"characterised by or using the most up-to-date techniques, ideas, or equipment..."
Last night I watched The Duchess with my parents. The film is based on the real life of the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Cavendish, who was an aristocrat and socialite in the eighteenth century. However, the film portrayal focuses heavily on the gender inequality during this time period, with significance placed on forced marriage, a male heir and the Duke's dominance over his wife.
I'm probably the most independent female I know, and subsequently a little more feminist than most, so it's fair to say that this film frustrated me immensely. Particularly because (*spoiler alert*) her husband was perfectly allowed to have a mistress but she was forbidden from seeing the man she loved ever again.
Consequently, I'm recognising the privileges of living in the twenty-first century and the blessing of women's independence in the United Kingdom; particularly because my parents aren't going to force me to marry someone I dislike (!) It's another of those things that we take for granted until the alternative hits us in the face.
But the twenty-first century doesn't necessarily mean gender equality. Working in the charity sector has given me an insight into the stark realities of differences between men and women. Women in Asia are often discriminated if single or divorced. Women in Africa are forced to marry and have to rely on their husband's income; often banned from working. Marital rape is increasingly common (and legal in many countries), domestic violence commonplace.
I'm learning that this is contributing to poverty; defined as a lack of power as much as lack of money. The UN say this:
Last night I watched The Duchess with my parents. The film is based on the real life of the Duchess of Devonshire, Georgiana Cavendish, who was an aristocrat and socialite in the eighteenth century. However, the film portrayal focuses heavily on the gender inequality during this time period, with significance placed on forced marriage, a male heir and the Duke's dominance over his wife.
I'm probably the most independent female I know, and subsequently a little more feminist than most, so it's fair to say that this film frustrated me immensely. Particularly because (*spoiler alert*) her husband was perfectly allowed to have a mistress but she was forbidden from seeing the man she loved ever again.
Consequently, I'm recognising the privileges of living in the twenty-first century and the blessing of women's independence in the United Kingdom; particularly because my parents aren't going to force me to marry someone I dislike (!) It's another of those things that we take for granted until the alternative hits us in the face.
But the twenty-first century doesn't necessarily mean gender equality. Working in the charity sector has given me an insight into the stark realities of differences between men and women. Women in Asia are often discriminated if single or divorced. Women in Africa are forced to marry and have to rely on their husband's income; often banned from working. Marital rape is increasingly common (and legal in many countries), domestic violence commonplace.
I'm learning that this is contributing to poverty; defined as a lack of power as much as lack of money. The UN say this:
In today’s world, women constitute half the world’s population, perform nearly two-thirds of its work hours, receive one-tenth of the world’s income and own less than one-hundredth of the world’s property.
All of me (especially the feminist part) wants to scream about how unfair this is. And I remember how much The Duchess annoyed me and how thankful I was to live in the twenty-first century. But that's not the end of the story. Our equality is due to our culture, our society, our laws; not our time period. As we look towards a New Year, the beginning of 2013, we can be thankful that our country recognises equality of gender as something to strive towards; an up-to-date idea, if you will. But too often we forget that we've got rights and freedom that so many of the world do not.
This week I'm praying for those places where women's rights are stifled and forgotten. And I'm praising God for the work of charities and organisations across the world who are fighting for equality and dignity for half of the world's population.
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