After the world welcomed the 7 billionth inhabitant there has been a lot of talk about women and the birth rate. With this growth rate we are welcoming 78 million people every year. There are many concerns with the birth rate because some areas the population is too high and they do not have enough resources to provide for their citizens while others population are beginning to drop due to low fertility, aging and a disparity in the women to men ratio.
Africa population growth of 2.3% a year is putting pressure on the economy because the government can’t provide education and health services to their citizens. Women do not have a voice when it comes to childbearing. Many of these women are giving birth too early, too late or too closely spaced. They do not have contraceptives available in some areas or when they are available they have to walk many kilometers. There are not many choices for these women. Not only do they not have access to preventative measures they also have social pressures.
In Africa children solidifies a marriage and women are expected to have large families because their children ensures their economic survival in old age and they also gain status and respect for having children. Women get their identity from their children. Women would be shamed if she did not have children or “enough children”.
Women should be able to make decisions about children and their own body/health rather than having someone else make them or worrying about what society believes. They should be educated on their choices and options to contraceptives and they should be easily accessible. They should be able to make their own decisions based on their lifestyle, how many children they have already or would like and also when. Sometimes there are often health issues that go along with giving birth but some women still feel pressured to have more children because of their society and they want to keep a “good name” within the community so they put their and their child’s health at risk.
4 comments:
I found your blog really interesting. Although I somewhat figured these things to be true already, it is really crazy that it actually happens. The fact that women aren't given a voice on how many children they have or when they have them is ridiculous. Yet, the fact that they are expected to have a big family, yet their country cant really support them doesnt make sense either. I feel that before the African community wants to make a difference with their people they need to be able to take care of them first.
All women should have the right to get informed about contraceptives and childbearing. I thought it was interesting that women are frowned upon in Africa for not having children. This is ridiculous because some women, biologically, can not have children and some may not want to risk their child catching diseases such as AIDS or Malaria.
It’s a shame that womens rights are very limited and they have little say so on marriage and child bearing. I agree women should have equal say over what their children do just as a man should. It’s very sad to hear that women are being controlled and treated the way that they are, and something needs to be done about this. Everyone should have the right to be educated and women should also have a free choice on whether or not to be independent.
Women's rights is not taken very seriously in many countries. To tell a woman how many children she can and cannot have and when she can have them is a violation of her rights as a free human being. What if the woman cannot bear children, or has a disease that would cause harm to a child? People should stop being selfish and let others live their lives to their own potential.
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