Sexist Laws That Still Exist
Cases where punishment for crimes are reduced
Rape: A rapist receives a lesser sentence if a. rapist marries the victim (in most cases forced), b. the victim gives consent but then withdraws and c.if the victim becomes pregnant. This is practiced in over a dozen countries including Pakistan and Jordan. In North Carolina a women cannot revoke consent for intercourse.
Kidnapping: The kidnapper escapes prosecution if he intends to marry the captive. This has been seen in countries such as Malta and throughout Middle East.
Murder: In countries like Jordan and Pakistan, if a husband murders his wife who was caught in an adulterous act (honor killing) he may receive a reduced sentence or avoid prosecution entirely.
Laws related to domestic environment
Marital rape: Legal in over ten countries, ranging from Singapore to Lesotho. Many cases also go unreported.
Abortion: A woman should be able to choose what to do with her body. Abortion is completely illegal, without regard to the woman’s physical health, in six countries. 50 countries allow it if puts the woman’s life at risk and 71 countries to preserve mental or physical health. Only 70 nations permit it on request, due to social or economic reasons.
Domestic violence: No defined legislation or existence of laws to protect woman from domestic abuse is seen in about 36 countries, like Russia, Tanzania and Afghanistan. Studies have shown that over 1 billion women do not have legal protection from domestic harassment.
Inheritance: Daughters in countries such as Bangladesh, Morocco and Tunisia receive less property from inheritance than their brothers. In Bangladesh a woman only obtains one-eighth of their father’s assets, while the brother gets half. If the girl has no male siblings, the property would be passed down to the next closest male cousin.
Superiority of spouse: Wives are legally obligated to obey their husbands in 19 countries. These comprise of mostly middle Eastern nations.
Custody of a child conceived from rape: A number of states in the US allow rapists to gain parental rights. Work is being put in to revoke this law, but no firm legislation has yet been set.
Travelling: Women aren’t allowed to leave their house without their husband’s permission in 17 countries. In the Middle East females require a male ‘guardian’ whose consent is required if the woman wants to travel.
Occupation: Women aren’t allowed to work 456 jobs in Russia. 104 countries prevent women from doing specific jobs, because of so-called ‘health hazards’. These range from Bangladesh to Argentina and Europe. Women aren’t allowed to register a business in 4 nations.
Harassment: No laws preventing sexual harassment in 59 countries. These consist of Barbados and Jamaica. 68 countries lack workplace-specific regulations to prevent sexual harassment.
Option to work: A wife requires her husband’s permission to work in 18 nations. These include Bolivia, Chad, Iran, and Guinea.
Unequal pay: Recent studies have shown that women in the US earn $0.80 to $1 in comparison to their male colleagues. Though not a law, it is clear that regulation is not strict enough, unlike Iceland where it is illegal to pay a man more than a woman.
Night shifts: In 29 countries (Sri Lanka and the UAE are some examples), it is illegal for women to work at night. India restricts women from working between 7pm to 6am in factories.
Paternity leave: About half of the nations of the world do not allow paternity leave, much less paid paternity leave. India, the US and Russia are some of these countries. This restricts a man’s share of child caring in families.
Identity and restrictions
Dress code: In Sudan and North Korea, it is illegal for women to wear trousers. Countries throughout the Middle East ban females from showing bare skin. In Uganda, women are prevented from wearing outfits that reveal too much, such as miniskirts or sleeveless shirts. They are also not allowed to keep nails longer than 3cm. 13 nations have banned the burqa. A woman’s outfit should be a the woman’s choice, thus restricting coverage can also be termed as sexist. In California, a female requires permission to wear heels. About ten states in the US restrict the revealing of bare breasts.
Bank accounts: Many countries in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, prohibit a woman from opening a bank account.
Nationality: A mother cannot pass on their nationality to their children in 25 countries. While being sexist, it also restricts a child’s welfare, educational and economic opportunities.
Alcohol: It is illegal for women to buy alcohol in Sri Lanka. The country’s health minister states it is to protect the country’s ‘cultural and moral values’. In Argentina females are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages.
Trials: In countries throughout the Middle East, such as Iran and Saudi Arabia and even Pakistan, a women’s testimony is half as reliable as a man’s. This prevents females from getting a free trial and also allows many criminals to walk free.
First post. Please let me know if some of these laws have been updated.
