Women have been silenced throughout human history. From financial exploitation to sexual violence and reproductive control, various mechanisms have been used to limit female power. To move forward as a global society, we need to recognize and confront these issues head-on.
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The following article presents three clear and obvious examples. We'll look at power dynamics in conflict zones, review coercive sterilization practices, and analyze racial and ethnic disparities in reproductive health. When we understand how women are silenced, we can work together to make sure our voices are heard.
The Exploitation of Women in Conflict Zones
Gender-based inequalities affect millions of women around the world. From the exploitation of resources to unpaid work and sexual violence, women are used and abused on several fronts. Many of these issues are exacerbated during times of conflict, with violence often used as a weapon of fear and control. Recent wars in DR Congo are a great example.
DR Congo has a long history of resource theft and sexual exploitation against women. As corporations and armed forces fight for diamonds, cobalt, and copper, Congolese people benefit little and women experience unspeakable sexual violence. Based on figures from Medica Mondiale, half of all women seeking refuge from DR Congo conflict zones have experienced some kind of sexual violence.
Along with violence from the conflict, the ongoing situation in DR Congo has destabilized all elements of society. Economic disparities force women to rely on corporations and male employers, instead of being the leaders they were born to be. This affects power differentials and impacts female rights and autonomy. In addition to violence within the conflict, 50% of women from DR Congo have experienced sexual violence in a domestic context.
Eugenics and Women in Israel
Eugenics is a set of beliefs and practices based on improving the perceived genetic quality of the human population. Starting in the early 1900s, this much-maligned movement aims to alter the human gene pool through exclusive reproduction. Through the practice of forced sterilization, eugenics is often associated with Nazi Germany. The recent case of Ethiopian Jews in Israel highlights the ongoing dangers of eugenic thinking.
The Ethiopian Jewish community is known as Beta Israel, and they have Zionist ties stretching back to the 1860s. In a very disturbing case, women from this community were injected with a controversial contraceptive without proper knowledge or consent. According to an overview in The Dispatch, "From the available evidence, it appears likely that some Ethiopian women were given contraceptive injections without fully understanding the potential side effects or their alternative options."
Thousands of Ethiopian women received shots of Depo-Provera every three months in Israeli clinics. The contraceptive stops menstruation and has been linked to fertility problems and osteoporosis. This practice screams of religious and cultural supremacy, and it has many similarities with the eugenics movement. There is evidence of coercive sterilization practices in other parts of the world, from Nazi Germany to China, Brazil, and Canada.
Controversies Surrounding Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood is a non-profit organization (yet earned 2 billion in revenue in 2023) by providing reproductive programs, sexual healthcare, and sexual education. It says its mission is making informed decisions on issues related to abortion and sexual health, but we also know it is funded by big banks, Big Pharma, and private foundations like that of Bill Gates who have agendas regarding population control or histories of putting profits way before health.
Planned Parenthood has a very problematic history, and its published mission doesn't always align with reality. Margaret Sanger started the organization back in 1921, as the American Birth Control League and the Birth Control Research Bureau. The current name was taken in 1942, when the events of Nazi Germany made the language of eugenics and population control widely unpopular. Planned Parenthood has denounced Margaret Sanger's belief in eugenics.
Planned Parenthood controversies have continued over the years, and recent mistakes by the organization have had a disproportionate effect on minority populations. From coercive practices and lack of consent to problematic procedures and the illegal sale of fetal tissue. Due to existing power imbalances between genders and races, sexual health issues have a disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic women. Planned Parenthood and other organizations claiming to support women, especially those who have been historically marginalized, need to come clean and divest themselves of harmful practices and instead invest in real help and care for the reproductive rights of minority women.
Patterns and Connections
These three examples highlight the exploitation of vulnerable women around the world. As an individual or organization, it's vital to support women's rights and autonomy going forward. Despite the problems listed above, which are just the tip of the iceberg, positive change is always possible. To move forward as a society, we need to empower women through practical support and positive investment.
To address the systemic silencing of women, we need to amplify marginalized voices and use our resources and privilege to change the power structures that maintain censorship and oppression. For more insights on how to become a better ally and put your voice to work, check out our Allyship Journal.
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