
One’s gender identity is a health and human rights issue because it can cause violence and discrimination. It can also affect and put lives in danger and at risk of abuse when it comes to things like “their ability to stay safe, work environment, healthcare, education, starting families, and many other aspects of their lives that can be jeopardized” (amnesty usa, n.d). There are also many hate crimes that happen because of someone being “gay” or because of someone who does not identify as the “right” gender. In Seattle, the LGBTQ is one out of two communities that is highly targeted. According to the Seattle Times, 72 hate crimes had been reported in 2015. If everyone has equal rights, why do those who identify as what they prefer still get discriminated? They are still human, still deserve to have the ability to have rights, and to be respected.
What is the perspective of a universalist and cultural relativist? and what is CEDAW and how does it relate to human rights?
CEDAW is short for the convention on the elimination of all form of discrimination against women. Being a universalist is defined as someone who accepts every single human being no matter what background they come from or what gender they identify with, and still believing that that person still has the same equal rights according to the universal declaration of human rights and CEDAW. Those who have the perspective of a cultural relativist tend to be an individual who judges or assumes what they think of another person or culture based on their own values and beliefs. Those who come from a background where they only think their views or norms are the “right way” in specific practices may not agree to those who do so differently, this becomes an issue for women who are in families or who come from a culture that may be strict on change or how they think women should be treated. The point of CEDAW is to protect women and their rights, and I think an important detail to mention is that the United States has not ratified CEDAW (feminist majority, 2014), I was surprised to learn that the United States has not ratified the bill because the U.S is looked at as this country where we are all made equal and the land of the free, and I think that by not going through with CEDAW contradicts everything the U.S is supposed to stand for.
Aren't women's rights, human rights?
Guy, Gene Balk / FYI. “Hate Crime Reports against Blacks, LGBT People Double in Seattle.” The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times Company, 24 June 2016, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/hate-crimes-against-blacks-lgbt-people-double-in-seattle/.
“AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA STORE.” Amnesty International USA, shop.amnestyusa.org/
“Women's Rights Are Human Rights.” OHCHR, 2014, www.ohchr.org/Documents/Events/WHRD/WomenRightsAreHR.pdf.
Blog by: AnnaMarie A.