Women In Iraq

     The United States long ago gave equal rights to women. This has not been true in all coutries, however. Women in Iraq face unequal treatment today due to unfair domination of male rule. The Quran of the Islamic religion was first interpreteted by men (Radford), so many of its teachings are more beneficial and give more power to men. This unequal treatment is present in countries in which there is "fundamentalist rule," meaning where men's interpretations of the Quran and Islamic religion have been the reasons and structure for law (Hughes). Even since the American and British invasion of Iraq in 2003, women are subjected to unfair treatment (Pina). This unfair treatment includes women being forced into sexual slavery, as well as being beaten, burned, raped, and murdered (Lattimer). Women often accept this treatment, simply because they have no other option. However, some women also run, with or without their children, and are forced to to protect themselves or find shelter (Lattimer). While international aid groups are located in Iraq, specifically to improve women's rights, many of these programs have removed memnbers from Iraq, as they fear their own members may be attacked (Offernhauer). Since Islam is deeply rooted in many of these Iraqi women's cultures, it can be hard to save them from these injustices, but there is hope. One way women could be better protected in Iraq is to have better security in the country (Lattimer). Another way to solve this injustice could be offering education to men, women, and children in Iraq. Teaching this coutnry and its people that women are valued and treated equally in developed countries today could be an example for Iraq to follow. By valuing their women, Iraq could once again be considered very advanced in liberal thinking (Brown), and serve as a light for its surrounding countries to follow.

Here are some quick facts about the current situation of women in Iraq:

- Woman are denied their basic human rights.

- Traditionally, men are the leaders of the households and families.

- Women must obey the man of the house.

- These Islamic countries are found to hold discrimination and unjust laws against women.

- Iraq isn't the only country where woman experience discrimination.

- It is commonly believed throughout the world that this discrimination began with the Islamic religions, founded by the prophet Mohammad.

- Iraqi woman are under the stress of trying to have a family in economically hard times all the while trying to find a husband, which has proven difficult because of the Iraq war.

- The dictator could not stop the discrimination against women in Iraq.

- If a woman is raped, most often losing her virginity, families are considered "dishonored."  In most situations, they then kill their daughters, or they no longer accept them into their family.

- Women in Iraq are subject to torture and abuse, adding stress and unfair treatment into their daily lives.

Works Cited

Gendercide:
Fitzpatrick, Laura. "China's One-Child Policy."
  http://www.time.com. Monday, July 27, 2009. March 14, 2012.

The Economist online. "O brother where art thou?".
  http://www.economist.com. August 2nd 2011.  March 14, 2012.

"The worldwide war on baby girls." The Economist. March 6th 2012: 77-80.
Whiteford, Gary T. China. New York, NY: Infobase.

Homelessness:
Almeida, Monica. New York Times. "Problem of Homelessness in Los Angeles and Its Environs   Draws Renewed Calls for Attention." Web

Bobby. Personal Interview. 19 February 2012.

Los Angeles Almanac.  Web.

Weinberger, Daniel. stanford.edu. "The Causes of Homelessness in America.  Poverty and Prejudice, Social Security at Crossroads".  Web.

Women in Iraqi:
Hughes, Donna. "Women and Reform in Iran." University of Rhode Island. February 2000.
     <www. uri. edu.>

Pina, Aaron. "Women in Iraq: Background and Issues for U.S. Policy." CRS Report for Congress. May 5, 2004.

Gendercide at a Glance - China
        Throughout history, women have faced the injustices of discrimination and sexism in every country.  In China, however, the extent of these injustices are turned violent, taking the forming of a practice called gendercide.  In Chinese gendercide, female infants and fetuses are killed either before birth or directly afterwards.  The offenders justify their actions with the laws of Chinese tradition, the males' physical advantages, and as results of China's infamous one-child policy.  Through this violence, China not only effects its female population but also its society as a whole.  Sex ratios in China are violently unbalanced compared to the common norm worldwide, with many more males than females.  The biased, horrific practice of gendercide in China has been proven as a virus to other countries and China itself.  Do your part, and advocate for the female victims of prejudiced violence everywhere, especially in China.  Give these women the power to stand up to their oppressors and break free from their cages of social injustice. 

Quick Facts- Gendercide

Gendercide in China

Females in China are constantly bombarded with the sexist injustices put into place by the patterns of tradition.  Female gendercide, a practice which evolved in China from the Chinese government’s one-child policy, is the killing of females, especially as infants and babies, in favor of males.  Chinese families prefer sons for numerous reasons:

1.       Traditional families share a preference of sons over daughters (The Economist).

2.       Males’ physical abilities allow them to assist his family in manual labor – a profession usually avoided by women (Whiteford).

3.      A family’s son will continue the family’s line and take care of his elders in old age (The Economist).

Below are some important facts about gendercide in Chinese society:

·         Since 1949 – thirty years before the installation of the one-child policy, gendercide, as well as infanticide, among females has been common (Fitzpatrick).

·         In 1979, the Chinese government put into place its one-child policy, restricting most families to only a single child, and gendercide became even more popular (Fitzpatrcik).

·         In China, the female infants and fetuses victimized by gendercide are most often killed by abortion or infanticide (Bojang).

In January of 2012, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) conducted a study of the long-term effects of female gendercide in China.  The following include the results of this study:

·         In 2020, ten years after the study was conducted, one in five Chinese men will be unable to find a wife (The Economist).

·         In that same year, it is also highly probable that China’s population will be equal to the young male population of America as a result of the subsequent diminishing of China’s female population (The Economist).

·         The norm of sex ratios lies between 103 and 106 males born for every 100 females born.  In 2010, China’s sex ratio was 123 males born to 100 females (The Economist).

·         As sex ratios in China increase, crime rates rise as well.  Many of these crimes concern women: “bride abduction, the trafficking of women, rape and prostitution” (The Economist).

Homelessness in Los Angeles

       Everyday, Los Angeles is regularly attempting to keep up its so-called luxurious and glamorous reputation. But what people do not see is the raw, harsh reality of thousands of citizens living in the streets of Los Angeles without a home. Unemployment is one of the main reasons for homelessness (Weinbreger).  As the number of people living in poverty increases and the number of affordable houses decreases, the result is eviction from homes (Koegel).  Thus, the daily lives of these victims are stripped away and new lives of homelessness are created.  However, homelessness did not begin to be a big issue until the 1980s, partly due to the recession from the 1970s that left ten percent of the workforce unemployed, and in essence, unable to sustain themselves (Weinbreger). Now, 254,000 people experience homelessness in Los Angeles every year and approximately 82,000 people expereince homelessness every night (Los Angeles Almanac).  Homelessness is not just found in Skid Row, but in many areas scattered across Los Angeles, the state of California and even across the nation.  Although, Los Angeles has such a great population of homeless people that Mayor Villaraigosa has even said that Los Angeles was the nations homeless capital (New York Times).  In this population of homeless people, only thirty-two percent have received their bachelor degree or even higher, making it even more difficult for the other sixty-eight percent to get a decent job without having the benefit of a college degree (Los Angeles Almanac).
         Homeless people are not treated like everyday citizens--they face discrimination and inhumane treatmeant everyday (Bobby).  They do not receive the treatment of individual human beings, but the treatment of things or trash on the streets (Bobby). Everyday citizens fortunate enough to live a stable life with home must take the opportunity to take a glimpse of reality, away from the luxury and glamour of Los Angeles and walk on the streets of Skid Row.  In order to stop this kind of cruel treatment and ignorance toward the homeless, people must genuinely understand their situation and must understand that they are not inferior to normal citizens, and normal citizens are not superior to them.  They are all equal.  People must take the time to talk to a homeless person or connect to them.  Then maybe that way, our society will begin to understand homelessness and how eveyone is supposed to welcome the stranger openly.

Seeing the Issue- Women in Iraq

Women forced to live in tents...



Forced to live in unacceptable conditions

Discriminated without reason

Seeing the Issue- Gendercide

Rate of Gendercide (0-4 years old)

What Happened?



Is there hope for any of them?

A victim of gendercide

Indians protesting gendercide

Quick Facts- Homelessness in Los Angeles and Beyond

Here are some quick facts of the homelessness in Los Angeles and beyond:

-          Homelessness rises as the economy grows worse, and people are forced to live on streets. They rapidly develop mental illnesses as they are alone, wandering in the streets and eating others' left over trash. Shelters help them realize that they are always human and, thus, still have dignity.

-          Children in Uganda are abducted, overnight, and recruited to “fight the war” for the Rebels. They rarely come back.

-          People in Africa have to look for supplies, such as food, water, and other necessities to counter diseases, attacks and starvation.  There is nothing for them to do except continue their fight for survival.

Seeing The Issue- Homelessness in Los Angeles

Homelessness in America



A Lonely Man

Desperate for a Home



Homeless Man

A Homeless Family