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Sunday 7 September 2014

Status of women in the world




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.

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:-
  1. More than half of the 40 million people living with AIDS today are women.
  2. More than 75 % of all African AIDS victims are young women between 15 and 24.
  3. Every year, nearly 5 lakhs women die from pregnancy complications and 1 Lakhs from unsafe abortions.
  4. African pregnant woman is more likely to die than in Western Europe. The chance may be 180 times.
  5. 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.
  6. France is no different. 95% of victims of violence are women. Out of these, 51% are at the hands of their husbands.
  7. 20 to 50% women experience domestic violence during marriage. This is equally true for developed and underdeveloped nations.
  8. In several countries, tests are carried out to determine the sex of an unborn child and female foetus is aborted.
  9. Approximately 33% of uneducated population consists of women. They don’t have even basic education. They are mostly in rural area.
  10. On an average, girls receive 4.4 years of less education than boys at the age of 18.
  11. 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.
  12. It is a great concern that more adolescent girls are HIV positive than Boys. 90% of AIDS cases under age 20 are girls.
  13. In advanced country like USA, every third girl is sexually abused by the age of 18 and some by the age of 14.
  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)
  1.  
Rwanda
56.3
45/ 80
38.5
10/26
  1.  
Andorra
50
14/ 28


  1.  
Cuba
45.2
265/586


  1.  
Sweden
44.7
156/349


  1.  
Seychelles
43.8
14/32


  1.  
Finland
42.5
85/200


  1.  
South Africa
42.3
169/400
32.1
17/ 53
  1.  
Netherlands
40.7
61/150
36
27/75
  1.  
Nicaragua
40.2
37/92


  1.  
Iceland
39.7
25/63


  1.  
Norway
39.6
67/169


  1.  
Mozambique
39.2
98/250


  1.  
Denmark
39.1
70/179


  1.  
Costa Rica
38.6
22/57


  1.  
Angola
38.2
84/220


  1.  
Belgium
38
57/150
40.8
29/71
  1.  
Argentina
37.4
96/257
38.9
29/72
  1.  
Spain
36
126/350
33.5
88/263
  1.  
United Republic of Tanzania          
36
126/350


  1.  
Uganda
35
135/386


  1.  
Nepal
33.2
197/594


  1.  
Germany
32.9
204/620
27.5
19/69
  1.  
Ecuador
32.3
40/124


  1.  
Timor-Leste
32.3
21/65


  1.  
New Zealand
32.2
39/121


  1.  
Slovenia
32.2
29/90
2.5
1/40
  1.  
Belarus
31.8
35/110
32.8
19/58
  1.  
Guyana
31.3
21/67


  1.  
T.F.Y.R. of Macedonia
30.9
38/123


  1.  
Burundi
30.5
32


  1.  
Portugal
28.7
66/230


  1.  
Trinidad and Tobago
28.6
12/42
25.8
8/31
  1.  
Switzerland
28.5
57/200
19.6
9/46
  1.  
Mexico
            28.4
142/500
22.7
29/128
  1.  
Austria
27.9
51/183
31.1
19/61
  1.  
Ethiopia
27.8
152/547
16.3
22/135
  1.  
Afghanistan
27.7
69/249
27.5
28/102
  1.  
Tunisia
26.7
58/217


  1.  
South Sudan
26.5
88/332
10
5/50
  1.  
Bolivia
25.4
33/130
47.2
17/36
  1.  
Iraq
25.2
82/325


  1.  
Lao People’s Dem. Republic
25
33/132


  1.  
Luxembourg
25
15/60


  1.  
Canada
24.8
76/307
36.7
36/98
  1.  
Australia
24.7
37/150
38.2
29/76
  1.  
Sudan
24.6
87/354
17.9
5/28
  1.  
Namibia
24.4
19/78
26.9
7/26
  1.  
Vietnam
24.4
122/500


  1.  
Lesotho
24.2
29/120
21.2
7/33
  1.  
Liechtenstein
24
6/25


  1.  
Croatia
23.8
36/151


  1.  
Poland
23.7
109/460
13
13/100
  1.  
Kyrgyzstan
23.3
28/120


  1.  
Latvia
            23
23/100


  1.  
Philippines
22.9
65/284
13
3/23
  1.  
Senegal
22.7
34/150
40
40/100
  1.  
Pakistan
22.5
77/342
17
17/100
  1.  
Malawi
22.3
43/193


  1.  
United Kingdom
22.3
145/650
21.9
181/827
  1.  
Singapore
22.2
20/90


  1.  
Mauritania
22.1
21/95
14.3
8/56
  1.  
Czech Republic
22
44/200
18.5
15/81
  1.  
Eritrea
22
33/150


  1.  
Serbia
22
55/250


  1.  
Uzbekistan
22
33/150


  1.  
Italy
21.6
136/630
18.6
60/322
  1.  
Peru
21.5
28/130


  1.  
Bosnia and Herzegovina
21.4
9/42
13.3
2/15
  1.  
China
21.3
635/2978


  1.  
Bulgaria
20.8
50/240


  1.  
Cape Verde
20.8
15/72


  1.  
Dominican Republic
20.8
38/183
9.4
3/32
  1.  
Cambodia
20.3
25/123
14.8
9/61
  1.  
Israel
20
24/120


  1.  
Estonia
19.8
20/101


  1.  
Republic of Moldova
19.8
20/101


  1.  
Bangladesh
19.7
69/350


  1.  
Honduras
19.5
25/128


  1.  
Lithuania
19.1
27/141


  1.  
El Salvador
19
16/84


  1.  
Monaco
19
4/21


  1.  
Tajikistan
19
12/63
14.7
5/34
  1.  
France
            18.9
109/577
22.2
77/347
  1.  
Mauritius
18.8
13/69


  1.  
Greece
18.7
56/300


  1.  
San Marino
18.3
11/60


  1.  
Indonesia
18.2
102/560


  1.  
Sao Tome and Principe
18.2
10/55


  1.  
Kazakhstan
17.8
19/107
4.3
2/47
  1.  
United Arab Emirates
17.5
7/40


  1.  
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
17.4
4/23


  1.  
Morocco
17
67/395
2.2
6/270
  1.  
Venezuela
17
28/165


  1.  
Turkmenistan
16.8
21/125


  1.  
United States of America
16.8
73/434
17
17/100
  1.  
Saint Lucia
16.7
3/18
36.4
4/11
  1.  
Azerbaijan
16
20/125


  1.  
Slovakia
16
24/150


  1.  
Thailand
15.8
79/500
15.4
23/149
  1.  
Albania
15.7
22/140


  1.  
Democratic People’s Rep. of Korea
15.6
107/687


  1.  
Burkina Faso
15.3
17/111


  1.  
Ireland
15.1
25/166
30
18/60
  1.  
Zimbabwe
15
32/214
24.2
24/99
  1.  
Republic of Korea
14.7
44/299


  1.  
Chile
            14.2
17/120
13.2
5/38
  1.  
Gabon
            14.2
17/120
17.6
18/102
  1.  
Turkey
14.2
78/550


  1.  
Cameroon
13.9
25/180


  1.  
Djibouti
13.8
9/65


  1.  
Russian Federation
13.6
61/450
4.7
8/169
  1.  
Swaziland
13.6
9/66
40
12/30
  1.  
Grenada
13.3
2/15
23.1
3/13
  1.  
Guatemala
13.3
21/158


  1.  
Niger
13.3
15/113


  1.  
Sierra Leone
12.9
16/124


  1.  
Chad
12.8
24/188


  1.  
Jamaica
12.7
8/63
23.8
5/21
  1.  
Central African Republic
12.5
13/104


  1.  
Dominica
12.5
4/32


  1.  
Madagascar
12.5
32/256
11.1
10/90
  1.  
Paraguay
12.5
10/80
15.6
7/45
  1.  
Syrian Arab Republic
12.4
31/250


  1.  
Montenegro
12.3
10/81


  1.  
Bahamas
12.2
5/41
33.3
5/15
  1.  
Colombia
12.1
20/165
16
16/100
  1.  
Uruguay
12.1
12/99
12.9
4/31
  1.  
Suriname
11.8
6/51


  1.  
Zambia
11.5
18/157


  1.  
Romania
11.2
37/330
5.9
8/136
  1.  
Togo
11.1
9/81


  1.  
Côte d’Ivoire
11
28/254


  1.  
India
11
60/545
10.7
26/243
  1.  
Japan
10.8
52/480
18.6
45/242
  1.  
Jordan
10.8
13/120
11.7
7/60
  1.  
Cyprus
10.7
6/56


  1.  
Antigua and Barbuda
10.5
2/19
29.4
5/17
  1.  
Malaysia
10.4
23/221
21.5
14/65
  1.  
Mali
10.2
15/147


  1.  
Bahrain
10
4/40
27.5
11/40
  1.  
Barbados
10
3/30
33.3
7/21
  1.  
Equatorial Guinea
10
10/100


  1.  
Guinea-Bissau
10
10/100


  1.  
Haiti
4.2
4/95
3.3
1/30
  1.  
Samoa
            4.1
2/49


  1.  
Mongolia
3.9
3/76


  1.  
Tonga
3.6
1/28


  1.  
Myanmar
3.5
14/395
1.8
4/21
  1.  
Lebanon
3.1
4/128


  1.  
Comoros
3
1/33


  1.  
Marshall Islands
3
1/33


  1.  
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
2.8
8/290


  1.  
Egypt
2
10/508


  1.  
Vanuatu
1.9
1/52


  1.  
Oman
1.2
1/84
18.1
15/83
  1.  
Papua New Guinea
0.9
1/109


  1.  
Yemen
0.3
1/301
1.8
2/111
  1.  
Belize
0
0/32
38.5
5/13
  1.  
Micronesia (Federated States of)
0
0/14


  1.  
Nauru
0
0/18


  1.  
Palau
0
0/16
15.4
2/13
  1.  
Qatar
0
0/35


  1.  
Saudi Arabia
0
0/150


  1.  
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.
Women in Congo



Women in Somalia

Roleof Chinese Women in 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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