Women in cages

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Women around the world are trapped in cages. Whether enslaved in camps, a household, or the societal idea of being a woman, it is time to free our women. This is not an issue limited by geography, women around the world are trapped, physically or mentally and we must stand up and free our fellow women. 

Xinjiang China- 

In China, there are several human rights violated but one of the grosses to date is the genocide of their population of Uyghur Muslims which scholars estimate to be over one million in re-education camps,  many of which died. Within these camps the treatment of women is disgusting. One woman, Hatiwaji, stated, “At one stage I was chained to my bed for 20 days as punishment, though I never knew what for”. Along with staggering accounts of mass rape via soldiers. While this is an issue the entire population of Uyghur Muslims is facing, and it is critical we help them all, within the camps, the treatment is extra violent and violating of their anatomy. 

Afghanistan-

While women in Afghanistan are not being chained onto a bed and left to starve they face the same issue of being put into a box, only their box is their very own home. Nearly two years ago on August 15th, 2021, the Taliban was able to take control of Afghanistan again; while they promised women would be allowed to exercise their rights such as education and work under Sharia Law, they have not fulfilled their promises. As stated by UN Women “The Taliban has also banned girls from attending school past the sixth grade and barred women from working most jobs outside the home.” (UN WOMEN). Practically screaming the Taliban have no intention of upholding their false promises. The punishments for attempting to gain an education include stoning, lashing, amputation, and many more. Additionally, the Taliban decreed that “women must cover their faces in public…remain in their homes except in cases of necessity. Women are banned from traveling long distances without a male chaperone” (UN Women). While the Taliban claims they believe “Both (women and men) should be equal,” (The Associated Press). While simply passing one decree to help women means “no one can force women to marry by coercion or pressure.” (The Associated Press), they have completely disregarded the basic things that make us equal, such as the right to education and to safely walk out of your home. 

The United States of America

When examining women's rights on a global scale, it becomes apparent that America has made significant strides toward gender equality. It is important to acknowledge the privilege that comes with being a woman in America. However, despite these advancements, many women in America are still unhappy with their circumstances. This discontent is not a new phenomenon; in the 1950s, the release of The Feminine Mystique revealed the unrealized dreams and frustrations of American housewives. Today, women still face a wage gap, earning only 80 cents for every dollar made by male counterparts who perform identical tasks. Women are also pressured to conform to societal gender norms, which can result in discrimination when they deviate from these labels. 

While women have been fighting for gender equality for centuries, there is still a long way to go. Women worldwide continue to be oppressed and marginalized. As a society, we have an obligation to our past and future generations of women to keep pushing for progress.  So, it is important to extend our efforts for gender equality and fight for freedom alongside our foremothers and sisters around the world.

Works Cited

The Associated Press. “Taliban Decree an End to Forced Marriages in Afghanistan (Published 2021).” The New York Times, 3 December 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/03/world/asia/taliban-women-marriage.html. Accessed 24 June 2023.

Bahous, Sima. “In focus: Women in Afghanistan one year after the Taliban takeover.” UN Women, 15 August 2022, https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2022/08/in-focus-women-in-afghanistan-one-year-after-the-taliban-takeover. Accessed 24 June 2023.

Haitiwaji, Gulbahar, et al. “How I Survived a Chinese 're-education' Camp for Uyghurs.” The Guardian, 12 January 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/uighur-xinjiang-re-education-camp-china-gulbahar-haitiwaji. Accessed 24 June 2023.