This Sunday's New York Times magazine is devoted to women's issues around the world. Be sure to pick up a copy of it if you can. Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn wrote the cover story.
Their main thesis is that just as slavery was the most important moral issue the world faced in the 19th century and totalitarian governments of both the left and right were the the major moral challenge of the 20th century, in the 21st century "it is the brutality inflicted on so many women and girls around the globe: sex trafficking, acid attacks, bride burnings and mass rape."
Do you agree? In the 21st century, in many places of the world, half the population is still being kept powerless through lack of education and oppressed by some horrific practices which sound as though they come from the Dark Ages. Half the population!
Can we in the developed world do anything about this? Should we? Ideas, anyone?
If you can't get a copy of the newspaper, the cover story is at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-t.html?_r=1&hp
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Of all the issues in the world I don't think brutality inflicted on women is the biggest issue. To me it is more likely violence in religion and conflicts created by religion. The Israel-Palestine Conflicts has been going on for decades, and there was already a gulf war. But with the war in Iraq and in Afghanistan and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Religion is on everyone's mind. And violence in religion also covers some parts of brutality towards women (not including sex trafficking). I also think not enough time has passed for us to be able to discern what the major moral issue is of the 21st century. The other moral issues became very pronounced in the middle of the century.
ReplyDeleteI really think Nick would just like that to be the issue. But just saying it won't make it true. He is just saying it and hoping it will catch on like Vogue when they say, "White Sun Glasses are 'in'."
Interesting argument, Michael. I guess I agree with Nick because women are half of the world. If they could be freed from oppression and given opportunities, it would improve not only their lives but the lives of their children - male and female. If women were empowered through education, economic freedom and some say in society, I believe they would not be as likely to use religion as a source of conflict. And I think their sons as well as daughters would view the world differently. I am not suggesting women will suddenly become presidents or prime ministers. I am saying that a girl who has her first child at 13 or 14 after an arranged marriage and perhaps physical damage will never be able to improve her own life or the lives of the people in her community.
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