Changing Trends of Women's Rights

 "The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, 'It's a girl.' " This quote, from the feminist movement, that lasted from the 60's to the 80's, embodies the challenge it must have been to live female. To make things worse, gender inequality was encouraged by family members. As men sat around and dictated terms, the women simply obeyed and accepted it as the way things were meant to be. In the past few decades however, we have seen a significant change in the trends of women’s rights in the family environment.

            In families that precede the feminist movement, women were basically expected to stay at home and raise the kids, cook and have dinner on the table regardless if anyone eats or not, look their best all the time and stay behind the scenes. They were not allowed to ask any questions or voice out their opinions. Women who did speak without being asked were shot down with snide remarks or in worse cases the repercussions were episodes of domestic violence. Daughters were seen as property and when they came of age a suitable husband would be chosen. The fact that the older womenfolk of the family or community complied with these rules did not help in their daughters’ plights.

            In today’s modern society however, the household scene has changed. The role of housekeeper and mother now not only include household chores but women help to put food on the table as well. In most countries, daughters have equal access to education and are not forced to sit at home and tend to chores anymore. Recent studies also indicate that the younger generation, regardless of gender, are more comfortable with egalitarian relationships. When it comes to choosing a life partner, some cultures still practice arranged marriages.  Even though more and more women have been given the freedom to marry a man of their choice, they still only do so with approval from family members; mostly fathers and uncles.

            Even though most countries now provide for the equality of women’s rights, there are still a number that have not embraced the rampant spreader of gender equality. The most oppressive of these societies lie in the largely male driven communities of the Middle East. In their patriarchal communities, even up till today, we see the effects of extreme gender discrimination. We continually see the rape, torture and murder of innocent women in these countries. Such atrocities are commonly disguised as intentions to uphold the family honour. We also continue to see the subjugation of women who are not permitted access to an education, to voting rights and to own land.

            In western countries such as America, women have gained more freedom in the family environment. Even though, like all other nations they started off with discrimination and the likes today’s generation comprises of young women with equal rights to family property as well as equal rights in division of property in a divorce. Another trend that is on steady rise in western countries are single parent households; more commonly female-headed. Not only is it common knowledge but studies have also been carried to show that a woman is able to adopt a man’s role in the household compared to a man’s ability to do likewise. Women now not only put food on the table, but also see to the upbringing of their children. They pay the bills and have taken on the role of the man in a family.

           

            The introduction of the One-Child police by the People’s Republic of China in 1979 caused an increase in forced female infanticide and is one of the main causes of the significant gender imbalance the country is currently facing. The implementation of this policy has also caused an increase in gender selected abortion and also the abandonment of “undesirable children”.  What is more saddening is that even though rural couples and ethnic minorities are exempted from this policy, rural gender discrimination is still the cause of the murder of female babies. This bias is based on an old mindset that boys will be more useful in carrying out laborious tasks when compared to girls. It is also because parents want to make sure they are taken care of after retirement and girls will not be able to provide for them because they would have become a part of their husband’s family.

            In Malaysia, discrimination is seen to a certain degree. Many religions practised here have stereotyped gender roles and patriarchal structures. However, the rights of a woman in her family differ not only within cultures but within families as well. The role of a woman in a household has changed alongside the role of women in society. Now that women are allowed to hold jobs of higher positions, join the military and represent the citizens as politicians, the modelling of a woman as useful to society has changed the role that is played by women at home.

            Growing up in a Malaysian Indian household and being the eldest daughter came with its advantages and disadvantages. I have firsthand experience in dealing with older womenfolk who were accustomed to doing all the household chores, even picking up after the men! Although they did try their level best to conform me, the boys were expected to do equal chores and clean up their own rooms and treat ladies with respect. In issues pertaining to dating and marriage, however, the boys generally do get more freedom. I will

still get to choose whom I would like to marry so I shall not complain too much.

            The United Nations' report on women states that "women constitute more than half of the population of the working force globally, they are makers, centres of the family, the main custodian of social and permanent change is often best achieved through them. So what can we look forward to over the next decade in terms of women’s rights? A growing progression towards education in the Middle East, to cultivate a sense that women are not slaves and they must be allowed to choose their own lives? Or the elimination of the social stigma that the emancipation and enlightenment of women is culturally wrong? As the world looks towards 2020, let us choose enlightenment in dealing with our wives, sisters and daughters and let us take steps to secure an equal footing not only on a global scale but in the centre of the home and family.