In the United States women are paid 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.  In Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to drive cars, when a girl tries going to school in Pakistan she might end up getting shot in the head and a Moroccan woman cannot leave her house without the consent of her husband. 

Women aren’t given much rights in countries outside of the United States.  But in the AHS community every Wednesday the Feminist club talks about how to create a better world for women.

“It’s more of a fight to equalize rights of the sexes, not to make it all about women,” junior Almaz Abdeje said. “We usually discuss the problems in our society dealing with gender inequality and what we can do to make a difference.””

A valiant 17-year-old from Pakistan named Malala Yousafazai has recently won the 2014 Noble Peace Prize for her work in trying to achieve educational rights for women. Yousafazai was shot at close range in the head and miraculously survived.

Since this risky life threatening accident, she has courageously spoken more widely about human and women’s rights. She also inspired a petition which helped ratify the first right to education bill in Pakistan.

“I think women shouldn’t have to rely on men as much and should be independent,” junior Symone Jenkins said. “Like in movies you always see the women trying to find her ‘Prince Charming,’ I believe that the women can be their own king.” 

Other countries, such as Egypt, deprive women of the many rights that the United States think are fundamental. One of the main laws that is absent is banning gender discrimination in hiring people for jobs. Egypt also lacks in the field of laws protecting women from harassment as well as domestic violence.

“”If a guy mistreats a woman it is greatly unacceptable,” Arabic teacher Ola Layaly said.  This is why I encourage all of my female students to get an education and a, job so you can stand all alone.  Its okay to be all alone, once you have income, your independence and your life. Once you have these things nobody can abuse you.”

Equal pay and the wage gap are issues that the United States continues to struggle with. In 1963 the Equal Pay Act was passed to address this issue, yet there continues to be a gap in pay between genders. “

“Numerous issues still exist in all areas of life, ranging from cultural to political to the economic,”” senior Ahmed Hassan said. “Furthermore, women often work more than men, however are paid less, gender discrimination affects girls and women throughout their lifetime.  Women and girls are often the ones that suffer the most poverty.”

Female rights are a major issue in countries not only nationally but globally.  Therefore many students feel like they are responsible for having to uphold their female rights. 

Some students feel like they have the right to be a stay at home mom and work to better their families rather than to work and bring an income for their family. 

“I feel that I am treated equally under the law, and socially I do not desire to be equal to men because men and women, are different,” junior Tabitha Barnes said.  As far as women’s role in society, in the future, it would be great to have a career but I would be equally happy staying home, supporting my husband and taking care of my children.””

Meanwhile some other people have a strong feeling, about female rights and want the younger generations to uphold the importance of female rights.

“Most importantly, always learn how to say no.  If somebody yells at you, if somebody mistreats you, or if somebody is even trying to abuse you, you need to learn how to stand up straight on your feet and say no.  If I had a daughter I would explicitly teach her how to say no to any man who mistreats or disrespects her.  The one, two, three recipe is education, financial independence, having a good personality,” Layaly said. 

The women’s rights movement has been active since as early as the 19th century and  it is still very alive today.  Even now, there are activists, like the forementioned Yousafazai, fighting  for equality of both genders.  The AHS feminist club hopes  to persuade others to help fight for the cause and work with their peers to make this great community.