Global Feminism - Transnational Women's Activism, Organizing, and Human Rights - Term Paper Example

Women around the globe At its inception, the feminist movement sought to champion women’s rights in a masculine world, which advanced men’s agendas at the expense of women. Despite the movement’s noble intentions, its ideologies stemmed from a homogenous group of women existing within a specific sociocultural context. High percentages of these women came from industrialized countries (mostly the United States), were heterosexual, White, middle-class and educated. As such, the movement failed to take into consideration the different sociocultural contexts that predetermined women’s standpoints across the globe (Singh 628). Over the years, the feminist movement has morphed into the global feminist movement, which champions for the rights of women from different sociocultural contexts. The new movement is sensitive to cultural issues that continue to infringe upon women’s rights and undermine the quality of their lives. Explored below is a brief overview of the global feminist movement and major issues that affect women within specific sociocultural contexts such as violence, poverty, suppression of sexuality, and infringement of the right to vote, access to education and employment opportunities. Global feminism, a derivative of postcolonial feminism, black feminism and postculturalist and postmodern schools of thought represents the application of feminist thought on a global scale in its display of unique overlapping characteristics as it focuses on advocating for a culturally relevant and positive change in women’s outcomes (Singh 628). Scholars theorize that it is an integral part of feminism’s third wave as it mirrors the latter’s three major characteristics, which include the acceptance of the existence of multiple narratives in diverse cultural contexts, acceptance of social activism, and the preoccupation with creating coalitions to tackle gender concerns instead of relying on a single organization to do so. The fundamental goal of the movement is responding to women’s local-level concerns while simultaneously incorporating the goals and philosophies of the earlier feminist movements. It continues to unite cultures with the sole intention of addressing women’s concerns that are emergent in countries external to the Western hemisphere. The global feminist movement exerts its mandate through the dismantling global patriarchal structures, which predispose chauvinistic attitudes that likely to contribute to the infringement of women’s rights; hence, their oppression. However, it is important to note that women are a major hindrance to the global feminist movement. According to Singh (629), women’s inability to identify exclusively with sisterhood/womanhood because of their preoccupation with group concerns (family and community concerns) detracts them from lobbying for their own interests. Repeatedly, feminists from different generations have and continue to address the endemic problem of violence against women (Ferree 113). So far, intensive lobbying against the vice has led to the institution of legislative reforms that impose punitive measures on those found guilty of perpetrating such crimes. Unfortunately, these laws vary in their severity across the globe due to diverse cultural predispositions, which dictate people’s conceptualization of what constitutes violence against women. Industrialized or developed countries have legislations that are more comprehensive pertaining to gender violence. The reverse holds true for less industrialized/ developing countries. Any form of indecent assault is punishable in developed countries, which is not the case in developing countries; for example, a number of women in conservative cultures such as Islamic and African cultures have been victims of indecent public assault whereby they were stripped for dressing in an indecent manner (Ferree 112). In such cases, perpetrators escape blameless despite the physical and psychological trauma they inflicted upon their victims. In addition, culture also affects victim’s attitudes concerning their reaction towards violence. In developed countries, more people are aware of their rights and the different resources at their disposal that ensure perpetrators are held accountable for their vile actions. Conversely, those in developing countries might be aware of their rights but lack in depth knowledge regarding resources at their disposal or some are disillusioned by the bureaucratic process of seeking legal reprieve (Ferree 114). Global feminists exist to challenge such laws by creating awareness among the public about the different forms of violence and legal options available to victims. Poverty continues to play a pivotal role in the oppression of women. Women constitute 70% of the total population living in abject poverty across the globe (Nussbaum 77). Due to poverty, women find themselves victims of trafficking, prostitution and drugs and substance abuse. For example, the recent expose by CNN’s Amanpour about Afghanistan’s Opium Brides details a saddening story centering on poor farmers using their daughters as currency to repay their debts to the drug lords. These girls wind up as sex slaves, sold to the highest bidders locally and internationally. These farmers have resorted to dressing their daughters up as boys to avoid such atrocities. More often than not, girls from developing countries find themselves victims of human trafficking (Singh 629). Prostitution and drug/substance abuse is rampant in low-income neighborhoods in both developed and developing countries. In order to survive, women find themselves drawn to prostitution rings whereby they often use drugs and other substances to cope with their indiscriminate sexual behaviors. Unfortunately, choosing to lead such a lifestyle exposes them to diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Approximately, 16.4 million women are HIV+ with the numbers steadily on the rise (Amnesty International). The global feminist movement continues to raise awareness on the adverse effects of poverty especially for women and cast a spotlight on the plight of women living in abject poverty. For example, the various broadcasts of the Afghanistan Opium brides encouraged the partnership of organizations dedicated to rescuing victims. Societies across the globe suppress women’s expression of their sexuality. They attach derogatory slurs such as “whore/slut” to women who are assertive about their sexuality. Men are not held to similar standards; in fact, their sexual indiscretions are lauded and considered an expression of manliness. In addition, the current society over-sexualizes women while simultaneously superimposing conservative ideologies regarding women’s expression of their sexuality. For example, hip-hop artists portray women in their videos in an over-sexualized manner that strips them of their dignity. The global feminist movement seeks to dispel such notions by encouraging women to express themselves freely. Pre-existing archaic laws function to oppress women by limiting their participation in politics and access to education and employment opportunities. Although this has greatly reduced, countries with more conservative cultures remain adamant in limiting women’s potential. Until recently, Saudi Arabia laws prohibited women from acquiring a driver’s license. Statistics show that women constitute more than 50% of the world’s population but only fill up 20% of legislative positions (Amnesty International). Women in Iraq are also denied the right to access formal education and the lives of female activists have been threatened for advocating for these right; for example, Malala Yousafzai. In conclusion, the feminist movement has and will continue to fight for women empowerment with the aim of equalizing the playing field for women in a predominantly masculine world. In order to do so, the movement has no choice but to look at impediments faced by women from different sociocultural contexts across the globe. Violence against women remains a major problem for women across the globe especially in areas with minimal to no legislative policies, which impose punitive measures on perpetrators of such inhumane acts. In addition, poverty also affects the quality of women’s lives across the globe whereby it limits their access to health care services, promotes prostitution, drugs and substance abuse, and leaves them vulnerable to human trafficking. The masculine world also over-sexualizes women while concurrently suppressing issues pertaining to their sexuality; for example, conservative ideologies dictate women’s sexual behavior and dress code. Finally, archaic laws continue to infringe on women’s right to vote, access to education and employment opportunities. The global feminist movement continues to provide a global platform for women from different sociocultural contexts to network. In addition, the movement’s legitimacy helps to exert pressure while proponents lobby against issues that oppress women, as it is recognized on a global arena. Works Cited Read More