Gender Issues and Roles in Developing Countries

Women in Developing Countries

The global world can be divided into north and south poles, sometimes called the Global North and Global South. Developing countries are in the south pole of the globe (e.g., Pakistan, Iran, Afganistan, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Gabon, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Guatemala, Congo, and Burundi, among others). Gender issues in different countries of the developing world are the same because most gender issues are attached to culture, tradition, religion, custom, and other forms of patriarchal orientations, which subjugate women to the whims and caprices of men. Women have no voice in public or private affairs. The patriarchy orientation treats women as the property of men. Once a woman gets married to a man, she cannot seek divorce because the institution of marriage allows men to pay a bride price for women and dominate these women for the rest of their lives. Women in developing countries suffer untold social, economic, and political consequences of such male domination. they lack social supports such as care benefits, nursing mother benefits, unemployment benefits, stipends for women with domestic concerns, and other forms of allowance that could provide security and improve living conditions in developing countries. Lisa Anderson conducted an opinion poll on the countries in which it is most dangerous to be a woman, where women face dire consequences of discrimination and even death. Afghanistan tops the poll in terms of dangers to women, followed by Congo, which is plagued by rape as a weapon of war. In addition, Pakistan is blighted by acid attacks and so-called honor killings, India is cited for human trafficking and sexual slavery, and Somalia is seen as having a full gamut of risks.

History of the Gender Movement in Developing Countries

Women's groups have formed different organizations to address gender issues in the world. The gender movement has a long History, dating back to the 18th century in the United States. It started as feminist movements that later became women's movements. The idea of gender identity and division among women as the focus of the women's movements led to the emergence of the gender movement, which incorporates the relationships between men and women in society. Like their counterparts in the developed world, women in the developing world formed various movements and associations, such as KULU-Women and Development; the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA); Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN); the Thai Labour Campaign; the Centre of Concern, Gender and Economic Reforms in Africa; African Women's Economic policy Network (AWEPON); Shirkat Gah in Pakistan; Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA); National Council of Women's Societies (NCWS); International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); and Fiji Women's Rights Network. All of these act to champion various issues affecting women in developing nations. Women's associations and organizations from developing countries participate in the Beijing women's conference and other conventions on women to discuss issues [Page 580]affecting women in general. Consequent to the Beijing declarations, the United Nations (UN) developed treaties and conventions, such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to protect women's interests across economic, social, and political spectrums.

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