Blog Post #4: Being a Global Citizen

1. What effects have political structures had on women?
In the United States our democratic government has helped to significantly advance women's equality. In the past, women weren't able to vote, get a quality education, hold jobs, run for office, or make their own decisions, among many other things. Now, with the help of our inclusive political system, women can vote, get a good education, have high-up jobs, run for office, and fight for our country. We can also make our own decisions about things such as divorce and abortion. Women's rights and equality have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go before total equality is reached.

The Afghan government had what was considered its first democratic election in 2004. Before that, the government was not democratic and seemed more oppressive, which really affected women. In Afghanistan, the average woman will live to only 45 years old, many women are illiterate, more than 50% of all brides are under 16 years old, 87% of women have experienced domestic violence, there are more than one million widows on the streets, and it is the only country that has a higher rate of suicide in women than in males. NATO is trying to help Afghanistan change, which will only benefit women, but change takes time.

In Iraq, the government and politics hasn't been very structured since the U.S. invasion. Since the invasion women have been imprisoned, the literacy rate is one of the lowest among Arab countries, women and girls fear going to work and school because of increased kidnapping and rapes, and more than one million women have been displaced from their homes. Women will continue to suffer as long as there is unrest in Iraq and an unstructured government.

2. How equal are women to men in our country, in other countries, eras, etc.?
In past in the United States, women weren't equal to men, but over time, we have received more rights and more equality. As time goes on, the inequalities between men and women decrease, but there are still significant differences in the equality of men and women. Men still make more money than women. In 2013, the median weekly earnings for women in full-time management occupations was $973 compared to $1,349 for men.

Sweden is considered one of the world's most gender equal countries. They believe that men and women should share power and influence equally, and that everyone, not matter their gender has the right to work and support themselves.

Yemen is ranked as one of the worst countries for gender equality. Historically, the women of Yemen have always been below men. Yemeni women don't have many economic, social, or cultural rights.