User:Marihj17/sandbox

Gender Politics
Politics of gender is an examination about the roles and associations of women and men. These politics are in regard to responsibilities, rights, and privileges in a specified society. Each society distinguishes emotional differences among women and men. The authority and strength associated with men and the tenderness associated with women is “the views of every society that has ever existed".

There are cognitive differences among women and men. Women outshine men or are equivalent to men on all cognitive tests. This is beyond math or philosophy, which requires high-level logic that women apparently do not have. However, no one is more intellectual than the other.

In Honduras, gender inequality is at an all-time high. In the public and private domain, women do not share the same equal rights as men. Unfortunately, this issue of unfairness is causing the development, socially and economically, to be a slow pace. Regarding human development, Honduras ranks very low on the Human Development Index (HDI). HDI is “a measurement of wellbeing and quality of life for citizens".

The participation of women should be identical to men in all fields. There are conferences and organizations that exist that help solve the issue of inequality. For instance, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was amongst those conferences that assisted in revising and adopting women’s rights in legislation.

The opportunities for Honduran women are slim to none and because of this women do not lead the household. If they do, their households are very poor in contrast to the households led by men. This is mainly because of the lack of resources given to women. Also, in order to improve gender equality, the self-government of females has to be stronger. Women need full rights, freedom from violence and equal citizenship.

Gender/Sexuality Based Violence
Gender based violence is simply violence against an individual or a group of people based on their gender. This form of violence consists of physical, mental, or sexual actions by force or taking away someone’s liberty. Although gender based violence is often targeted towards women, men are victims of harassment or beatings because they “do not conform to the view of masculinity, which is accepted by society".

Violence against women occurs in public and in private. It demonstrates the inequality of power between women and men. This has led to women being dominated and discriminated against by men and this violence forces women “into a subordinate position compared with men”.

The most common form of gender based violence is sexual violence. Understandably, sexual violence involves sexual exploitation and abuse and is related “to any act, attempt, or threat that results in physical and emotional harm". Sexual violence can occur in the family, through rape or marital rape, coercion, by attempt, in the form of harassment and as a weapon of war or torture. There are four more types of gender/sexuality based violence:


 * 1) Physical violence
 * 2) Emotional and Psychological violence
 * 3) Harmful Traditional Practices violence:  This consists of female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriage, forced marriage, honour killing and maiming (murdering a woman as a punishment for dishonoring or bringing shame to the family), infanticide, and denial of education (denying women of knowledge).
 * 4) Socio-Economic violence:  This involves discrimination or denial of opportunities, social exclusion based on sexual orientation, and obstructive legislative practice (inhibiting women from using their social or economic rights).

In Honduras, the rate of gender based violence, or femicide, is rated in sixth place according to a study done in 2011. Also, in current years the rates of violence against women have increased. In this country, femicide is extremely brutal. Sometimes, bodies are found burned or with the feet and hands tied. During the autopsies, it is discovered that rape occurs before the actual death. In Honduras, any form of rape is considered a crime publicly and a report will be made even if charges are not pressed by the victim.

Sadly, in Honduras, and many countries surrounding it, justice against femicide does not get served. Although there are women’s rights activists trying to take a stand, “fewer than 3% of reported femicide cases are resolved by the courts”. This only gives the perpetrators more power and confidence to commit these crimes knowing that they will not be convicted, which makes femicide the norm in Honduras.