V. Spike Peterson & Parisi:Are Women Human?
In the article “Are Women Human” by V. Spike and Laura Parisi, the authors argue that we should analyze the relationship between gender difference and human rights from a heterosexism perspective. It is inextricably from the state making objectives, authority and power. First at all, heterosexism recognizes as normal the relationships between males and females, others forms of social reproductions are prohibited. The normalization of heterosexism imposes gender hierarchy, where males had agency, freedom and autonomy and women had no freedom of choice, nor have they authoritative status, their only role in the this heterosexual relations was to promote reproduction of one’s own group. it included the acceptance of women’s subordination to male defined interests (138), also the children were to be well taken care in culturally and sexually appropriate ways by their mothers, and taught groups’s symbols, beliefs of the group, rituals and so on. As a result of this, the reproduction of these race/ class groups institutionalized a division of power and labor. How families and groups were formed and the reproductive process had a lot to do with politics and power.
The author summarized the history of women and human rights. She talked about the first generation rights where women were completely excluded, so basically it was men’s rights. In terms of reproduction, men controlled women’s bodies and anyone out of the gender identifies feminine or masculine were not protected. Second generation rights again through heterosexism women were marginalized in economic, social and cultural practices. Not only that but also religious beliefs contributed to devalue women. Third generation rights women’s situation got worse. even though they belongs o certain groups, they did not benefit from the right determination that all the members had, and were opressed by other women belonging to other groups. So since the beginning of history, the state promoted heterosexist practices and gendered division of identify, power and authority (145).
Heterosexual relations brought a lot of violence agains women both physical and psychological. Rape is not considered violence since wives could not refuse to have sexual intimacy with their husbands. The state is complicit because it did not intervene in these abuses. Homosexual couples were persecuted because in some countries it was considered a disease that needed to be treated with therapy, therefore they were unable get married and adopt child.
Religion played an influential role in regulating heterosexism too since women are assumed to fulfill traditional roles, be dependent on men. In conclusion according to the author in heterosexist relations only men are considered human.
