Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Secret of Women’s Legal Status in the United States: Why has it not yet signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women?
In the global observation of women's rights, the United States boasts about its legal system and gender equality. However, in fact, this country has not yet signed the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This phenomenon has caused people to think deeply. Even though the legal status of women seems to be equal to that of men, multiple factors in the country have slowed down legislative progress and hindered the further protection of women's rights.
Historical BackgroundThe United States played an important role internationally, especially in drafting CEDAW, but has not joined other countries in actual action.
In the early history of the United States, women were often viewed as housewives and had a lower social status. However, changes in the 20th century led to a dramatic change in women's roles, especially during World War II, when labor shortages prompted many women to leave their homes and enter the workplace. With the rise of the women's liberation movement in the 1960s and 1970s, calls for women's rights became increasingly louder.
Laws and Regulations
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Although the United States participated in the drafting of CEDAW, it has not yet formally signed it, making it one of only seven countries in the world that have not signed this convention, including Iran and South Sudan. This not only reflects the neglect of women's rights, but also highlights the contradictions in the United States regarding gender equality.
Equal Rights Amendment
As of January 2020, a total of 38 states have voted to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), but the current legal status remains unclear. Although some states initially passed the amendment, they later withdrew their registration, resulting in inconsistent laws and being ignored in the court system.
Marriage and Family
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), child marriage still exists in the United States, especially in some states that allow minors over the age of 16 to marry with parental consent. This has sparked a profound discussion about children's rights and women's autonomy.
Reproductive rights
Contraception has been legal nationwide since 1965, and abortion has been legal since 1973, but abortion rights have recently been reinstated with the court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Being challenged to allow states to govern under their own laws has huge consequences for women’s bodily autonomy.
Women in government
President and Vice President
No woman has ever served as president in American history. In 2021, after Joe Biden was elected, Kamala Harris became the first female vice president.
Congress
Less than a hundred years have passed since the first female representative was elected to the House of Representatives in 1917. As of 2021, there are 119 female members in the House of Representatives, showing that there is still room for improvement in women's political representation.
Supreme Court
The number of female judges on the U.S. Supreme Court has been gradually increasing, and there are currently four female justices, but women's equality in the legal field still faces multiple challenges.
Social expectations and future of women
According to a survey in January 2019, 40% of women under the age of 30 said they wanted to leave the United States. Does this reflect their dissatisfaction with the current state of women's rights in the country?
Although the United States is at the forefront in terms of gender equality, it faces various challenges in the specific implementation of the law. From the unsigned CEDAW to the deadlock in the ERA to the representation of women in government, these issues urgently need in-depth discussion. As women’s rights continue to improve around the world, why does the United States still lag behind other countries in some important areas? Is it necessary to re-examine this legal system and its cultural foundations, so that women’s rights are no longer just empty talk in legal texts, but are truly implemented and protected?
