Do Women Face Social Injustice and Oppression in Today’s World? Essay Example

by the brothel owner. Meena’s motivation for escaping was her daughter Naina.

She did not want her to be forced into prostitution like she was. So eventually Meena escaped and got married. Meena was very worried about her Daughter Naina. She told Kristoff, “I gave birth to her, and so I can never forget her” (Hasina pg. 14).

Finally with the help of Apne Aap she got her children back and disbanded the brothel. Unfortunately Meena’s plight is not uncommon.Many poverty stricken young girls and women are kidnapped and sex trafficked to neighboring countries. “There are 3 million women and girl (and a small number of boys) worldwide that can be fairly termed enslaved in the sex trade” (kristof and WuDunn pg.

10). The reason for this is that poor women and girls are easy targets. These women tend to be desperate for work and are willing to travel long distances to find a job, they are easily lured by the promise of a job. How ever once they arrive at their destination they are beaten, raped, and pimped out.

What is sad is that it is widely accepted by many governments and societies alike. In many cases the women who are forced into prostitution can not even seek help from local law enforcement. The police are some of their regular costumers. They are usually being bribed to keep quite about the brothel in most cases.

Despite her hardship Meena went on to become the community organizer in her community. She pushes parents to send both their boys and girls to be educated. Meena shows that the injustices to women are very real and need attention.Meena proves that with a

little help women everywhere can better their lives. Mukhtar Mai is a Muslim Pakistani Woman who started a school in her village for girls to attend.

She feels that best way to prevent rape is to educate girls. Mukhtar and her brother were gang raped by men of a more prestigious clan, the Mastoi. The men said that the boy had sex with one of the girls in their clan. At the court hearing for her brother, Mukhtar apologized for her brother on behalf of her family; however the Mastoi decided it wasn’t enough and dragged her off to rape her as punishment of the family.In the Middle East when a woman is raped the only choice for her is death.

Because of the shame to her self and the family, it is common for a rape victim to commit suicide, or a member of her family kills her to restore honor. “Suicide is the accepted way for a woman to cleanse herself and her family of the shame” (Mai pg. 70). Mukhtar’s family did not allow for the suicide, instead they pressed charges against the men. Eventually the men were arrested. News of this incident reached the President Pervez Musharraf; in sympathy he gave Mukhtar the equivalent of 8,300 U.

S dollars. This motivated Mukhtar to start the school. Mukhtar’s notoriety grew; she eventually went on a world wide tour exposing the injustice that was done to her and other women in the Middle East. She pushed her country to educate its girls.

She brought Light to the plight of women in oppressive countries. Mukhtar shows that even one woman can make a tremendous difference. Think of what

such a woman could do if she had a large support system! That is why people should force their governments to see injustices done to women and to act on against them.It is proven that women are a social and economic stabilizer.

That means it is beneficial for a countries to protect the rights of women. Mukhtar is one just one example of what a woman could do with the right opportunities. Edna Adan is another amazing woman who dedicate d her life to helping women all over her country of Somalia. In Africa it is sadly common for many women to die in child birth.

Most of the time there is not a hospital close enough to give birth in and the midwife is untrained.Another reason is that women aren’t thought to matter enough to spend the money necessary to hire a trained midwife or to save the mother once something has gone wrong. “In much of the world women die because they aren’t thought to matter. There is a strong correlation between countries where women are marginalized and countries with high maternal mortality. Indeed, in the United States, maternal mortality remained very high throughout the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century” (Kristof and WuDunn pg. 116).

Edna is doing her best to better the chance of maternal survival.She started a maternity hospital in Somalia. She has dedicated her life to helping pregnant women form any financial background. Many women suffer social injustice all around the world. Many times this very fact costs them their lives.

“Gender oppression cuts through all other forms of domination and exploitation in human societies. In particular, it extends beyond class

conflicts, but it also cuts through all collective social realities - ethnic, national, religious, local. Moreover, it is closely tied up with the private sphere, individual and daily life” (Stephanie Treillet pg. 1).

• These women desperately need help.The purpose of writing Half the Sky for the authors Nickolas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn was to bring attention to the plight of oppressed women and galvanize more people to help these women. Women can do much to better their lives and the lives of others they just need the right opportunity and support.