Women's Resistance: Injustice, Law, And Change

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty is a quote often misattributed to Thomas Jefferson. This quote has been used to inspire action against various forms of injustice, including racial injustice and the fight for women's rights. Women around the world continue to face discrimination and inequality, with issues such as domestic and sexual violence, lower pay, lack of access to education, and inadequate healthcare disproportionately affecting them. Women's rights movements have been instrumental in advocating for change, and new digital campaigns like #MeToo have further amplified these voices. Despite progress, there is still much to be done to ensure that women's rights are respected and protected under the law.

Women's rights are human rights

The phrase "when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson, although there is no evidence that he ever said it. The phrase has also been attributed to Nelson Mandela. The sentiment captures some of the ideas that Jefferson expressed in the Declaration of Independence.

The phrase has been used in the context of women's rights, with a T-shirt bearing the slogan "When Injustice Becomes Law Resistance Becomes Duty RBG" being sold as great attire for "anyone fighting... for women's rights".

Despite the fact that women's rights are human rights, women and girls around the world continue to face discrimination and violence. They are often denied access to education, healthcare, and other basic services. They are frequently subjected to gender-based violence, including rape, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation. In some countries, women are not allowed to own property, vote, or drive.

When women's rights are violated, it is the duty of all people of conscience to resist and work towards creating a more just and equitable world. This resistance can take many forms, including protesting, marching, and advocating for policy change. It is also important to listen to and amplify the voices of women and girls who are affected by injustice, and to ensure that they are included in the planning and implementation of solutions.

The resistance to injustice is a duty that falls on all of us. By working together, we can create a world in which women's rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled.

Gender inequality underpins issues like domestic violence, lower pay, lack of education, and inadequate healthcare

Gender inequality is a pressing issue that underpins and intersects with various other issues such as domestic violence, lower pay, lack of education, and inadequate healthcare. It is a complex problem that requires multifaceted solutions and a commitment to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and girls worldwide.

Domestic Violence

Gender inequality is a significant contributing factor to domestic violence, as it often stems from power imbalances and discriminatory social norms that position women as subordinate to men. This inequality can manifest in various ways, including economic disparities, cultural norms that condone violence, and a lack of access to education and empowerment opportunities for women. Addressing gender inequality is crucial to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and promoting respectful and healthy relationships.

Lower Pay

Lower pay for women is a persistent issue globally, often referred to as the "gender pay gap." While the gap has narrowed in recent decades, it remains substantial in most countries. Factors contributing to the pay gap include discrimination in hiring practices and promotion opportunities, occupational segregation, and the undervaluing of jobs typically held by women. Additionally, women's labour force participation tends to decrease after marriage and childbirth, further exacerbating the pay gap. Addressing gender inequality and promoting equal pay for equal work are essential to ensuring economic justice for women.

Lack of Education

Gender inequality in education remains a significant challenge, particularly in low-income countries, remote regions, and areas affected by conflict. Socio-economic factors, such as poverty and socio-political instability, often disproportionately affect girls' access to education. Traditional gender roles and cultural norms that prioritise boys' education over girls' also contribute to the disparity. Insufficient policy support and a lack of gender-sensitive education policies further exacerbate the issue. Addressing gender inequality in education is crucial for empowering women and girls and promoting economic growth and social development.

Inadequate Healthcare

Gender disparities in healthcare are prevalent and have detrimental effects on the health and well-being of women worldwide. Unconscious gender biases and sexism within healthcare systems can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, as well as a lack of patient-centred care for women. Additionally, gender-based violence and a lack of access to reproductive health services further contribute to healthcare inequalities. Addressing gender inequality in healthcare requires comprehensive actions, including policy changes, increased gender sensitivity in clinical practice, and the involvement of healthcare workers in driving systemic change.

Women's rights movements have campaigned to change laws and taken to the streets to demand respect

Women's rights movements have a long history of campaigning for legal change and taking to the streets to demand respect. The fight for gender equality has been a global struggle spanning centuries, with activists working tirelessly to address inequality and injustice.

The women's rights movement, also known as the second wave of feminism, emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, building upon the first wave of feminism in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which focused on securing legal rights for women, particularly the right to vote. This second wave sought to address a broader range of issues, including politics, work, family, and sexuality. While the early pioneers of the movement faced significant challenges and opposition, their efforts laid the groundwork for future progress.

One notable catalyst for the second wave of feminism was Betty Friedan's book, "The Feminine Mystique," published in 1963. Friedan highlighted the unspoken problem of suburban housewives feeling trapped and unfulfilled in their domestic roles. The book's immediate success indicated a chord had been struck, and women energized by Friedan's words joined forces with government and union leaders to lobby for equal pay and protection against employment discrimination. However, they soon realized that polite requests were not enough, and the formation of a dedicated national pressure group became necessary. Thus, the National Organization for Women (NOW) was born.

Despite early struggles and ideological divisions, NOW played a pivotal role in advocating for women's rights. They identified six essential measures to ensure women's equality, including enforcement of laws against employment discrimination, maternity leave rights, access to childcare, tax deductions for childcare expenses, equal and unsegregated education, and equal job training opportunities for poor women. Two other contentious issues also emerged: the demand for immediate passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and the call for greater access to contraception and abortion. These latter issues caused some members to leave the organization, but they nonetheless remained central to the movement's agenda.

The women's rights movement extended beyond NOW, with more radical groups forming to address broader themes of women's liberation. These groups lacked a centralized structure but sprang up in various cities, including Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, and Detroit. They embraced disruptive tactics, such as protesting the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1968, and publishing "The Bitch Manifesto" in 1969. One of the most influential radical groups, the Redstockings, based in New York City, made significant contributions to the movement, including the first analysis of the politics of housework and the development of "consciousness-raising" groups to uncover how sexism had impacted their lives.

The impact of these movements extended beyond individual countries, influencing the drafting of international documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979). The fight for women's rights continues to this day, with new movements flourishing in the digital age, such as the #MeToo campaign, which has brought global attention to the prevalence of gender-based violence and sexual harassment.

Intersectional feminism highlights how women of colour, transgender women, etc. face discrimination and violence

Intersectional feminism is a lens that helps us understand the various forms of inequality that operate together and exacerbate each other. It highlights how people's social identities can overlap, creating compounding experiences of discrimination.

Historically, feminism has mainly focused on the issues experienced by white, middle-class women. Intersectional feminism, on the other hand, acknowledges the unique struggles faced by women of colour, LGBTQ+ women, and women from other minority groups. For example, while it is well-known that a woman, on average, earns 78 cents to a man's dollar, this statistic only applies to white women. Black women earn 64 cents, and Hispanic women only 56 cents, to a white man's dollar.

Women of colour face discrimination and violence as a result of the intersection of racism and sexism. For instance, indigenous women like Sonia Maribel Sontay Herrera from Guatemala have experienced systematic discrimination and been denied their rights and equal opportunities. They are often seen only as domestic workers and are assumed to be fit only for work in the home. Similarly, black women in Brazil, like prominent women's rights activist Valdecir Nascimento, have been fighting for equal rights for decades.

Transgender women also face unique challenges and discrimination. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were several notable clashes between feminists over the inclusion of trans women in feminist spaces. Despite these challenges, many feminists view trans rights as an integral part of intersectional feminism. They argue that trans women experience discrimination and gender inequality and should be included in the feminist movement.

By incorporating intersectionality into feminism, the movement becomes truly inclusive and allows women of all races, economic standings, religions, identities, and orientations to have their voices heard.

Gender-based violence, including sexual violence and rape, is a major human rights violation

Gender-based violence is a human rights violation that affects women and girls disproportionately. It is defined as violence directed at a person because of their gender, or violence that disproportionately affects a particular gender. This includes physical, sexual, and psychological violence, as well as controlling behaviours, coercion, and arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

Physical violence can result in injuries, distress, health problems, and even death. Sexual violence includes unconsented sexual acts, attempts to obtain a sexual act, or acts directed against a person's sexuality without their consent. Psychological violence includes controlling behaviours, coercion, economic violence, and blackmail.

The United Nations defines violence against women as:

> "...any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The UN's definition is important as it recognises that gender-based violence is not an accident or a result of inherent vulnerability, but rather the result of structural, deep-rooted discrimination, which states have an obligation to address.

Violence against women has serious negative consequences for their physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health. It can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety disorders, and suicide attempts. It can also increase the risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In addition, gender-based violence can have fatal outcomes, such as homicide or suicide.

Furthermore, gender-based violence can lead to social and economic costs for women, including isolation, inability to work, loss of wages, and limited participation in regular activities. It can also affect their children's health and well-being.

To address gender-based violence, legislative, administrative, and institutional measures and reforms are necessary, including the eradication of gender stereotypes. It is also crucial to provide comprehensive health care and support services to women who have experienced violence and to promote gender equality.

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