A Global Fight For Women’s Rights
Imagine a world where waxing your eyebrows is taboo, going out with your girlfriends is prohibited and covering yourself in black cloth from head to toe is mandatory. These restrictions are put on women in Saudi Arabia every day.
Women are not allowed to drive a car because men will be distracted on the road. Women are not allowed to go out in a group without a male guardian because of the potential chaos that could erupt. Women have limited employment options, are segregated from men in classrooms and are only taught by male professors through television monitors. Women are only allowed to see female doctors in hospitals.
Some women live under the harsh restrictions because it is eaesier to comply with the established cultural and religious beliefs than to rebel. Others obey out of a sense conviction to their families.
Compared to women in Saudi Arabia, opportunities for women in America are plentiful. Women enjoy the freedom to choose their professions and vote in government elections. Our culture fosters a society in which women are empowered to make choices, from what to wear to what type of career to pursue. The clothes we choose, the heels we walk in and the make-up we wear represents a cultural ideal of what we think a woman should be. These are the values of the Western society that we were brought up in.
In an attempt to find out how typical women in America viewed the culture and lifestyle of women in the Middle East, I interviewed several “women on the street” in Chicago. Their responses ran the gamut from appreciating their freedoms in the US to comparing women’s historic achievements in other countries.
“I recognize the value in living in the United States,” said Iowa native Keri Bugenhagen. “However there are circumstances where American women are still discriminated against.”
Almost 160 years after women gained civil rights in the United States, some rights and privileges are still in question. Women’s issues regarding reproductive rights, military enrollment, maternity leave and sexual harassment are hot button political issues covered in the media on a regular basis.
In 2005, only 15% of politicians in America were women. In this respect, America lags behind places like Sweden, where women are required by statute to fill 40% of the seats in the legislature. Female prime ministers or presidents have governed New Zealand, Ireland and the Philippines. In the U.S., women serve as Secretary of State and Speaker of the House, and a woman is currently leading the race for the Democratic nomination for the presidency.
“In England, women hold prominent positions in government,” said Rose Sanchez, Senior Secretary in the Sociology and Economics department at Roosevelt University in Chicago. “Margaret Thatcher ruled as Prime Minister for 11 years.”
Sanchez suggests women find something they are passionate about and get involved in politics, attend local township meetings or join civic organizations in order to become more involved in the political process.
“Our society grants us the privilege of independence,” Sanchez said. “We find that independence by working in groups.”
In cultures around the world, we will find differing views of a woman’s role in society. We must recognize those differences. By identifying areas in which women have made strides and areas with room for improvement, we can multiply our strength in numbers and gain leverage in the global fight for equality.
Contributed by Jessica Titlebaum
