Condition of Women in Developing Nations

In the last few decades, women living in the developed nations such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia have made significant progress. They have asserted their presence in avenues previously dominated by men, such as politics, business, etc. Women like Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin are recent examples.

However, this is in stark contrast to the state of women in developing countries. Scores of social reformists and women's rights activist groups have made several efforts over the years to uplift the state of women in these nations, but the problems are very deep-rooted. In some under-developed countries, women are totally deprived of basic human rights.

The women in developing countries are victims of a deep-seated gender bias. A girl is still considered an "unwanted child" in many parts of the world. You would imagine such people are biased just out of ignorance because they are illiterate, which is true in some cases. Another reason for this attitude, although unjustifiable, could be poverty. Being poor, they consider bringing up and marrying a girl child a "burden", as opposed to a male child who is supposed to look after the parents when he grows up and sort of "pay them back" for the upbringing. But you will be shocked to learn that most of the parents who abort a female foetus are well educated and belong to the upper middle class!

This does not end here. The vicious circle of subjugation and humiliation which begins at birth is continued as the "cursed" girl grows up. She is always made to feel inferior to her brother(s). This is the stage when she is prepared for the years of humiliation she must suffer at the hands of her husband, all in the name of tradition.

Exploitation of women within marriage can take many forms, from mental torture and threats by in-laws to outright domestic violence. The reason most women have surrendered to this fate is very disturbing. The reality is that most women feel the abuse they are put through is justified. They have been programmed to think like that because that's the way they have been treated ever since they were born. They start to feel their parents did them a favor by letting them be born. This self-inflicted prejudice, combined with poverty and illiteracy, makes it impossible for any woman to liberate herself.

While many laws have been passed by the governments to protect women, it will hardly make any difference. A permanent solution to the problem of exploitation and abuse of women in developing countries lies in getting rid of the bias. And this will have to be done by both men and women.