Biological Differences Between Women and Men
Sociologists cannot ignore biological differences between women and men, specifically women’s ability to procreate. How might a feminist address this different without lapsing into essentialism?
The United Nations, Contemporary Sociologists and the advent of third wave Feminism (in the early 1990s) brought to the light of the world the concept of GENDER EQUALITY and WOMEN EMPOWERMENT. Coinciding with these are discussions on sexual and reproductive rights of women.
To cite an example, The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and people’s rights on the rights of women in Africa reaffirmed the principle of promoting gender equality and declared a determination to ensure that the rights of women are promoted, realized and protected in order to enable them to enjoy fully all their human rights. The U.N. itself has been adopting gender neutral tones in all its Policy documents especially in those that are related to Human Rights.
Third wave feminism, while rejecting the concept of gender binary propagates the reproductive & sexual rights of women clearly stating that the choice to procreate should be solely left at the discretion of the woman involved.
It is rightly believed that the sexual and reproductive rights of women can be preserved through:
- Bodily Integrity grants a woman the right of control and security over her body. The women have every right to refuse forced sexual intercourse or forced incest, harmful contraceptives and unwanted pregnancies.
- The concept of Personhood expects the treatment of women as human beings and that they be empowered with decision making powers in the matters of sexual intercourse and reproduction.
- The principle of Equality propagates fair and equi distribution of health risks; between men and women; arising out of birth control methods,. It also entitles women to equal health treatment for complications arising out of birth control methods.
- The principle of Diversity states that all women irrespective of their social, cultural, ethnic, geographical and religious background are entitled for sexual and reproductive rights.
A very strong view point that exists amongst those who are skeptical of the concept of gender equality is that while propagating equal and humanitarian rights for women, we tend to forget that their biological construct is very much different from that of men. Women’s capability to conceive combined with their weaker physical construct with respect to men, they stand a greater chance of falling prey to the physical strength of their respective spouses/partners.
Various occurrences in recent past lead us to believe that the above mentioned contradiction related to gender equality will be addressed very soon. To cite a few examples:
1. United Nations now recognizes Feminism as a political movement that represents the community of women, their interests and propogation of agendas that will grant them in true practical sense the rights of equality vis a vis the men.
2. Pioneers, followers and supporters of third wave feminism are taking measures and creating movements to address this issue without lapsing into essentialism. Some of the actions taken by them are:
a. Expanding the horizons of Sexual and Reproductive rights to include women belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society. Women belonging to this category are believed to be worse affected with minimal or no rights in this matter.
b. NGOs related to women issues have been set up in all parts of the world with the mission to enlighten women on their sexual and productive rights; health issues related to unhealthy birth control methods; Sexually Transmitted diseases and HIV.
c. The demand for national and international sanctions against gender based violations of human rights.
d. Protesting against and hence differentiating incentivized birth control to that of voluntary birth control by women.
e. Demand of absolute decision making right of women in reproductive matters & spacing of children.
f. Demand of equal health services as provided to men in matters related to birth control; reproduction; sexual diseases etc.
g. Demand for developing a population policy that would require the male members of the society to be responsible for fertility control and through use of male contraceptives.
h. Differentiate between those traditions that are manipulative against women versus those that are of pure religious sentiments.
A Right combination of the above mentioned solutions, when used at the right place and right time; would help feminists to a great extent in addressing the issues of gender inequality without lapsing into essentialism.
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