WOMEN’S RIGHTS WORLDWIDE

By  Daniel Taiwo Olawumi

Photo Credit: Google

Women’s Rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide and formed the foundation for the women’s rights movement in the 19^th century and the feminist movement during the 20^th century. In some countries, women's rights are supported by law, local custom and behavior whereas in others they are ignored and suppressed. For example, in some parts of Africa i.e in medieval West Africa and in Ancient Egypt, (before colonization and the attempt by Muslims to conquer West Africa), women were held at a higher status than men and were ascribed roles of leadership in society. 

Women's rights differ from broader notions of human rights because of the belief that there is a historical and traditional bias against the exercise of women's rights in favour of men and boys. Issues commonly associated with women’s rights include but are not limited to: the right to history, to bodily integrity and autonomy, to be free from sexual violence, to vote, to hold public office, to enter into legal contract, to have equal rights in family law, to work, to fair wages or equal pay, to have reproductive rights, to own property, to education.

ATTITUDE OF WORLD POWERS TO WOMEN IN THE ANCIENT ERA

CHINA

Throughout the history of China, the place of women in history was considered inferior. In Imperial China, there was a term called “Three Obediences” which promoted: (I) Daughters to obey their Fathers, (II) Wives to obey their Husbands, (III)Widows to obey their sons. Women could not inherit business/wealth.

GREECE

Women in Ancient Greece lacked political and equal rights. They had no legal personhood. They were assumed to be part of the “Oikos” until marriage and once married, the husband becomes a woman’s “Kyrios”.

ROME

In Ancient Rome, women had no public voice and no public role. Women could not vote because politics was hierarchical.

What should our stance on the rights of women be?

We should consider women's rights as human rights. In section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it states that "Every Individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person and accordingly - (a) no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment; (b) no person shall be held in slavery or servitude; and (c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour."
Aside from the constitution, we as human beings should strive to live a life of justice and to treat one another fairly. Let us make room for love to abide among ourselves and remember that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Video Credit: Youtube

Source: wikipedia