Human rights and Vulnerable Groups; “Women’s rights.”

Introduction

The phrase “Human Rights” has always been used in a context of fear of a recent past incident where some vulnerable groups suffered the consequences of the failed systems of protection. In essence, the phrase “human rights” has always drawn negative attention since human rights are not as universal as they should be. The existence of international laws, including the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, has almost failed in protecting the rights of the vulnerable groups. However, in consideration of how international laws and the human rights protective laws are framed in the US, it is almost impossible to think of the existence of vulnerable groups. This is because the international laws and the laws that protect human rights in the US were framed to create a sense of equality and to avoid making specific groups feel like they are vulnerable to abuse. However, the truth is that there exist vulnerable groups in today’s contemporary society, and the framing of human rights laws in ways that hide this truth only covers an underlying problem that eventually comes to light. Vulnerable groups are specific categories of populations that are highly likely to suffer discriminatory treatment or need special attention to avoid potential exploitation. This article specifically focuses on women as vulnerable groups in today’s contemporary society.

The issue of discrimination against women is not new in today’s contemporary society. In America, women suffer or face discriminatory treatment in various forms. One form of discrimination against women that is common to American society is the gender pay gap that sees women get less payment for jobs that men earn more. However, this not the only type of discrimination that women face in the workplace in the US, the likeliness of women falling short of men in selection for top executive positions and reservation of seats in organizational boards is very high. Globally, in many cultures and transnational settings, the position of the female gender in society has always been viewed as subordinate to the male or inferior in one way or another. Women globally continue to fight for gender equality and recognition of the fact that women can provide equal or better results in matters of importance. Many of the forms of discrimination that women continue to experience in society are results of historical, social structures that reflect women as subordinates to men.

Women continue to suffer from discrimination of many kinds in modern societies around the world, including being the most impacted victims alongside children in times of war and unrest in the community. They also experience insubordination of many kinds, including in the hierarchal ordering of religious positioning and the judiciary. Political hierarchal power lays also viewed women in subordination to the male figure (Apodaca, 2013). These are not the only forms of discrimination that women face in today’s society. Many girls growing up into a woman in many third world societies face many similar challenges such as reduced or denied access to education, forced marriages, violence, early pregnancies, and abortion. These challenges are common across borders, continents, and sometimes across social class boundaries.

The difficulties that women face in Pakistani society, such as denied access to education, led to the rise of significant feminist activist Malala Yousafzai. Yousafzai is a Pakistani female Activist who rose to recognition due to her efforts to ensure girls in her local area in the Swat valley accessed education despite the local Taliban’s ban on girls’ schooling. Her efforts led to an attempt on her life that brought her efforts to global attention, especially after the Taliban swore to kill her. She is also remembered as the youngest Nobel peace prize winner for her efforts to fight for women’s rights. It is almost impossible to finish a discussion on women’s rights and feminist discrimination activism without mentioning Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta (1930- ). Dolores Clara is famous for many women’s rights activist issues, including the “58 sexist comments” (Huerta, 2019). During a board meeting, Dolores wrote down the comments that the members of the board made that reflected sexism. At the end of the meeting, she told the board that they had made “58 sexist comments”. This was but one of her ways of advocating and creating awareness about the poor state of women’s working conditions and pay gaps in the labor industry (Michals, 2019). Dolores Clara is also the co-founder of Farm Worker’s Association and the most influential labor activist of the 20th century.

Conclusion

Women are among the most significant vulnerable groups in society. This article describes the various challenges that women face in modern society. The report has also discussed the historical significance of women’s rights issues. Additionally, women continue to face prevalent challenges in a contemporary global society. The works of feminist advocates like Malala Yousafzai and Dolores Clara Reflect the struggles that women face in society. The article has described the significant roles the two have played in human rights advocacy.

Bibliography

Apodaca, C. (2013). Understanding US human rights policy: a paradoxical legacy. Routledge.

Huerta, D. C. (Director). (2019). 58 Sexist Comments [Motion Picture].

Michals, D. (2019). Dolores Clara Fernandez Huerta (1930- ). The National Women’s History Museum, 1/1.