Purpose To
study the progress or setbacks of women in the last 20 years, in terms of
aspects of marriage, divorce, family planning, and domestic violence.
In terms of family planning, according to World Health
Organization (WHO), “The current priorities of the Special Program include
research into new methods of fertility regulation for both women and men, the
introduction of methods to family planning programs, the long-term safety of
already existing methods and other aspects of epidemiological research in
reproductive health, social and behavioral aspects of reproductive health, and
into methods of controlling the spread of sexually transmitted diseases which
can cause infertility. The Special Program also carries out activities to
strengthen the research capabilities of developing countries to enable them to
meet their own research needs and participate in the global effort in human
reproduction research.”
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1994/WHO_HRP_ITT_94.1.pdf
According to the UN: “Violence against women is an obstacle
to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace.
Violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by
women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/directory/critical_areas_of_concern_30.htm
Objectives
1. To analyze the progress achieved by women, in comparison
to men, in aspects of marriage, divorce, family planning, and domestic
violence.
2. To gain a global perspective of the situation of women
around the world.
3. To discuss with classmates how women fair in terms of
marriage, divorce, family planning, and domestic violence in various countries.
Readings
In this report, for your selected country, your team will consider
aspects of the conditions of marriage, divorce, family planning, and domestic
violence, in terms of advances and setbacks for women in the last 20 years.
Refer to national laws influencing these aspects.
Using national and international documents, for your
selected country, write a report considering aspects like:
What is the legal age of marriage? Average marriage age for
females vs. males? Presence of cohabitation? Births to single women?
What is the divorce rate? Which are the procedures to obtain
a divorce?
In terms of family planning, consider issues like: Are there
laws protecting women’s rights to choose an abortion? Which are the most common
contraceptive methods used for family planning? Are abortions legal? Is sex
education taught at schools? Does the government provide family planning
services?
Which laws have been approved in your selected country to
protect women against domestic violence? Are these laws enforced? Which
statistics are available on domestic violence? On rape? On prostitution? On
female genital mutilation?
Any other relevant issues?
Other useful source to be used as a guide to update
information:
Neft, N. and A.D. Levine. 1997. Where Women Stand: An
International Report on the Status of Women in 140 Countries. New York: Random
House.
Assignments
The assignment consists of three parts:
Your team’s report on the status of health for your team’s
selected country is to be posted once on the Discussion Board under M3A4:
Marriage, Divorce, Family Planning, and Domestic Violence Discussion, and each
student is required to submit a copy of the team report to the Assignment
Dropbox.
The team report should not exceed 5 double-spaced pages. The
style is that of your choice. A rubric is used to evaluate the work. Both
members of the team will receive the same grade.
Individual discussion of reports on marriage, divorce,
family planning, and domestic violence to gain global perspective. The
discussion will consist of two parts:
After you have consider all the cases presented, post to the
Discussion Board, your reply to only two of the following questions. Consider
this a mini-essay of well-thought ideas.
Of the countries under consideration, what causes the fall
in the marriage rate, the rise in the divorce rate, and the fall in the birth
rate? Why?
Why do you think the divorce rate is higher in some
countries than in others?
What do you think of the attitude toward sex in different
countries?
Which are different forms of domestic violence? In your
opinion, which are the main causes of domestic violence
You will discuss their reports with two classmates, and
suggest ways in which women could benefit from principles regulating marriage,
divorce, family planning, and domestic violence.
