Reevaluating Gender Equality: Are Women Being Taken for Granted?"

Reevaluating Gender Equality: Are Women Being Taken for Granted?

I was profoundly shocked and saddened to learn about the tragic incident involving a 31-year-old doctor who was raped and murdered in a seminar room at a hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, India on August 9th. Compounding this tragedy, two additional cases of rape have also made headlines in India. On August 8th, in the northern state of Uttarakhand, a nurse was reportedly raped and killed while returning home from work. She had been missing since the end of July, and her body was discovered last week. Similarly, in the northern state of Bihar, six individuals have been arrested for the alleged gang-rape and murder of a teenage Dalit girl. Her mutilated body was found near a pond in a village in Muzaffarpur district during the same week.

Violence against women is not only prevalent in India but also occurs in the United States. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women has experienced completed or attempted rape during her lifetime. Estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that globally, approximately one in three women (30%) has been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime.

Violence against women and girls represents a severe violation of human rights, with immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences that can be devastating, sometimes resulting in death. This violence detrimentally impacts women’s overall well-being, hindering their full participation in society and affecting their families, communities, and countries at large. The costs of such violence are substantial, ranging from increased strains on healthcare systems to legal expenses and declines in productivity.

While at least 155 countries have enacted laws on domestic violence, and 140 have legislation addressing sexual harassment in the workplace (World Bank 2020), challenges persist in enforcing these laws, thereby limiting women and girls’ access to safety and justice. More needs to be done to prevent violence, and instances of violence often go unpunished, underscoring the urgent need for concerted efforts to address and combat this pervasive issue.

It is crucial to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of violence against women through education and advocacy. Teaching boys from a young age about gender equality, respect, and healthy relationships is essential in shaping their attitudes and behaviors towards women. By instilling values of empathy, compassion, and respect early on, we can help prevent the perpetuation of harmful attitudes that contribute to violence against women.

The world of humanity has two wings—one is women and the other men," stated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest Son of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith. He emphasized, “Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in one of his talks in London, also remarked that women possess greater moral courage than men and have unique gifts that empower them to lead during times of peril and adversity. According to the Baha’i Faith, gender equality is a spiritual and moral principle crucial for global unity and the establishment of a harmonious world order. The full economic and social advancement of the planet is unattainable without harnessing the qualities, talents, and skills of both women and men.

While both parents bear the collective responsibility of educating their children, the mother holds a special position as the primary educator of humanity and must be adequately equipped for this role. In the Baha’i perspective, the education of women is deemed more crucial and vital than that of men, as women are the primary caregivers and educators of children from their earliest stages. If a mother is lacking in knowledge or skills, the child’s development may be hindered. Thus, any imperfections in women can lead to shortcomings in all of humanity, as it is the mother who shapes, nurtures, and influences the growth of the child.

   

It is now an undeniable responsibility for every man to strive towards promoting gender equality. Involving men and boys as allies in combating gender-based violence is crucial for fostering enduring change. Through the promotion of positive masculinity, the cultivation of empathy, and the rejection of toxic behaviors, men and boys can actively challenge detrimental norms and contribute to preventing violence against women and girls.

In conclusion, addressing violence against women requires a multi-sectoral approach that involves systemic changes in laws, policies, attitudes, and behaviors. This requires a holistic approach that involves educating men to value women as equal partners, challenging harmful attitudes and behaviors, and promoting gender equality in all aspects of society.