Gender inequalities, abortion, and domestic violence
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is a phenomenon that has existed for a long time; women are more vulnerable to domestic violence compared to men. For a long time ago, women were considered weak and, therefore, vulnerable to violence. According to Kaur & Garg (2008), violence has always been related to women; it is something that can and has been happening to women across the globe. Domestic violence does not only constitute physical abuse; there emotional, psychological as well as social, economic abuse that arises as a result of men abusing women domestically. Domestic violence has numerous effects on the mental and physical well-being of women.
According to a study conducted on Indian women by Kaur & Garg (2008), women who reported domestic violence cases were more likely to suffer from gynecological symptoms. This can be attributed to the fact that men who are violent at home have higher chances of engaging in extramarital affairs, which increases the risk of contracting STDs, and this is passed on to the wives at home. In most cases, this is transmitted to the wife through sexual abuse. Women who suffer from domestic violence often remain in their toxic relationships, this is because the economically dependent on their husbands for provision, and if they leave them, they may not have financial support. Therefore, the only choice is for them to remain in toxic relationships and assume all they go through (Kaur & Garg 2008). Domestic violence in women has a much deeper impact than just the immediate physical abuse and fear; if they are occasionally subjected to any form of violence, they may end up suffering from mental health issues such as depression. This may happen, especially if there is no one to share their issues with.
Gender inequalities in the workplace
Workplace inequalities have been witnessed in various working places, where women are inferior to men. Gender inequalities to women in the workplace can be seen in the following; the wage gap, training, hiring, and promotion of women. Stamarski & Son Hing (2015) argues that such harmful gender inequalities are subjected to women by the Human Resource departments since they are the organ in industries with the power over employees.
In their articles, Stamarski and Son Hing (2015) have argued that a workplace is an inhumane place for women because they have to endure much of work inequalities. This can be seen in the wage payments where men considerably receive more than women do, even though they work on the same level; additionally, women’s careers are not furthered because it is difficult for a woman to receive a promotion in the workplace. Men tend to hold high positions in the workplace compared to women; this is despite the fact that women may have the required qualifications to be in higher positions in organizations.
Although gender inequalities may be decreasing with time, they still exist in organizations and also in the field of politics. In the past, women were seen as domestic workers, where they were to remain at home and take care of children. This changed, and women began to advance in careers, and this has been a step forward in reducing the era of discrimination. This change can be seen since women have been able to secure jobs regardless of their positions in the organizations they are there working (Nikki, Brown, and Patten 2019). Nonetheless, gender inequalities in the workplace is still an issue that has not been resolved, and women should be valued the same as men have been.
Abortion
Abortion is one of the controversial topics discussed in the United States; there are those who think that abortion is legal, while others deem it as illegal and unlawful in the eyes of God. Some argue that a mother should have a choice of whether to keep the unborn fetus or not. Others claim that once a woman becomes pregnant, they should carry the pregnancy to term. Decision making on whether to terminate a pregnancy has become an issue for women. This is as a result of the many economic and socio-cultural barriers surrounding them. Because of these barriers, women will tend to use unsafe methods of executing an abortion; they risk their lives in those unhealthy practices because maybe in their states, abortion is not allowed, or because the cultural norms do not allow them. Some of the methods subject such women to risks of death, physically damaging themselves, or psychological torture.
Unwanted pregnancies mean that a woman had not planned pregnancy; it may have had occurred as a result of sexual abuse or young age with peer pressure. Berer (2017) argues that certain law policies should be changed; she argues that nobody should be punished because of aborting or punishes any person who was involved in safe abortion. Further, (Berer) 2017 states that police and the court systems should not be involved in any form of prosecution or investigation of people involved in safe abortions. Abortion should be treated and valued as any other health problem. This means that health workers should be trained on how to provide safe deliveries and take care of abortion patients just like a normal patient (Berer 2017). Although this would not be supported by every person, t can be a way of protecting women looking for unprofessional people to conduct abortions, and this would prevent risks involved.
References
Berer, M. (2017). Abortion Law and Policy Around the World: In Search of Decriminalization. Health and human rights, 19(1), 13–27.
Kaur, R., & Garg, S. (2008). Addressing domestic violence against women: an unfinished agenda. Indian journal of community medicine: official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine, 33(2), 73–76. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-0218.40871
Stamarski, C. S., & Son Hing, L. S. (2015). Gender inequalities in the workplace: the effects of organizational structures, processes, practices, and decision-makers’ sexism. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 1400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01400
Stamarski, Cailin S., and Leanne S. Son Hing. 2015. “Gender Inequalities In The Workplace: The Effects Of Organizational Structures, Processes, Practices, And Decision Makers’ Sexism.” Frontiers in Psychology 6.