Women's Influence On Gender Equality

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Recommended: Declaration of the Rights of Women and of the Female Citizen

Historically, male dominated structures have had a hand in shaping the societies in which we live. These societies have fostered an environment that can be perceived as unfavorable towards women. As the "subordinate" gender, women have constantly had their rights impeded by men, governments, religions, etc. From lacking the right to vote to a lack of equal educational opportunities, women have been subjected to a system that perpetuates these injustices. Naturally, in the male driven political sphere, women 's issues have long been neglected. Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." If "everyone" is entitled to the standards set forth by the declaration, how can a group that constitutes 50 percent of the world 's …show more content…

The role of the state must not be undervalued, as the state has profound impact on the prevalence of female genital mutilation. One must first consider the state’s influence on gender equality. The structures that influence a nation’s government proceed to influence the surrounding infrastructure, societal systems, etc. If the state is built on a foundation that neglects the needs of women, these same misogynistic views will be expressed throughout society. Without proper representation above, the voices of women will not only be ignored, they will be silenced. Leading to deep rooted inequality, rampant denial of rights, lack of educational opportunities, etc. Conversely, if the state encourages gender equality throughout, women will be able to enjoy the benefits of a more evolved society. They will be able to educate themselves of the harms these traditions can generate, and their fight against these harmful norms will be given a

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