Definition Of Gender Equality

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Dissimilar Definitions of Gender Equality Throughout the World
The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on gender equality. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” (United Nations [UN], 2012). Gender equality is most certainly an unqualified basic human right; however, despite this absolute, today “gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society” (UN, 2012). Women throughout the world are greatly affected by gender inequalities as they struggle to gain access to safety, health care, education and other basic human rights (United Nations Women [UN W], 2012). Figure 1 (p. 2) generated my interest in further exploring the gender inequalities that women face. This photo depicts women cheering and calling for gender equality; it was a reminder to me of how privileged I am to be a Canadian citizen residing in Canada as this country recognizes the importance of human rights and gender equality. Within this paper I will discuss my biggest learning from the Global Health class by analyzing gender equality and women’s challenges in different countries including Afghanistan, India and sub-Saharan Africa. I will depict the daily obstacles that women encounter, including poverty, inadequate access to health care, safety, and education. I will then discuss the learning that occurred, and explain how it will impact my future nursing career.
Women’s Equity & Equality
The term gender equality is defined differently throughout the world. A suggestion to improve gender equality is to have men more involved in promoting new initiatives that foster gender equality and women’s empowerment (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). It is important...

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...ve identified several themes throughout this paper such as women’s equality and equity, ending gender based violence, education for girls and women, empowering women, and access to adequate health care. The international development goals that I have chosen for gender equality are the “Girl Up” project, “United Nations Women” and the “Millennium Development Goals,” which all aim at empowering women, improving gender equality, and lastly, improving women’s overall health and wellbeing. These goals cannot be reached without closing the gaps between men and women; therefore, we must empower women by providing them with education, safety, accessibility to reproductive health, and making them equal to men (WHO, 2014). The world has had numerous achievements thus far; however, gender equality still “remains the great unfinished business of the 21st century” (Karni, 2014).

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