International Women's Day 2010

Today being International Women’s Day, it’s hard to not write something related to gender inequity, or women’s rights. However, rather than regurgitate a whole bunch of statistics to validate my point on the world wide struggle of women for equal access to education, freedom from domestic violence, and equal participation in economic productivity, I actually just want to make a few generalized observations on the odd differences in perspectives and choices between the wide majority of women in the world, and those of us females in developed countries.

Many women from impoverished families in developing countries yearn for the opportunity to be able to generate income for their family, in order to be seen as valuable rather worthless to their husbands. Women that contribute financially to their families will more likely be allowed some level of independence by their husbands, and is less likely to get beaten.

And...

Many middle and upper class women in developed countries glorify the role of the doting housewife, the domestic diva – one, who’s sole purpose is to cook, clean, and meet their husband and kids’ every need. I’ve even personally heard some say, “I’m so lucky that my husband makes enough so that I don’t have to work.”


Many women in developing countries yearn for their kids to go to school, especially their daughters, so that they can break the cycle of poverty caused by the lack of education, early marriage, early first birth, large number of children, which leads to the increased likelihood of some or all of the children not going to school due to household duties or work. Without education, the cycle continues.

And...

Many women (ok, and men) in the developed countries are weary of the free and public education system. Some are quite distrusting of teachers, and concerned over messed up curricula and political agendas. Never mind their kids may also be surrounded by hyper-sexually precocious students, lurking in every corner, ready to initiate booty calls in the washrooms, offer up crack cocaine, and methamphetamine, you name it. The kids could be manipulated, brainwashed, and lured into becoming little social deviants, or worst – a bleeding heart, fiscally irresponsible, lefty! So these women (and men) decides to play it safe and have their offspring home schooled.


Many women in developing countries wish that they could afford vaccinations for all their babies, so that they would not die from preventable childhood diseases, and so that they themselves would not be forced to bear the pain of birthing and raising more children, whom might also just end up succumbing to a similar fate.

And...

Many women in developed countries are terrified of early childhood vaccinations, having been convinced by essentially a single, albeit reputable, medical journal article that connected the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine to autism, which since has been retracted. Nevertheless, the controversy continues…


Many women in developing countries are forced to give birth under dangerous, unsanitary conditions in their own homes - some alone and some only with the help of a traditional birth attendant. Barriers to having hospital or health centre births include the lack of transportation, financial resources and/or lack of support from husbands. As a result, the maternal mortality rate can be orders of magnitude higher than in developed countries – 2100 in Sierra Leone and 1800 in Niger, as compared to 7 in Canada per 100,000 live births (WHO, 2005). Women in some developing countries can easily have between 5 to 10 births. Therefore in a country like Niger, a women has a 1 in 100 to 1 in 50 chance of dying during child birth.

And...

Many women in developed countries have begun to embrace a form of back to the basics and back to the home style of birthing. To avoid the stresses caused by the lack of privacy, ugly fluorescent lighting, pushy nurses, neglectful doctors, they have forfeited institutionalized birthing for a more comfortable, flexible home birth. You know... I’m all for sticking up to overbearing nurses that are too trigger happy for subduing anxious, hard-to-control women in labour with epidurals. BUT, do these women realize that they’ve also just traded in the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if anything does go wrong, they are only a few minutes from a modern and well-equipped operating room, staffed by highly qualified health professionals?


The lives of women and the choices that they make seem so vastly different depending on where they come from. Yet, all women and mothers are motivated by the same things, no? Fear and guilt. Hope and love. We women all just want the same things - to love and be loved, to be seen as beautiful and desired, to provide a warm and inviting home, to raise children that live to their full potential. I'm not a mother, but I'm guessing that this is what mothers want :)


Well...I have nothing more to say than that I’ll be taking a moment today to stand in solidarity with the rest of my sisterhood around the world.

To my sisters everywhere, you are strong, resilient, beautiful and beloved. No matter all the dirt, ugliness and shame that this fallen world forces upon you, you were still made to be cherished. Created by your heavenly father, your presence is a reflection of his beauty, gentleness, and romantic nature. Indeed, some dare say that you ARE the crowning glory of all of his creation.



To read more about why women’s issues are still relevant, here is an excellent, excellent piece in the New York Times - "Saving the World's Women"