{"id":700,"date":"2019-12-10T11:04:21","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T05:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nuawoman.com\/blog\/?p=700"},"modified":"2022-09-17T10:29:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-17T04:59:37","slug":"womens-day-highs-lows-women-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nuawoman.com\/blog\/womens-day-highs-lows-women-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s Day – A reflection on the highs and lows of 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who run the world? Girls!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017 sure sealed the deal on that. It showed us no matter how big the obstacle, together, women can breakthrough not just a glass ceiling but also a brick wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having said that, there have been some major setbacks for global women\u2019s rights as well. For every positive achievement, there has also been an equal and opposite downfall. So here we are, standing on the brink of a new year and looking back at the year that has gone by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good, the bad and the ugly of what was in store for women in 2017:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi Women’s Driving Rights<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In an announcement that the world celebrated, Saudi Arabia announced<\/a> that it would grant women the right to get driver\u2019s licenses without permission from their legal guardian. Even though it was the last country to grant this right to women, it was a highlight nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Women
Source: The Blazer<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Flip Side: <\/strong>Granting driving rights hardly meant escaping the \u2018golden\u2019 male guardianship rule that envelopes some of the middle eastern countries. In fact, in some such countries, women are still barred from traveling without the permission of their legal guardian or interacting with men outside their family or signing contracts without seeking permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repealing Law That Allowed Marriage To The Rapist<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to years of activism by women\u2019s rights movements, Lebanon along with Jordan and Tunisia repealed an archaic law that allowed a rapist to escape if he got married to the victim. That\u2019s right ladies! One step at a time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image
Source: Mysuru Today<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Flip Side: <\/strong>Honestly, there shouldn\u2019t be a flip side to this. A rapist must be punished not married off!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanitary Pads Heavily Taxed<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s almost funny that something that women need every month for most of their lives is taxed at 12% in our country. We still can\u2019t help but ask, why though?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flip Side: <\/strong>While the government turned up taxes on sanitary pads with the flick of a switch, the internet blew up with women around the world uniting to protest the unfair taxing measures. #LahuKaLagaan aka \u2018Tax On Blood\u2019 turned into a viral campaign taking the conversation about menstruation and sanitary pads (which was up until then a taboo) to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Say no to #LahukaLagaan<\/a> until @arunjaitley<\/a> exempts taxation of Sanitary Napkins under the GST. Menstruation is NOT luxury! pic.twitter.com\/HpoVGG246g<\/a><\/p>— SheSays (@SheSaysIndia) April 19, 2017<\/a><\/blockquote>