Women of Color in Developing Economies - Essay Example

WOMEN OF COLOR WOMEN OF COLOR Man and woman are like two wheels of a carriage. The life of one without the other is incomplete. Neither man nor woman can be true to what they are, if either of them leads an isolated life. Man and woman both contribute to the development of each other's personality. Our ancient scriptures assigned woman a place higher than man. It was believed that while man represented the destrtructive aspect of nature, woman represented the constructive one and that blessed is the home where women are given due respect. According to Rabindra Nath Tagore: (Mahendra S, & Susmita H 312) " Women is God's best creation". She adds beauty, grace and charm to every aspect of life. Sadly enough, she has been neglected and her virtues glossed over by the pre dominantly male society." In ancient times women enjoyed full respect and honor and were regarded as the better halves of men. No sacrifice was complete without women participating in it. They enjoyed rights equal to men, with full liberty to receive education and prepare themselves in their own manner, to face the arduous battle of life. They had full voice in the settlement of matrimonial relations. Many nations affirm the principle of gender equality. As women continue to advance in most walks of life, the impression that equality has been reached and that gender issues no longer pose real problems has naturally gained ground. Yet, many cultural, economic and social barriers remain. Although as many women as men possess the skills necessary to shape social and economic development, women are still prevented from fully participating in decision-making processes. Today the role of men and women in our society is both collaborative and supplementary. During the last five decades women have entered in increasing numbers into salaried and remunerative occupations as well as professions, which were previously the exclusive preserve of men. Today the difference that while women in former days worked along with men in the fields, now they work in factories or offices. The myth of male superiority is only a distortion that came in the wake of growing male domination. It is a paradox that there should be an increase in crimes against women, especially in the face of spectacular strides being made by them in various walks of life. Emancipation of women has occupied an important place in the scheme for social reforms undertaken in developing countries of Asia and Africa, in the later half on the 19th century. Violence against women remains pervasive worldwide a major health and human rights concern. Women can experience physical or mental abuse throughout their lifecycle, in infancy, childhood and/or adolescence, or during adulthood or older age. It is the most atrocious manifestation of the systemic discrimination and inequality women continue to face, in law and in their everyday lives, around the world. It occurs in every region, country, and culture, regardless of income, class, race or ethnicity. Violence against women in developing countries have becoming mere frequent and is alarmingly on the increase. Today in almost every stratum of our social life, women are treated as inferior creatures. Almost all countries go about shouting about constitutional equality between man and women, but have yet to go long way before women find an equally safe and honorable place in society. The newspaper daily read and hears about ladies living in busy localities being murdered in broad daylight. It is so because they have some yellow metal on them. Rape is not the only motive force behind the crimes against women. A woman, by her very constitution, is vulnerable. In poor countries Young girls are deceived on promises of a decent job or marriage. Once a girl has fallen, she is blackmailed into a life of vice. To get a feel of the widespread evil of crime against women, only requirement is to know the experiences of working girls from the moment they leave their home up to the time of their return. At all times they are exposed to the prying eyes of hungry males of all ages and all classes. Women in poor countries, even continue to be helpless victims of the male's chauvinism and high- handedness in almost every walk of life. Whether a woman is a poor factory worker a domestic servant, a middle class office-goer or a highly paid government officer or a company executive, she is the focal point of hundreds of hungry eyes wherever she is and whatever she is doing. This happens, not withstanding the fact that out constitution ensures equality for all. WHO speaks out: action to address violence against women1 1. Comprehensive database exists on violence against women and girls, including published and unpublished data from around the globe on domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, child abuse and female genital mutilation. 2. Multi-country study in 8 countries being implemented on the prevalence, risk and protective factors and health consequences of violence against women. 3. Document finalized and disseminated on "Putting Women's Safety First: Ethical and Safety Recommendations for Research on Domestic Violence against Women". 4. Together with the Center for Health and Gender Equity, initiated the development and testing of a manual for conducting research on violence against women which aims to capture the collective wisdom of the members of the International Research Network on Violence against Women (IRNVAW), who have undertaken community surveys in resource poor settings. 5. Research undertaken in Indonesia, Nigeria and the Philippines on the perceptions 1"WHO speaks out: action to address violence against women" Retrieved from< http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/> and experiences of adolescents with regard to sexual coercion, extending from verbal threats to rape. 6. Training of trainers implemented to make primary health care providers and specialists in the rehabilitation of psychiatric patients more sensitive to the mental needs of women. 7. Kosovo: A plan of action is being developed to address health needs of women and children affected by violence, including data collection, training, prevention and response, and legal protection. 8. Rwanda and Burundi: Accessibility to health services improved for women affected by violence, through local capacity building and institutional-building. Training will now include integrated services addressing the link between HIV/AIDS and violence. 9. Latin America: A co-ordinate network has been put in place in 9 countries to provide comprehensive support to women affected by intimate partner violence, and their children. (Who.int) It is heartening to note that in most of the developing countries, today the educated ladies who are very keen on taking up administrative work and doing wonderful work in offices as typists, clerks, receptionists, in offices, companies politics, education and space. It has been noticed that they are quick to understand and very efficient in work and they have won the applause from the bureaucracy. Moreover, they cheer up, others ' with a swept smile and they can win over others to their 'point, of view. 'All-important services have been open to them. Women are working as magistrates, judges and revenue and in many other spheres too. They are cool-headed, dispassionate objective and impartial. Women surely have a very important role to play in modern world today. Keeping in tune with the ancient world, in modern world, too women are the builders of nation. They have distinguished themselves in various spheres of life and have proved their efficiencies as politicians, statesmen, orators, poets, scholars, doctors, diplomats, women ministers and women-ambassadors. Women had established their worth to the curious gaze of orthodox women title and to the reverent amazement of the world. Women have assumed more responsibilities not only of their families but also of the country and are contributing to the good governance of the world. In the social, economic 'and political sphere, women too have to shoulder the responsibilities along with men Women have shown their worth in almost every sphere of life. Women are responsible with their male counterparts for plans of national reconstruction, rural uplift and an all-round development of country for progress and prosperity. To quote Miss Universe, 1994 Sushmita Sen, (Mahendra S, & Susmita H 314) " Women have now become more aware of their rights as individuals and are now option for higher positions at work, at the same time being a perfect housewife at home. This, then, is the stage at which women have reached today than to their struggle for equality and, more importantly, because of the situation we have landed ourselves into with men at the helm of affairs." Prejudices against women occupying positions of leadership are fast disappearing and their traditional role of sex objects being rejected. The male - dominated milieu, be it social or political, is no longer gratifying. It is plagued with bloodshed, vengeance, envy and immorality. Communalism, fundamentalism, violence and tensions have made peace and harmony things of the past. The world is permeated by chaos today. Only the benign and elevating presence of women on the top can help bring in a semblance of order in the present situation. Emotional, affectionate, caring and yet firm, a women is the perennial source of inspiration for man in his odyssey of life she can definitely free the present world of its gore and ugliness. Women like Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Margaret Thatcher and their ilk have lefrt a permanent imprint on the history of the present century. In the past, women like Joan of Arc and Lakshmi Bai have proved the strength of their convictions. If women hare allowed to take over today, the world would be a happier and better place to live in. They are no longer frail and untrustworthy, and they have risen for above the domestic drudgery. They are educated and aware enough to deal with any situation competently. Women are no longer lifeless, inanimate objects; they have struggled hard to establish an identity of their own. They are liberal and possess strength enough to dream of a brave, new world. They are fully capable of articulating their hopes and aspirations - whether it is ruling a country, scaling mount Everest, flying in space, or displaying effective managerial skills. Eighth of March is celebrated every year as the International Women's Day. It shows that the woman of today has come of age, so to say, and wants to lead a dignified life of equality with man. The slogan being raised today the women of the world are: (Mahendra S, & Susmita H 315) "Equality, dignity and Self-Respect is What We Want. The slogan is indicative of the new awareness among women the world over." New Challenges and Opportunities In the world, Woman has played a silent, self -effacing role to sustain civilization down the ages. However, her status has undergone significant improvement since last couple of decades. Women's welfare is now a prominent feature in all countries plans. The Constitution in many countries has not only provided equal rights and privileges for both men and women but has gone a step further and made special provisions for women and children. In spite of being taken these safeguards, many Asian and African countries, in their family life are governed by personal religious laws, which have failed to give women their due. It is surprising that in spite of so many laws, women still continue to live under the stress and strain of male domination that manifest itself in the form of various kinds of hardships and indignities meted out to them. To ensure equality of status for women, countries still have miles to go. The United Nations' commitment to the advancement of women began with the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945. Its Preamble declared faith:2 "in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small" In 1946 the Commission on the Status of Women was established to promote the advancement of women throughout the world. World leaders assembled at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000 emphasized their commitment to promote gender equality and empowerment of women. The 2005 World Summit reiterated this resolve to eliminate discrimination against women and renewed commitment to the gender mainstreaming strategy. 2 "United Nations' commitment to the advancement of women." retrieved from The Platform for Action continues to represent the global policy framework for gender equality and empowerment of women and guides the work of Member States, the United Nations, international and regional bodies, and civil society. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women provides the normative framework. The synergies between the two instruments were recognized by the Commission on the Status of Women in its 49th session and are regularly highlighted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. A major challenge for the Commission is ensuring accountability for implementation of existing policy recommendations and human rights standards at national level. The framework of the Millennium Development Goals provide new opportunities for the Commission's work through mobilization of governments, international organizations and NGOs around time-bound, measurable targets, and through increasing the visibility of gender issues in national development planning and reporting, facilitating the development of alliances with new partners and increasing access to resources. Mahatma Gandhi had once declared: "Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacities. She has a right to participate in every minute detail of the activities of man and she has an equal right of freedom and liberty with him. She is entitled to a supreme place in her own sphere of activity as man is in his" In most of developed and underdeveloped countries, the educational level of all women must be upgraded. They must be made aware of their duties, rights and responsibilities. They must be given equal succession and property rights under the law. Women can no longer afford to dismiss remarks coming from a woman as, " Oh, she is just a woman! for this, all derogatory references to women and glorification of their so-called virtues must be deleted from folklore. Equally important is the role universities play in the shaping of a society's cultural fabric and, consequently, of attitudes towards women and their place in society The Women studies in many universities around the globe are providing women with the education and leadership skills necessary for their advancement. Superstition and myths about women must be tested on the touchstone or nationality and an equal status be accorded to them in society. Once this is done, the world will certainly be a better place to live in. Reference Kearny Marie-Louise. Women, Power and the Academy From Rhetoric to Reality Berghahn Books. 2001 Mahendra S, & Susmita H. University Journal of Women Studies. 2005, Vol. 49, No3, pp. 312-316 (23 ref.) Massiah& Joycelin (ed.) Women in Developing Economies: Making Visible the Invisible.UNESCO. Berg Publishers, Paris, 1993 'United Nations' commitment to the advancement of women. Retrieved December 10, 2006, from [http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/CSW60YRS/index.htm] WHO speaks out: action to address violence against women. Retrieved December 11, 2006, from [http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/ ] Wikipedia. Women's Studies. Retrieved December 15, 2006, from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_studies ] Read More