Where are women globally as the first decade of the millenium declines? by Kathleen Cameron

As part of the Megaherzzz radio program on 4zzz fm in Brisbane and the greater Brisbane regions, I had the opportunity to provide content and announce on things that are quite confronting … I was asked to look at “Where women are heading towards the end of this decade …”

What I did, was compile a simple cross-section of some of the struggles and steady progress that some amazing and courageous women have contributed to the ongoing battle for women’s rights. Some very basic and some terrifying in their intimation and intimidation, this opinionated study is roughly organised by region and doesn’t even scratch the surface of a topic that is fascinating the more one delves into it, the sociology by region and the traditional ideas that women have of their own place in the world. What is clear though, is that there is more than a lot of progressions that can be made in every single country in the world. Despite the fact that in some places woman are the majority of the populations’ birth statistics, they are a minority in voice and often are designated to the wings of political gaming or are are the victims proving to shame many a nation’s crime statistics.

By many standards, particularly in the west, and if only perceptually, 2008 was an amazing year of progress, while the struggle in the Middle East remains a constant vigilance that’s fraught with real violence and danger, there are still some stories of hope and determination … and by a positive vision I am seeing, we should turn our attentions to South America …

USA

Women rise and rouse in the US election …

During the race of the Democratic Presidential Nominations the United States realise the reality of a female president for the first time, however some feminists were still short to sell their vote and lent their intellectual thoughts to the Obama campaign. President of the Feminist Majority endorsing Senator Obama’s election campaign, Elenor Smeal said of Obama’s team, ‘Obama/Biden are running on the strongest platform for women’s rights of any major party in USA history. But it’s not just platforms…’

By contrast the republicans choose Sarah ‘Baracuda’ Palin as running mate to their aging man.

Whatever the politics or the media circus… women had never before been represented in the election race in such a conscious and powerful way.

Meanwhile the report of the national Crime Victimization Survey, showing huge increases in the incidence of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault barely made the news. Increasing by 42% for domestic violence and 25% for sexual assault OVER figures calculated 2 years earlier.

Los Angeles Police Department don’t have enough money in the budget to test the increasing backlog of rape evidence. So how do they get to a prosecution and how many are getting away with perpetuation of the crime while victims are not getting justice?

MIDDLE EAST AND ASIA

AFGHANISTAN

Women’s rights shot down in cold blood …

A female police officer and mother of 6 was one of 3 key assassinations of women police officers in Afghanistan in the past two years. Malalai Kakar led a 10 strong team of female police in Kandahar and was well respected for her bravery. She was the 1st woman to enroll in the police force following the 2001 removal of the Taliban and was head of the Kandahar Department of Crimes Against Women and Children, her work attracted international attention. She was assassinated by the Taliban on the 29th of Septemer 2008 outside her home.

A female police officer was also shot dead in June, the 1st assassination of a female police officer. The head of Kandahar’s women’s affairs department was similarly assassinated in 2006.

IRAQ

Violence prevails …

A women’s rights activist and leader of the women’s league of the Kurdish Communist Party was beheaded in her home in the volatile northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. The circumstances that led to the attack are unknown and violence against women remains a critical issue in the war ravaged region. The killing comes ahead of the provincial elections which are stirring civil unrest and political infighting.

IRAN

Changes for Equality aka One Million Signatures …

A grassroots movement of men and women promoting basic human equalities for men and women in the Iranian Legal system steadily have become a powerful and peaceful force for female equality.

Demanding discriminatory laws against women be reformed, a network of over 1000 face to face educators in at least 15 of the country’s provices contact women and ask them to sign the petition. Regardless of a signature the women recieve a booklet and quality education regarding the rights.

A loose-knit group of peaceful activists who go out of their way not to break any laws, dozens of activists have been arrested, detained and otherwise intimidated. In May the 1st man was arrested for his involvement and in October the arrest of Iranian American graduate student attracted worldwide attention. The group’s website is regularly blocked and the media have been warned not to report on their movements.

SOUTH AMERICA

The trend towards matriarchy …

There is a growing trend in Latin-America for women to be in high-profile public offices. In Argentina, besides their current female president Christina Fernandez, 7 other women have been heads of state since 1980. Recent polls suggest a general acceptance of female leaders in 9 South American countries.

COLOMBIA

She might have been president, but they took her to hell …

Franco-Colombian born human rights activist and politician Ingrid Betancourt returns to France to acclaim in July 2008 after 6 years as hostage of Colmbia’s FARC guerrillas. The 47 year old Colombian-French citizen was campaigning for President of Colombia when taken by FARC soldiers in 2002. After she was freed, along with 14 others by a Colombian government operation, she toured South America later in the year to call attention to the 700+ hostages still held.

BOLIVIA

Luche Libre …

Indigenous women known as Cholitas, physically strong from manual labour but long considered subservient to Spanish colonists are the stars of freestyle wrestling. A macho sport in a macho country, Bolivia is South America’s most impoverished and conservative, women’s involvement has spurred an unlikely feminist phenomenon.

The women train like men and fight like men and beat them at their own game. Once mocked by men they have come further than many other male fighters. Crowds of young women and girls attending bouts chant, “Women on top, men below!”

Challenges take place in slums high in the freezing Andes, fueled by drunken spectators an unlikely setting for female empowerment and the challenging of gender stereotypes.

Spanish colonists and indigenous patriarchs restricted Cholitas to child-rearing and manual labour and denied them education, creating a silent underclass.

Since the election of Bolivia’s 1st indigenous leader 2 years ago however, things are beginning to improve. President Evo Morales championed the right of the native majority including women and Cholitas now hold many official junior and several senior positions in the government and judicial system.

Bolivia remains patriarchal and women lag in literacy and opportunities compared to neighbouring Chile and Argentina who have female Presidents.

Originally Cholitas were conceived into wresting as a novelty but eventually became the main attraction. Now there are many semi-professional women wrestlers.

Some men have welcomed women to the fore as progressionists, while traditionalists remain appalled.

To be continued … more regions to report…

I would love people to continue this study by adding any other personal and anecdotal conversations to the mix …

Happy new year ladies …

and gentlemen :-)