The movement for women’s rights has a rich and pervasive history drawn out through centuries of courageous struggle. An undeniable amount of progress has been made with significant strides in women’s political rights, expanding economic opportunities and shifting societal norms. However, while many battles have been won, the war is far from over. As recent events bear evidence, our generation may be even witnessing a tragic reversal in women’s progression towards equality.
Consider Afghanistan. After the Taliban was removed from power in 2001, literacy rates and education enrolments for women and girls skyrocketed, with the female literacy rate doubling in a decade to 30% (BBC). Women voraciously entered the workforce and built a vocal presence on political platforms. However, in the short weeks since the Taliban regained control of the country, the future of the women and girls of Afghanistan looked bleak. Early promises to uphold education for girls proved shallow and the education systems the country had embraced for two decades were dismantled. Consequently, the lives and aspirations of millions of Afghan women have come to a shuddering halt as their basic human rights are threatened.
Thousands of miles away, a disastrous and appalling legislation robs women of their fundamental reproductive rights. In Texas, a towering state in the ‘land of the free’, we see the passing of a law reversing the constitutional right of women to abort, thereby stripping them of their right to bodily autonomy. Millions of American women, outraged at the reversal of a constitutional right, protested vehemently, but their voices fell through the country’s political divide and the law prevailed.
Both these events will remain abhorrent blots in the history of women’s rights. But these events are far from isolated tragedies. Since the pandemic, there has been an unconscionable increase in domestic violence against women, often meted out by those they trust the most. This is due to an increase in mental health issues, frustration, loss and financial struggle brought by the pandemic. Instantly, this affects those closest to the individual, specifically women. Economists tell us that women bear the greatest brunt of economic hardship brought on by COVID-19. Women across cultures and socio-economic groups have also taken on the greatest burden of health and childcare during lockdowns.
So the burning question that comes to mind is: after centuries of protest and progress, why is this the reality of 2021?
To answer this question, we must keep in mind the concept of scale in affecting change. We applaud protests on the news, repost viral posts on women’s equality and revel in the success stories of strong female role models, but it is what we do not do that puts the brakes on female empowerment. Most women (and men) hope for a different future, but do not not take action simply due to the fact that they do not believe that their personal efforts will result in change. They refrain from voicing their opinions for fear of standing out and they close their eyes when they see abuse. It is these men and women who are the vast majority. They believe that the few speaking out are speaking on their behalf and that is sufficient. They wish to be followers expecting others to lead.
However, until every person lends their voice and takes action, their dream for an equal world will remain a distant aspiration. If each of us spoke out against discrimination and injustice, I do believe that society as a whole would be closer to achieving equality for women.
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