Stand up for human rights

2/12/2020

Image credit to: https://weheartit.com/articles/334291614-women-s-rights-are-human-rights

While watching “The Story of Human Rights”, I was caught off guard by the question “what are human rights?”. I have always heard and defended human rights, but I realized I didn't actually know how to define the term. I quickly learned that human rights are rights we have simply because we are human. These rights apply to everyone and are centered around how we expect and deserve to be treated as people. The choices we make every day as human beings can determine our human rights.
Human rights are always being talked about, but I’ve realized that in today’s world, these rights are not being applied to everyone. Woman face so many challenges that impact their health and wellbeing. Issues like violence, mental and maternal health are a few of the challenge’s women face. Dr. David Allen’s interview, referenced below, stood out to me the most because it talked about feminism. Many people have the misconception that feminism revolves around women empowerment and having women power over men, but this is wrong. We cannot separate health and well-being of women from the health and well-being of men because both are equally important for a healthy community. Some tips that Dr. Allen mentioned that I believe everyone should be aware of are advocating for more education for women. If more women are educated, then we can become more knowledgeable about our access to healthcare or preventative care. He also mentioned that men can play a large role in the well-being of women. I feel at times that men are insecure about their masculinity. We need to see masculinity that empowers and supports women instead of that toxic masculinity that can be of harm.
On the topic of masculinity, Liz Plank’s article “Men’s Health is Better too, with Countries that Have More Gender Equality” talked about how gender equality can influence male well-being with factors like mental health, fertility, and suicide. In some cases, men are heavily depended on working and providing financial support to his family, which can cause a lot of stress or anxiety. When women have more access to education and are catered to just like men, it can cause a positive effect on that community. Plank mentions “Data shows that gender equality may dampen rates of male suicide, because women's empowerment may protect men from economic shocks. If women are educated and can work, it lessens the financial responsibility that rests on men's shoulders.” We have made progress in how humans are being treated around the world but there is still a lot that needs to be done in order to reach gender equality and equal rights for everyone around the world.

References:
Dr. David Allen: Interview for BHS 420 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j_MCYknSqQ
Plank, L. (2019). Men’s Health is Better too, with Countries that Have More Gender Equality. https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/men-s-health-is-better-too-in-countries-with-more-gender-equality-20190924-p52ulc.html

By: Janely Gonzalez

16 Comments

Aliyah Sop

2/13/2020 11:57:41 am

Hello Janely,
Thank you so much for sharing, I really enjoyed reading your posts and reflection on this weeks module. I would have to definitely agree that the basic human rights that we have now are definitely not being applied and used to everyone on this earth. There is still significant work that needs to be done to ensure that everyone is able to have these basic human rights. A direct quote from your reflection that I found to be really important is "We cannot separate health and well-being of women from the health and well-being of men because both are equally important for a healthy community." and I believe with that one sentence alone you've accurately summarized all the work we are doing in this class in order to improve Women's Global Health and Human Rights. Thank you again!

Stephanie Cruz

2/16/2020 11:44:58 am

Hi janely,
Thanks for posting. I agree human rights are women’s right. Through all the reasons and Media’s we have watched and read I have learned that environment and culture plays a huge role in women’s rights and many people actually don’t believe this. It’s sad because many women are being denied basic rights due to where they are from. Through education I believe we can make a difference and teach people why it is important for everyone to have equal rights and opportunity’s.

Erica Nguyen

2/13/2020 11:11:19 pm

Hey Janely,
I agree that all women should have access to education. I liked what you said about feminism and how the movement is misunderstood. I think media plays a huge role in how our opinions are formed with it comes to feminism. There are many different news outlets with different biases and that can impact your own personal bias based on your own background and beliefs. I would also like to emphasize the importance of a point that you made about not "separating health and well-being of women from the health and well-being of men because both are equally important for a healthy community". That is such an important point! Our class has talked a lot about the negative things that have been happening to women such as the points that you stated in your blog post, but I think there needs to be an emphasize on the importance of making sure that all women are healthy. I know that women are very important but I never knew the magnitude and power that women had on the economy and the community. It shows that if we value and treat women like they should be, that will not only benefit the individual but also her family, friends, community etc.

Samantha Sinclair

2/14/2020 12:55:36 pm

Hi Janely,

The video, What are Human Rights, was eye-opening because I realized how hard it is to define this term. I didn't realize my lack of knowledge until reading more about the history and what the rights entail. I am comforted by the fact that I was not alone in my ignorance because the video showed many people who also struggled to answer the question of what human rights are. Some of the other take home messages that really struck me were that men can also play a role in women's human rights, and empowering women can positively effect a country's health and economy.

Lauren Toth

2/15/2020 08:28:00 am

Hi Janely,
I enjoyed reading your post, and seeing your connections on women's health having a direct relationship with their partners (both make and female), and your distinction on what feminism is. For so many years feminism was viewed just as you described: "feminism revolves around women empowerment and having women power over men" but the point of feminism is for equality. The topic of toxic masculinity is one that has risen to the surface, and it's incredible to think about how our culture has been shaped to cater to men and promote success for men, yet men are also taught that feeling make them 'feminine'. On the flip side, our culture has shaped women to be 'overly emotional' to the point of women not getting job promotions within certain industries due to this misconception, which derails women from being eligible for the same success men are set up for.

Lena Angelica Camacho

2/15/2020 12:42:24 pm

Hi Janely,
I can connect with you on the fact that I also had a different definition of what human rights were too until I read into it further. Like you mentioned if someone had asked me to define it before I probably wouldn't of known how to. But now I definitely have a better understanding of what our real human rights are and how many people have their's violated everyday.

Allie Boyer

2/15/2020 02:57:50 pm

Hi Janely!
First of all, great response! I enjoyed reading. I also used to think that I knew what human rights were, until I took this class and was asked to define it. Watching the video on human rights at the beginning of the quarter really set the tone for this class. It is unfortunate that so many men, and especially women, around the world have their human rights violated daily. I also agree with your comments about masculinity and feminism, I think both of these terms have stereotypes around them that define how each gender "is supposed to look and act". However, if we created a society that promotes and practices gender equality, I think human rights would be practiced more often globally and more respected. Thanks for sharing!

Kathy Luangrath

2/16/2020 12:07:15 am

Hi Janely, I really enjoyed reading your blog post! I think I also felt that I truly knew and understood what the phrase "human rights" was. However, many of the course readings, videos, and content have truly shifted my knowledge and understanding of the phrase. I also fully agree with how you mentioned that such rights do not cater or apply to everyone. I think specifically, I am reminded of how countries in the world discrimination and prosecute individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity because their mannerisms or what they wear are out of the norm. Therefore, as you mention, there is still a lot to be done in terms of the application of human rights for individuals no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, and so on.

Jaya Cross

2/16/2020 11:54:55 am

Hi Janely,
I really enjoyed your blog post. Like you I was really taken back after learning more about what Human RIghts meant. It made me wonder why America does a better job at restricting Human Rights than protecting them. If you are an American citizen you have more freedoms than someone who is not. I completely agree with you when it comes to feminism, and how important it is to have educated women. I am hoping we continue to work on closing the gap in gender inequality.

Danielle Lee

2/16/2020 03:25:47 pm

Hi Janely!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with us this week! I agree that most of the time, feminism has a negative narrative and stigma around it. The fact is, since you brought to our attention that gender equality can be of benefit to men, it proves to show that feminism is looking at the interest of all and benefiting everyone.
I hope that as we move forward in time, the awareness and efforts that we've put into spreading the importance of healthcare is listened to and that feminism will achieve its goal in gender equality. We must keep educating the public, because human rights are women's rights.

TJ Kapil

2/16/2020 07:09:26 pm

Hi Janely,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on human rights. Like you, I never really thought about what human rights were before. I guess in USA it's just something most people take for granted. I feel in other countries it is a lot worse and many people don't even have basic rights, especially women. Everyone deserves equal human rights regardless of who they are, and I feel there is a lot more we can do so that everyone can have the rights they need.

William Shaw

2/16/2020 07:15:58 pm

Hey Janely,
Thanks for sharing your post this week! I too heard the term human rights growing up but didn't fully understand the definition until delving deeper into the class and readings. I also like how you mentioned how women's rights benefit both women and men. What stood out to me the most from the interview from Dr. Allen was how men shy away from feminism due to the society’s construct of masculinity. Many cultures have a perception and perpetuate masculinity as violent and emotion denying which gives men the impression to shy away from the thought of feminism. An example of masculinity that I immediately thought about was machismo, a strong sense of masculine pride. Although I could see how this perception of masculinity and feminism could conflict with one another, morally I believe that we should also take in consideration of human rights.

Megan Pintok

2/18/2020 09:09:55 am

Hi Janely, thank you so much for your blog post! I really like that you asked yourself “What is human rights?” as we often overlook human rights and what they mean for human beings. Human rights being tied to women is important as far as analyzing the rights women are being withheld from such as health care and education. The emphasis of educating women you discuss is crucial in terms of allowing women to obtain basic education that can further their success and enable them to build a life for themselves and their families. Not only will this benefit women and their families, but also create positive and healthier communities by giving the same opportunities that men are given.

Honey Cin

2/18/2020 10:16:30 pm

Hi Janely, same here... I used to wonder what human rights are. Before I escaped from my country in 2010, I didn't know there are human rights. As you said, today, many people still do not apply human rights, and many countries still violate human rights. Many corrupt countries don't even want to let their people know that people have the right just because they are human. I hope we will be able to protect more and more people against abuse by those who are more powerful.

Mariam Elias

3/11/2020 01:49:40 am

"I feel at times that men are insecure about their masculinity. We need to see masculinity that empowers and supports women instead of that toxic masculinity that can be of harm". I can finally say that I am not the only one thinks the same way when I see an abusive, aggressive, and toxic man like that. Men know that we are powerful than them and can do a lot more than what they do and that's why they want their women to be housewives or to only have kinds and take care of them, so he can feel like he is the boss and the controller. Women shouldn't give up their rights and their dreams to become who they want to be for any man no matter what.

Joo Kang

3/19/2020 09:19:51 pm

Hello! I really agree how empowering woman or feminism movement overall sounded like winning over men when it's not. I know a lot of people have misconception of what feminism is or what is feminists practice in order to have equal rights for all gender. And I do believe spread knowledge of feminism, and how it can also help men in many ways are very important to our society to empower all gender. Thank you for sharing your great post with us!

Stand up for human rights

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