or president. On average, women worldwide earn about 20 percent less than men. Despite the existence of more laws, violence against women remains widespread, and each year millions of women experience domestic violence, trafficking or forced marriage.
In some countries, particularly in parts of the Middle East and South Asia, laws still restrict women’s inheritance rights, freedom of movement, employment choices, marital and divorce rights, and even aspects of dress and public life. Even in developed countries, issues such as wage gaps, under-representation in leadership and debates over reproductive rights continue.
From a modern perspective, it is concerning that women continue to be marginalized despite recent efforts to focus on their liberation and their issues. Along with frequent reports of domestic abuse and sexual harassment, several other factors continue to demean women and place them at a disadvantage in society.
The negative treatment of women in many circumstances can only be interpreted as a form of bigotry, not unlike racial bigotry.
A closer examination of the persistent discrimination against women globally may reveal roots in certain religious traditions. Many religions historically portray women as the weaker, submissive and dominated gender, while men are portrayed as the dominant gender and the natural leaders of the family and society.
In earlier religious traditions, including Christianity, women were often not allowed to speak or express their views in church or within their communities. In some societies, women must be fully covered from head to toe and are not allowed to vote, work outside the home or seek political office.
There are still relatively few women leaders in traditional Christian churches, and it remains exceptional for a woman to lead her country politically. In the United States, for example, even after 250 years of independence, there has never been a female president.
Ironically, when one examines college and high school graduation data, women consistently outperform men. In the United States, the dropout rate among men in colleges is consistently higher than among women.
If women possess strong intellectual capabilities, why do the overwhelming majority, despite the advocacy of feminist organizations, still allow themselves to be dominated by men? Instead of taking the reins of leadership, some women defer their most pressing issues to men to solve.
Women often wait for men to invite them to the table to share power rather than striving to claim that power on their own.
If women are to be truly liberated and achieve the rights and justice due to them, they must be bolder in asserting their rights. Women should also recognize that there are men who genuinely respect and admire women who challenge them intellectually and question male dominance in various aspects of society.
As we commemorate Women’s Month, it should be recognized that the issues affecting women should not be left solely for men to resolve. Women can fulfil their roles as mothers, wives and caregivers while also sharing leadership with men in the home, workplace and wider society.
In most situations, women have similar rights as men. More women need to be aware of these rights, fight for them and refuse to be marginalized.
Despite improvements, women must remain resilient in ensuring that the long-term global trend toward expanding women’s rights does not wane. Legal discrimination must continue to decline in many countries. Sadly, progress is not guaranteed and sometimes faces backlash, which is why global attention through events like International Women’s Day remains important.
Women have made substantial progress internationally, but equitable rights and justice have not yet been fully achieved anywhere in the world.
