By Akpoisheri Oghenetejiri
Women’s rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide.
They are the fundamental human rights that were enshrined by the United Nations for
every human being on the planet nearly 70 years ago. These rights include the right to
live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination; to be educated; to own property; to
vote; and to earn a fair and equal wage.
The 1848 Seneca Falls Woman’s Rights Convention marked the beginning of the women’s rights movement in the United by States and virtually in the world. The
Convention recruited supporters and included many action steps to advance the
movement. In order to fully digest this topic,It is pertinent to understand why women’s
right is important and widely agitated for.
Firstly it helps to ensure that women and girls are treated with the same dignity and
respect as men and boys. When women have access to education, healthcare, and
economic opportunities, they are better able to contribute to their families, communities,
and society as a whole.
However, despite the progress that has been made, women and girls still face
significant barriers to realizing their rights and achieving gender equality.
There are many issues that still need to be addressed in order to achieve gender
equality. For example, women are often paid less than men for doing the same job, and
they are more likely to work in low-paying jobs with little job security. Women also face
higher rates of violence and harassment, both in the workplace and in their personal
lives. Additionally, women are often underrepresented in positions of power, such as in
politics and business, which limits their ability to influence decision-making and shape
policies that affect their lives.
Hence,to address these issues, it’s important to raise awareness about women’s rights
and work towards creating policies and programs that promote gender equality.
Another importance of promoting women’s rights is that it encourages leadership and
participation of women indecision-making processes, and working to eliminate
discrimination and bias in all areas of society.
Ultimately, achieving gender equality is not only a matter of fairness and justice, but it is
also essential for creating a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world for everyone.
There are many organizations and movements around the world that are working to
advance women’s rights and achieve gender equality. Some of these include the United
Nations Women, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, the Girl Up
Campaign, and the Malala Fund, among others. These organizations work to advocate
for women’s rights, provide education and resources to women and girls, and promote
gender equality in all areas of society.
A prominent activists Tawakkul Karmān once stated that “Peace does not mean just to
stop wars, but also to stop oppression and injustice.”
It is note worthy that individuals can also play a role in advancing women’s rights,by
speaking out against discrimination and bias, supporting women-led initiatives, and
working to create more inclusive and equitable communities.
In order to create a more equitable and just world for all, it’s important to recognize the
intersectional nature of gender inequality. This means acknowledging that women from
different backgrounds and identities may experience different forms of discrimination
and barriers to their rights and opportunities. For example, women of color, indigenous
women,
women with disabilities, and women living in poverty may face unique
challenges that require targeted solutions.
By working to address these intersectional issues, we can create a more inclusive and
equitable society for all women and girls.
In addition to addressing gender inequality, it’s also important to recognize the ways in
which gender norms and stereotypes can harm both women and men. For example,
traditional gender roles often limit women’s opportunities and perpetuate harmful
stereotypes about their abilities and worth. At the same time, these gender norms can
also put pressure on men to conform to certain expectations and behaviors, which can
be damaging to their mental health and well-being. By challenging gender norms and
promoting more fluid and inclusive ideas about gender, we can create a society that is
more accepting and empowering for everyone.
One of the key ways to promote gender equality is through education. By providing girls
and women with access to education, we can help to break down barriers and empower
them to reach their full potential. Education can also help to challenge harmful gender
stereotypes and promote more inclusive and equitable ideas about gender. At the same
time, it’s important to recognize that there are still many barriers to education for girls
and women around the world, including poverty, discrimination, and violence. Byworking to address these barriers and promote access to education for all,we can
create a more equitable and just society for everyone.
Another important aspect of promoting gender equality is addressing genderbased
violence. This includes physical, sexual, and emotional violence that is directed at
individuals on the basis of their gender. Gender-based violence is a pervasive issue that
affects women and girls around the world, and can have serious and long-lasting
impacts on their physical and mental health. By working to address gender-based
violence, we can help to create a society that is more safe and equitable for
everyone.This involves challenging harmful attitudes and behaviors that contribute to
gender based violence, providing support and resources to survivors, and promoting
accountability for perpetrators.
Finally, it’s important to recognize that promoting gender equality is not just an issue for
governments and policymakers, but is something that we can all work towards in our
daily lives. This includes challenging harmful gender stereotypes and norms,promoting
women’s leadership and participation, and working to create more inclusive and
equitable communities.
It’s also important to recognize that gender equality is not just about promoting equal
opportunities for women, but also about recognizing the diversity of experiences and
identities that exist within the category of “woman.” This includes recognizing the
unique experiences and challenges faced by women of color, women with disabilities,
and women from other marginalized communities.
There are many important women’s rights activists who have made significant
contributions to advancing gender equality and promoting the rights of women and girls
around the world. Some of these activists include Malala Yousafzai, Audre Lorde,
Tarana Burke. These individuals have worked tirelessly to challenge harmful gender
norms and behaviors, promote women’s leadership and participation, and create more
inclusive and equitable societies.
Women’s rights activists have a long and rich history that spans many different cultures
and regions around the world. From the suffragettes of the early 20th century to the
women’s rights movements of the 1960s and 70s, women’s rights activists have been at
the forefront of social change for decades. Today, women’s rights activists continue to
play a vital role in promoting gender equality and advancing the rights of women and
girls around the world. They work to create more inclusive and equitable societies,
challenge harmful gender norms and behaviors, and promote women’s leadership and
participation in all areas of life.
Oghenetejiri is a student of Delta State University, Oleh Campus
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