women as a social group that has been historically marginalized both at job places and in broader spheres of life

women as a social group that has been historically marginalized both at job places and in broader spheres of life

Introduction

The Universal Declaration OF Human Rights, which was conceived in 2003, insists all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. This proclamation has acknowledged all human races as persons born free with equal rights and freedoms. However, the prospects of women’s inequality, freedom, and dignity have been continually compromised by not only customs but also by religious tradition and law in a manner that men are not (Mazey, 2015).

This report chooses women as a social group that has been historically marginalized both at job places and in broader spheres of life. Due to marginalization that has been in place for many years, women have been subjected to psychological violence, genital mutilation, sexual abuse, human trafficking, acid burning, and slavery. Women of all ages, cultures, and social classes are still faced with such challenges globally. Women’s violence results from the unequal distribution of power between men and women.

Women need accommodation in the dinner table of leadership and other higher roles, for women have demonstrated times without number their potentials in such positions just like men. Despite such demonstrations, women have been degraded and disrespected; writes Byrnes (2016). Women marginalization is a product of various factors that fall either under socio-economic, political, or ideological categories. Within the provisions of feminist theory, different researchers have analyzed the link between the three classes concerning how they hold women back in structurally discriminate ways.

Eide (2017) noted negative prejudices against women and division of labor on local cultures is mostly constructed on informal customs that disregard liberal political values

Gender division of labor in modern society has confined women to lower roles such as unpaid roles, and homemakers. Such positions have continually chained women to dependency on men, gender discriminations, and occupation in lower social statuses. Many feminists agree that the burden of household duties and other socio-economic have hindered women from income-generating capacity and other white-collar jobs due to sex discrimination. Inducing women into unpaid or lower-paying and feminine positions from the early years of their development subjects them into dependence and poverty, which becomes a vicious cycle because poverty complicates their capacity to execute their legal and official rights in society.

According to the traditional Marxists, conflicting relations in the capitalistic mode of production have pushed women into two main types of oppression (Mazey, 2015). First, women workers are imposed on alienation from the working class. Secondly, women alienated from better-earning jobs are struggling in suffering from a kind of oppression that is founded based on the sexual division of labor. Consequently, women have historically occupied the space of proletariats under first-class oppression, which thus has triggered the accumulation of wealth by male gender and elevated the intensity of women’s dependency.

Govinda (2016) suggested patriarchy be the primary driver of the sexual division of labor in our social structures. In male-dominated societies, women are defined based on their sexual characteristics, which should gratify men. The local roles also define women at household levels. Male dominance has remained the core cause of female marginalization and exploitation in society. At the organization level, the division of labor based on sex contributes to systemic exploitation and marginalization of women.

Ideological Elements of Women Marginalization

Different societies uphold beliefs and values concerning women which constitute a link with the degraded condition of women. Such ideological factors are the product of convictions supported by certain societal members and values that are fabricated in the society that are oppressive against women. The first ideological factor is misconceptions societies have against women which exist in society, assigning women a weaker position relative to men. Women are perceived to be a part of domestic and private worlds detached from public and political processes. The present domestic and private structures in society are built in prevailing values about nature and culture, whereby culture seeks to transcend and control nature and use it for self-interests. As a result, culture is given a higher status relative to natural world. Women are ideologically linked with nature, while their counterparts (men) are linked with culture. Based on the view, culture continually intends to transcend and control nature, women based on their close connection with nature are maintained and controlled (Tankosic, Grbic & Krivokapic, 2020).

Despite women contributing positively to the economy and family wellbeing, different ideological elements obscure this observation. Women’s contributions to economic development and household income are understated, and this can be explained based on the concept of labor in which traditional Marxists emphasize labor production as a means of meeting human needs such as clothes, shelter, and food. Emphasis on basic needs considers domestic chores such as child-rearing as non-productive, which therefore render women roles as less productive.

Political Elements of Women Marginalization

Liberal feminists maintain disrespect and violation of liberal political values of liberty. Equality and justice have led to discrimination against women based on sex. The presence of sexual and gender stereotypes has triggered women marginalization, making women easy prey for political and legal prejudices due to their absence in powerful positions. The state policies and strictures constitute a differential effect on men and women wherein men have an elevated position to influence the political agendas. Based on patriarchal analyses, political institutions are constructed on the threshold of patriarchal bias to serve men better in their political ambitions. Govinda (2016) suggested gender politics and relations in all spheres of life are institutionalized concerning power. As a result, a gender relation is a tool of controlling women through leadership, and since men are perceived as dominant occupants in group control, socialist feminists argue that men marginalize women.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

This task chooses the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), which is a committed UN Agency in ensuring gender parity in the world. UN Women was enacted to speed the progress of achieving women’s needs globally. UN Women supports women in the UN members’ state to attain global standards of gender parity while working closely with members of civil societies and governments to formulate and actualize laws, policies, and services for the benefit of women. UN Women, as an international organization, requires professionals to help in the implementation of her objectives in various countries. This report is a demonstration of how the UN Women may meet the needs of women and unchain them from structural marginalization as embedded in societal fabrics.

Issues in Women Marginalization

Throughout the world, many women are faced with numerous challenges that have held them back from enjoying similar platforms with men in fundamental areas of leadership and politics. Structural stereotypes and prejudices against women have contributed to degrading women’s position in society. Alongside the spinning wheel of time, religious indoctrinations have had a stake in degrading women, alongside cultural artifacts which condone women suffering as in female genital mutilation. Alongside the advent of a new civilization that seeks to ascend the position of women in society, there are several setbacks. Many women are still prejudiced based on their sex, denying them opportunities in high-income jobs, decent work, and economic independence. Some forms of violence such as Female Genital Mutilation, early marriages, unequal opportunities in education, and power inequalities in politics and leadership positions are still pervasive in many countries.

Religiously, women have been encouraged to remain submissive to men, with some precepts presenting them as unclean during menstrual periods. The Biblical scriptures have also granted an elevated statue to men like Abraham, Moses, and Enoch and lower to characters such as Elizabeth, Hannah, and Esther (Rai, 2018). Under contemporary societies, members have utilized such teachings to perpetuate women’s marginalization and gender-based stereotypes. As a result, we see many women struggling to meet economic securities and autonomy. We equally see women struggling to acquire education in cultures that value boy-child education while degrading girl-child education.

The majority of these challenges facing women in societies are hard to tackle due to strict cultural dogmas supporting them, especially in the context of third world countries. Besides, these cultural practices that have been inherited from ancient generations are founded on the precepts of strict adherence. In many cases, such practices are secretly propagated, for instance, female genital mutilation. Some forms of marginalization are also institutionalized by law in some countries; for example, where women are not supposed to drive a car or pursue specific roles in church and state.

The prospects of women marginalization can best be addressed by structural reforms, law enactments, and education. Structural changes in business organizations should pave the way for gender parity in tender awards, leadership positions, and performance appraisal. The organizational cultures should be strictly founded on the premises of respect for women, and understanding of their unique needs that are variant of those of men. The state laws should also be revised to discredit women’s marginalization and provide an elevation for women to take part in sensitive dockets of governance and economics. Additionally, through education, the public will come into the realization of how marginalization affects their performances and self-development. Knowledge will also clarify dogmas that degrade women, and open a new era where social arrangements that degrade women are abandoned.

Proposals Including Ideas for Workshops, Speaker Series, Film Screenings, and Outings Accommodating the female gender into all spheres of life is the core aim of the UN Women. The agency intends to address women’s marginalization by focusing on approaches that shall enable women to lead, participate, and benefit equally from leadership systems. The agency also works towards ensuring women have income security, economic autonomy, and decent work. It is the UN Women’s pursuit to ensure girls and women are free from the wants of all kinds of violence, and lastly, women and girls take part in influencing sustainable peace and resilience and benefit from curbing conflicts and natural disasters and pursue humanitarian action.

This report proposes a series of events workshops, speaker series, book clubs, film screenings, outings that are organized on the premises of the UN Women Agency. The workshops should aim at sensitizing the public of the need to discredit practices that encourage women marginalization. The workshops will be structured along with themes of education empowerment for female gender and gender parities. The target audience will be the general public and societies with strong feminine bias. For better positive reception, the workshops will invite the presence of local leaders who will play a core role in emancipating the local masses. The local leadership is respected, and people naturally have respect for their leaders. The emancipation process will begin with local leaders who will, in turn, induce relevant information to their people to change their perceptions and attitudes.

The speaker series are essential in arousing the interests of the people about the subject of marginalization. Well-thought words have an impact on disorienting peoples’ views in favor of accommodating women in different social, political, and economic spheres in an equal measure with men. The speaker series will target a broad audience within the public domain. Through such engagements, it is possible to make the audience revisit their thinking and make informed judgments about women’s potentials. The UN Women will also venture into the application of film screening, displaying content that excites viewers to refrain from stereotypic thinking. Film screens ought to be strategically positioned and designed with engaging content to attract public attention. By so doing, the film screening will communicate the message of gender parity and how it can contribute to social, environmental, economic, and political developments in society.

This report also proposes trips and outings to communities where women’s marginalization is most prevalent. The excursions should contribute to the understanding of women’s needs based on their immediate challenges. The outings should also contribute to advocacy and lobbying against women marginalization. The outings should target government agencies and influence them to formulate relevant policies that reinforce the place of women in leadership and politics; and other dimensions of life.

Strategies and Plans of Action for UN Women to Implement Proposals Herein

To actualize the proposals herein, the UN Women Agency should find a place to accommodate the following strategies and plans;

Combat and prevent sexism gender stereotypes

Gender stereotypes are engrained in values, attitudes, prejudices, and norms. Focusing on the eradication of stereotypes forms a basis for the alleviation of women marginalization. UN Women should address women’s bias through cooperation with relevant organizations and sectors, and address sexist hate speech in various jurisdictions.

Prevent and combat domestic and women violence

Women violence has harmful long-term and short-term physical and mental impacts on women. Women’s marginalization can be addressed through combating sexual harassment in public space. The UN Women should, therefore, focus on dismantling such forms of practices that endanger the dignity of women that are founded on religious doctrines, cultural norms.

Work towards ensuring access to Women to Justice

Access to social justice is a fundamental human right and a crucial element of promoting democracy and the rule of law. Access to justice will imply the right to access courts, legal aid, and representation in matters of concern raised by women. Obstacles are preventing women from access to justice, including customs, stereotypes, and the UN Women can address lack of information through collaborations with government agencies.

Champion for the balanced Participation of Women in Decision-making and Politics

Various impediments make it difficult for women to sustainably take part in un the areas of politics and decision-making. Such obstacles include electoral systems, gender stereotypes, the social division of labor, and social roles that leave women little space in the public domain. Such barriers should be addressed by the UN Women to introduce women into their rightful place as far as gender parity is concerned.