Brait, Response Paper to 'Societal Role of Women'

Societal Role of Women

In our discussion of women’s role in society, a theme that was continuously apparent was that of women as a commodity. One important note made in ‘The Impact of Women’s Social Position on Fertility in Developing Countries’ was that the definition of women’s position is effected by the relation of their position to men. This brings about the question, who defines the position of women in developing societies? From what we have read and from our discussions, many different sources of definitions have arisen, each of which have a different, unique perspective. Women in developing countries, men in developing countries, women in developed countries, men in developed countries, NGO’s, governments, and many other sources all see the position of women differently. Which of these sources have the authority to define the role of women in society? One example that I encountered in the readings came from “Half the Sky” when Nick talked about women’s rights with a group of female Saudi doctors and nurses. Westerners see women wearing hijabs as an infringement on their rights, while women in the Arab culture see Western women as being repressed for having to show their bodies. These differences in culture show that there is a clear discrepancy in each party’s views. Is it right to tell women that it isn’t right for them to have to cover their bodies to keep from tempting men?

The idea of women’s roles in society being defined by the relation of their position to men doesn’t seem to be completely accurate. From our readings emerged a pattern of men putting women in a specific place in society through physical abuse and sexual repression. In “Half the Sky”, they note that “No matter how much gold may sell for, a hymen is infinitely more valuable. It is frequently worth more than a human life.” To women in cultures where the chastity is valued above all, her chastity is her life. Women are constantly ostracized, abused, and killed because of their chastity. Is a woman being raped, having sex, or even just thought to have lost her virginity a reason for society to punish them? In some cultures, the answer is yes and in others these punishments are held to be extreme violations of human rights. Where do you draw the line between cultural perspective and actual inalienable rights? Is there a median between violating human rights and upholding cultural beliefs or do cultures that hold punishing women who lose their virginity outside of marriage need to change the way they view women’s chastity? I believe that culture is an integral part of society, but should not override inalienable human rights. It is not inherently wrong to strongly value the chastity of a woman, but it should not be valued over the woman’s life. Changes need to be made to cultures to protect the lives of women over their chastity. These changes cannot be made solely through legislation, because culture has a tendency to disregard the laws. Culture is engrained in individuals from an early age and without changes to culture these customs will not be changed. We discussed the importance of educating women, ensuring that they have the opportunity learn about their rights and to see that their way of life is not the only option. I think that it is equally important to educate men as well. From the readings I learned that the men who abuse women are largely uneducated. For any cultural reform to take place, a focus needs to be put on education of both men and women.

I have not chosen a focus for my research paper yet, however I have decided on the broader topic of women in China. For now, I am merely researching women in China with regard to the topic we are currently discussing. In researching the Chinese woman’s role in society, I have focused on two main issues: human trafficking and sexual and domestic violence against women and children in China. In looking at these issues, I am doing research both on the issue as well as the steps that China is taking to alleviate them. Both these issues are actively being targeted in China through laws and NGO’s. In 2000, the China Law Society launched the DV Project, or ‘Domestic Violence in China: Research, Intervention, and Prevention’ Project. This was the first women’s NGO in China organized exclusively against the issue of domestic violence. In 2007, the State Council of China issued the ‘China National Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children’. This plan was issued to “effectively prevent and severely combat the criminal activities of trafficking in women and children, actively provide assistance and give appropriate aftercare to rescued women and children, earnestly safeguard the legal rights and interests of women and children”. For the time being, I will be exploring these specific issues and the steps that are being taken to alleviate and using examples from China and other developing and developed countries to gage whether these approaches will ultimately be effective.