Status of women in the world compiled in a project and is availableat http://womanstats.org/firsttimeusers.html Qualitative and quantitative information on
over 360 indicators of women's status in 175 countries is available from this
database. This database is updated daily, and is available to all free of
charge. This information helps in understanding nation-state wide situation of
women and their security.
Women's status
is a complex. It varies with society and culture. It is important to find
relationship between women's status and the degree of stratification and wealth
of a society. There is no standard on how to define and judge women's status. Opinion
of people on society and family probably would help in defining status. Factors
that affect women's status are woman's ability to survive i.e. financial
independence, respect given to a woman in society and family (whether
considered as a different class from male) Females could hardly talk about
equal rights with males in jungles or forest but not in civilized societies, wealth on the name of
woman (A working woman earns but wealth created may not be on her name),
Correlation between wealth and marriage arrangement,
control or decision making status in family and society etc.
control or decision making status in family and society etc.
There may be a situation where men are away from home, on account of
war and the number of men decreased due to war. The women would out number men resulting
in some women need to share a husband. In such a situation criteria may not
work correctly to decide on status of women.
In general women's
status is different in different countries is similar. Method to improve is universal. Status of women differs based on economy and human development of a
country. Working women prefer fewer babies as they have less time at home. Women
at home do household
chores and have adequate time to take care of
children. Hence to stabilise population providing work for women outside their
home is needed in developing countries. Educated women not only find jobs
outside home but also know more about birth control and family. There is
some statistical data which needs consideration:-
- More than half of the 40 million people living with AIDS today are women.
- More than 75 % of all African AIDS victims are young women between 15 and 24.
- Every year, nearly 5 lakhs women die from pregnancy complications and 1 Lakhs from unsafe abortions.
- African pregnant woman is more likely to die than in Western Europe. The chance may be 180 times.
- In a developed country like USA, a woman is beaten every 18 minutes and raped every 6 minutes. Chances of women getting injury are more in domestic violence rather than in car accidents and muggings put together.
- France is no different. 95% of victims of violence are women. Out of these, 51% are at the hands of their husbands.
- 20 to 50% women experience domestic violence during marriage. This is equally true for developed and underdeveloped nations.
- In several countries, tests are carried out to determine the sex of an unborn child and female foetus is aborted.
- Approximately 33% of uneducated population consists of women. They don’t have even basic education. They are mostly in rural area.
- On an average, girls receive 4.4 years of less education than boys at the age of 18.
- In Washington State, women earn only 67 cents for ever dollar a man makes. This means there is no equality of earning in the state of Washington.
- It is a great concern that more adolescent girls are HIV positive than Boys. 90% of AIDS cases under age 20 are girls.
- In advanced country like USA, every third girl is sexually abused by the age of 18 and some by the age of 14.
- Less than 3% of abortions worldwide take place in USA. However in rest of the world 3 crores abortions out of 5 crores are illegal
 |
| Women in Afghanistan |
Global Forum serves as a place for the citizens of the world to
discuss challenging issues relating to life, death, health, and basic human
values.
Women MPs are making their mark. A further gender representation in
politics is improving day by day all over the world. There are many countries
with a woman as head of the government. According to IPU and UN Women participation
is more than doubled in last 7 years (Base year taken is 2005). Table below
shows women in parliaments of various nations in the world.
 |
| Women in Power (Politically) |
|
Serial Number
|
Country
|
Lower or
single House , % of Women
|
Lower or
single House , Women/Total Seats
|
Upper House or
Senate , % of Women
|
Upper House or
Senate , Women/ Total Seats
|
|
(a)
|
(b)
|
©
|
(d)
|
(e)
|
(f)
|
|
|
Rwanda
|
56.3
|
45/
80
|
38.5
|
10/26
|
|
|
Andorra
|
50
|
14/
28
|
|
|
|
|
Cuba
|
45.2
|
265/586
|
|
|
|
|
Sweden
|
44.7
|
156/349
|
|
|
|
|
Seychelles
|
43.8
|
14/32
|
|
|
|
|
Finland
|
42.5
|
85/200
|
|
|
|
|
South Africa
|
42.3
|
169/400
|
32.1
|
17/
53
|
|
|
Netherlands
|
40.7
|
61/150
|
36
|
27/75
|
|
|
Nicaragua
|
40.2
|
37/92
|
|
|
|
|
Iceland
|
39.7
|
25/63
|
|
|
|
|
Norway
|
39.6
|
67/169
|
|
|
|
|
Mozambique
|
39.2
|
98/250
|
|
|
|
|
Denmark
|
39.1
|
70/179
|
|
|
|
|
Costa Rica
|
38.6
|
22/57
|
|
|
|
|
Angola
|
38.2
|
84/220
|
|
|
|
|
Belgium
|
38
|
57/150
|
40.8
|
29/71
|
|
|
Argentina
|
37.4
|
96/257
|
38.9
|
29/72
|
|
|
Spain
|
36
|
126/350
|
33.5
|
88/263
|
|
|
United
Republic of Tanzania
|
36
|
126/350
|
|
|
|
|
Uganda
|
35
|
135/386
|
|
|
|
|
Nepal
|
33.2
|
197/594
|
|
|
|
|
Germany
|
32.9
|
204/620
|
27.5
|
19/69
|
|
|
Ecuador
|
32.3
|
40/124
|
|
|
|
|
Timor-Leste
|
32.3
|
21/65
|
|
|
|
|
New Zealand
|
32.2
|
39/121
|
|
|
|
|
Slovenia
|
32.2
|
29/90
|
2.5
|
1/40
|
|
|
Belarus
|
31.8
|
35/110
|
32.8
|
19/58
|
|
|
Guyana
|
31.3
|
21/67
|
|
|
|
|
T.F.Y.R. of
Macedonia
|
30.9
|
38/123
|
|
|
|
|
Burundi
|
30.5
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
Portugal
|
28.7
|
66/230
|
|
|
|
|
Trinidad and
Tobago
|
28.6
|
12/42
|
25.8
|
8/31
|
|
|
Switzerland
|
28.5
|
57/200
|
19.6
|
9/46
|
|
|
Mexico
|
28.4
|
142/500
|
22.7
|
29/128
|
|
|
Austria
|
27.9
|
51/183
|
31.1
|
19/61
|
|
|
Ethiopia
|
27.8
|
152/547
|
16.3
|
22/135
|
|
|
Afghanistan
|
27.7
|
69/249
|
27.5
|
28/102
|
|
|
Tunisia
|
26.7
|
58/217
|
|
|
|
|
South Sudan
|
26.5
|
88/332
|
10
|
5/50
|
|
|
Bolivia
|
25.4
|
33/130
|
47.2
|
17/36
|
|
|
Iraq
|
25.2
|
82/325
|
|
|
|
|
Lao People’s
Dem. Republic
|
25
|
33/132
|
|
|
|
|
Luxembourg
|
25
|
15/60
|
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
24.8
|
76/307
|
36.7
|
36/98
|
|
|
Australia
|
24.7
|
37/150
|
38.2
|
29/76
|
|
|
Sudan
|
24.6
|
87/354
|
17.9
|
5/28
|
|
|
Namibia
|
24.4
|
19/78
|
26.9
|
7/26
|
|
|
Vietnam
|
24.4
|
122/500
|
|
|
|
|
Lesotho
|
24.2
|
29/120
|
21.2
|
7/33
|
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
24
|
6/25
|
|
|
|
|
Croatia
|
23.8
|
36/151
|
|
|
|
|
Poland
|
23.7
|
109/460
|
13
|
13/100
|
|
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
23.3
|
28/120
|
|
|
|
|
Latvia
|
23
|
23/100
|
|
|
|
|
Philippines
|
22.9
|
65/284
|
13
|
3/23
|
|
|
Senegal
|
22.7
|
34/150
|
40
|
40/100
|
|
|
Pakistan
|
22.5
|
77/342
|
17
|
17/100
|
|
|
Malawi
|
22.3
|
43/193
|
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
22.3
|
145/650
|
21.9
|
181/827
|
|
|
Singapore
|
22.2
|
20/90
|
|
|
|
|
Mauritania
|
22.1
|
21/95
|
14.3
|
8/56
|
|
|
Czech Republic
|
22
|
44/200
|
18.5
|
15/81
|
|
|
Eritrea
|
22
|
33/150
|
|
|
|
|
Serbia
|
22
|
55/250
|
|
|
|
|
Uzbekistan
|
22
|
33/150
|
|
|
|
|
Italy
|
21.6
|
136/630
|
18.6
|
60/322
|
|
|
Peru
|
21.5
|
28/130
|
|
|
|
|
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
|
21.4
|
9/42
|
13.3
|
2/15
|
|
|
China
|
21.3
|
635/2978
|
|
|
|
|
Bulgaria
|
20.8
|
50/240
|
|
|
|
|
Cape Verde
|
20.8
|
15/72
|
|
|
|
|
Dominican
Republic
|
20.8
|
38/183
|
9.4
|
3/32
|
|
|
Cambodia
|
20.3
|
25/123
|
14.8
|
9/61
|
|
|
Israel
|
20
|
24/120
|
|
|
|
|
Estonia
|
19.8
|
20/101
|
|
|
|
|
Republic of
Moldova
|
19.8
|
20/101
|
|
|
|
|
Bangladesh
|
19.7
|
69/350
|
|
|
|
|
Honduras
|
19.5
|
25/128
|
|
|
|
|
Lithuania
|
19.1
|
27/141
|
|
|
|
|
El Salvador
|
19
|
16/84
|
|
|
|
|
Monaco
|
19
|
4/21
|
|
|
|
|
Tajikistan
|
19
|
12/63
|
14.7
|
5/34
|
|
|
France
|
18.9
|
109/577
|
22.2
|
77/347
|
|
|
Mauritius
|
18.8
|
13/69
|
|
|
|
|
Greece
|
18.7
|
56/300
|
|
|
|
|
San Marino
|
18.3
|
11/60
|
|
|
|
|
Indonesia
|
18.2
|
102/560
|
|
|
|
|
Sao Tome and
Principe
|
18.2
|
10/55
|
|
|
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
17.8
|
19/107
|
4.3
|
2/47
|
|
|
United Arab
Emirates
|
17.5
|
7/40
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines
|
17.4
|
4/23
|
|
|
|
|
Morocco
|
17
|
67/395
|
2.2
|
6/270
|
|
|
Venezuela
|
17
|
28/165
|
|
|
|
|
Turkmenistan
|
16.8
|
21/125
|
|
|
|
|
United States
of America
|
16.8
|
73/434
|
17
|
17/100
|
|
|
Saint Lucia
|
16.7
|
3/18
|
36.4
|
4/11
|
|
|
Azerbaijan
|
16
|
20/125
|
|
|
|
|
Slovakia
|
16
|
24/150
|
|
|
|
|
Thailand
|
15.8
|
79/500
|
15.4
|
23/149
|
|
|
Albania
|
15.7
|
22/140
|
|
|
|
|
Democratic
People’s Rep. of Korea
|
15.6
|
107/687
|
|
|
|
|
Burkina Faso
|
15.3
|
17/111
|
|
|
|
|
Ireland
|
15.1
|
25/166
|
30
|
18/60
|
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
15
|
32/214
|
24.2
|
24/99
|
|
|
Republic of
Korea
|
14.7
|
44/299
|
|
|
|
|
Chile
|
14.2
|
17/120
|
13.2
|
5/38
|
|
|
Gabon
|
14.2
|
17/120
|
17.6
|
18/102
|
|
|
Turkey
|
14.2
|
78/550
|
|
|
|
|
Cameroon
|
13.9
|
25/180
|
|
|
|
|
Djibouti
|
13.8
|
9/65
|
|
|
|
|
Russian
Federation
|
13.6
|
61/450
|
4.7
|
8/169
|
|
|
Swaziland
|
13.6
|
9/66
|
40
|
12/30
|
|
|
Grenada
|
13.3
|
2/15
|
23.1
|
3/13
|
|
|
Guatemala
|
13.3
|
21/158
|
|
|
|
|
Niger
|
13.3
|
15/113
|
|
|
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
12.9
|
16/124
|
|
|
|
|
Chad
|
12.8
|
24/188
|
|
|
|
|
Jamaica
|
12.7
|
8/63
|
23.8
|
5/21
|
|
|
Central
African Republic
|
12.5
|
13/104
|
|
|
|
|
Dominica
|
12.5
|
4/32
|
|
|
|
|
Madagascar
|
12.5
|
32/256
|
11.1
|
10/90
|
|
|
Paraguay
|
12.5
|
10/80
|
15.6
|
7/45
|
|
|
Syrian Arab
Republic
|
12.4
|
31/250
|
|
|
|
|
Montenegro
|
12.3
|
10/81
|
|
|
|
|
Bahamas
|
12.2
|
5/41
|
33.3
|
5/15
|
|
|
Colombia
|
12.1
|
20/165
|
16
|
16/100
|
|
|
Uruguay
|
12.1
|
12/99
|
12.9
|
4/31
|
|
|
Suriname
|
11.8
|
6/51
|
|
|
|
|
Zambia
|
11.5
|
18/157
|
|
|
|
|
Romania
|
11.2
|
37/330
|
5.9
|
8/136
|
|
|
Togo
|
11.1
|
9/81
|
|
|
|
|
Côte d’Ivoire
|
11
|
28/254
|
|
|
|
|
India
|
11
|
60/545
|
10.7
|
26/243
|
|
|
Japan
|
10.8
|
52/480
|
18.6
|
45/242
|
|
|
Jordan
|
10.8
|
13/120
|
11.7
|
7/60
|
|
|
Cyprus
|
10.7
|
6/56
|
|
|
|
|
Antigua and
Barbuda
|
10.5
|
2/19
|
29.4
|
5/17
|
|
|
Malaysia
|
10.4
|
23/221
|
21.5
|
14/65
|
|
|
Mali
|
10.2
|
15/147
|
|
|
|
|
Bahrain
|
10
|
4/40
|
27.5
|
11/40
|
|
|
Barbados
|
10
|
3/30
|
33.3
|
7/21
|
|
|
Equatorial
Guinea
|
10
|
10/100
|
|
|
|
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
10
|
10/100
|
|
|
|
|
Haiti
|
4.2
|
4/95
|
3.3
|
1/30
|
|
|
Samoa
|
4.1
|
2/49
|
|
|
|
|
Mongolia
|
3.9
|
3/76
|
|
|
|
|
Tonga
|
3.6
|
1/28
|
|
|
|
|
Myanmar
|
3.5
|
14/395
|
1.8
|
4/21
|
|
|
Lebanon
|
3.1
|
4/128
|
|
|
|
|
Comoros
|
3
|
1/33
|
|
|
|
|
Marshall Islands
|
3
|
1/33
|
|
|
|
|
Iran (Islamic
Republic of)
|
2.8
|
8/290
|
|
|
|
|
Egypt
|
2
|
10/508
|
|
|
|
|
Vanuatu
|
1.9
|
1/52
|
|
|
|
|
Oman
|
1.2
|
1/84
|
18.1
|
15/83
|
|
|
Papua New
Guinea
|
0.9
|
1/109
|
|
|
|
|
Yemen
|
0.3
|
1/301
|
1.8
|
2/111
|
|
|
Belize
|
0
|
0/32
|
38.5
|
5/13
|
|
|
Micronesia
(Federated States of)
|
0
|
0/14
|
|
|
|
|
Nauru
|
0
|
0/18
|
|
|
|
|
Palau
|
0
|
0/16
|
15.4
|
2/13
|
|
|
Qatar
|
0
|
0/35
|
|
|
|
|
Saudi Arabia
|
0
|
0/150
|
|
|
|
|
Solomon
Islands
|
0
|
0/50
|
|
|
 |
| Russian Women |
 |
 |
| Women in India |
The Status of Women in India
Ms Carol S. Coonrod did some research work during 1998 on status ofIndian women. Brief information on her research is available on website: Her
findings are given below.
http://www.thp.org/where_we_work/south_asia/india/research_reports/chronic_hunger_and_status_of_women
Status of women in India was theoretically high (as per scriptures) but
in practice had been low or inferior. The position became worse during the
Moghul rule. There was no change in the fate of women during the British rule
in India. There had been a custom of Sati in olden days. Women were forcibly
sent to the funeral pyre of their dead husbands. This had been a solution found
to maintain male-female ratio around 50%.
Change took place during struggle for India's freedom. Mahatma
Gandhi appealed to women to participate in freedom struggle. Status of women
started improving after India was liberated from British rule. Mrs. Indira
Gandhi had been the first Prime Minister (of India) in the world. There had
been positive effect on status of women in India not only during her period but
even after her. Indian women have proved that women are equal to men. India is
following many good practices like free education for girls to improve status
of women.
There exists a negative side too. Women suffer both mentally and
physically in their in-laws' houses. Dowry is another obstacle. In some cases
even after paying dowry husband and in-laws force women to get more and more
from her parents. Although laws exist for equal property right in parents’
property the woman is asked to get more and more from parents.
Indian women face many problems and are subject to the same social
pressures which women experience in other parts of the world. However, present
status is much better compared to pre-independence era. An Indian constitution
not only guarantees equal rights and equal opportunity but also provide
safeguards from possible exploitation or injustice. Women in India have gained
adequate confidence and voice their opinion and project demands for betterment
of society. This doesn't mean that all obstacles in progress of women are
removed. There are some elements (found in elected politicians also) which try
to ridicule women and try to place constraints. There is difference among women
belonging to different religions and sects. Religious heads try to place
constraints on women and demand heavy penalties. However, Indian constitution
does not allow such efforts to succeed. Next part is not result of research by
Ms Carol.
Presently in the business of prostitution presence of Indian women
in the world is considerable. Girl children are not only neglected but are not
allowed to take birth and if born some sell them to earn money. There are two
reasons for this. Firstly Indians still believe in that son would look after
them in old age and second physical purity of girls. Indians believe in that
sexual life is only for married couples. All others were expected to remain
pure, both bodily and mentally. Males generally refuse to follow these
restrictions. Society keeps strict watch on sexual life of unmarried women. If
it is known that an unmarried girl had sexual relationship with some one, it
becomes impossible to find a bridegroom for her. This appears to be Indian
thinking. This is not restricted to any single religion in India. No religion
is exception to this thinking. In rest of the world there is system of Boy
friend-Girl friend. Both boys and girls have equal sexual rights. Both are
allowed to change their respective friend. Therefore, boys in the other world
do not need a prostitute. Prostitution has bad side effects. People fall prey
to AIDS. This could be a great restraint to discourage prostitution. However,
modern progress has found a solution under name "Condom" to this
restraint.
Some of the ancient scriptures were very partial to women and
treated them with disdain. However, this had been the state in every part of
the world. Security and life are most important not only for human beings but
also for tiniest creatures. During those times for security the only
requirement had been physical strength. Males being physically stronger than
women, ruled the society. Even in today's world whoever is in power dictates
terms. Hence there is no advantage in finding, thinking, debating status of
women in past. What is needed is debating present situation and bringing about
modification to give justice to all. However, Indian woman (and also women in
Indian subcontinent) have been misrepresented and wrongly projected to gain
political or economic mileage especially by westerners.
Generalisation of status of not only Indian women but also women in
any country is highly difficult. No society in the world is heterogeneous.
Different social and economic conditions results in changes.
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| Women in Congo |
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| Women in Somalia |
Roleof Chinese Women in China
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5539635_role-chinese-women-china.html
Women in Traditional China
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5539635_role-chinese-women-china.html
Women in Traditional China
During 19th century and earlier status of women had been
same all over the world. China is no exception. Women were advised to have 7
virtues namely: humility, resignation, subservience, self-abasement, obedience,
cleanliness, and industry. They were forced to remain inside inner part of
house and never take part in external affairs. They had been treated as “Son
producing machines” and were expected to feed family from whatever their
respective husband earns. The work was divided between earning and servicing.
Men were expected to earn all needs and women were supposed to serve food to
all family members. The difference among Chinese woman and others is the great
Confucius preached that women’s basic duties were kinship role i.e. daughter,
sister, wife, in-law, grand mother etc. He further preached that women must
produce male children. Failure to this would result in divorce. Later i.e. after
Confucius males were called as ‘Yang’ and females “Yin’ Yang was considered
superior than Yin. This is remained same during that time in every part of the
word. The difference had been Chinese thought a woman heading a family shall
result in death of the family. Another difference had been Chinese women
considered father more important than husband. More details are available on
the link provided earlier.
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