Today, March 8th, is International Women's Day.
From the
official UN web page:
"International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. "
So... just how is that "equal footing" thing going.
The Independent (UK) has an interesting list on their website today that helps answer that question.
"1% of the titled land in the world is owned by women
70% of the 1.2 bn people living in poverty are women and children
62% of unpaid family workers are female
85m girls worldwide are unable to attend school, compared with 45m boys. In Chad, just 4% of girls go to school.
700,000,000 women are without adequate food, water, sanitation, health care or education (compared with 400,000,000 men)
67% of all illiterate adults are women
1,440 women die each day during childbirth (a rate of one death every minute)
..."
Ther's more at the link, some of it specific to Great Britain, but I'm sure the data would be similar for US women.
Just some food for thought...