What do you think the main common issues are for women

[user1492337624]

I think it's being expected to change name when married
Being expected to do the bulk of caring
All the wife work
The way women are judged on looks for much more then men
If a woman sleeps around it's frowned upon

Agree ... I'm just having conceptual difficulties telling gender roles, women's oppression and male power apart.

Maybe at number one I'd simply put 'male power'.

OP if you want to know more about issues for women in developing countries, this is an excellent book:

www.goodreads.com/book/show/6260997-half-the-sky

Yet, or...

1. Patriarchy.

The end.

Reproductive autonomy, respectively lack thereof. I think that what it all comes down to in the end. That's what men exploit women for.

It is the core of patriarchy.

Other things may differ, depending on which patriarchy you look at, but the reproductive expoitation is the common issue.

Yes .. I nearly put 'patriarchy' but I also know it can mean power goes to oldest male in the family and for some reason male power seems clearer and more direct. But it is now my number one.

Reproductive autonomy, respectively lack thereof. I think that what it all comes down to in the end. That's what men exploit women for

Probably agree.. Do you include sexual exploitation in this, or purely reproduction?

Male violence
Poverty
Reproductive health.

I would once have said that these were the main issues worldwide and things were different in the UK, but the more involved I get in feminism the more I realise how much they affect women here as well, the first two are not talked about as much in general society as issues like career discrimination, and women in poverty are hidden from view - many being elderly, disabled, carers, etc.

I would once have said I only know a few women who have been raped, but since then I have learned it is very very common.

Sexual and reproductive health is one limiting part of being female
Also backward male opinions: at one end religious no at the other expecting women to resemble Kim k

What do you actually mean by reproductive health ?

Other women who have bought into the patriarchy and gender roles.

user, I'd take reproductive health to mean any health care pertaining to one's reproductive system - so, for women, contraception, abortion services, obs and gynae treatment that actually does women the courtesy of believing what they say about their own bodies and treating them with respect, rather than assuming they are hysterical numpties (early motherhood was a real eye-opener for me: suddenly I was transformed in the eyes of many medical professionals from "intelligent human being" to "mother, probably fussing over nothing"). See for example recent scandals over the E-sure surgical sterilisation device which has left some women needing hysterectomies and the mesh implant treatment for vaginal prolapse which has proved worse than the condition it was meant to treat for many women.

Also, adequate protection from FGM, forced abortion, treatment for fistulas and prolapses. Not to mention campaigning against medical procedures like symphisiotomy (practiced in Ireland in the recent past as an alternative to CS so that a woman's future child-bearing capacity wouldn't be compromised) and getting women who've had this procedure adequate compensation.

The history of obs and gynae is littered with examples of "treatments" which look more like human rights abuses than medical care.

Probably agree.. Do you include sexual exploitation in this, or purely reproduction?

Hmm, one is kinda tied to the other, isn't it?
Though there's some patriarchal cultures where you get the impression men mostly exploited women (sexually, too) for reproduction, and fucked boys ... Ancient Greece sorta has that kind of reputation.
For most of human history, you can't really separate that ... even nowadays, surrogacy only makes up for a tiny percentage of reproductive exploitation.

I do think things would be different if forced pregnancy wasn't biologically possible. Men also rape other men, but it is not nearly as universal and institutionalized.

But yeah, when it comes to the issues ALL women are affected by, the rape industry definitely is a big thing, that happens in ALL cultures.

Hmm, one is kinda tied to the other, isn't it

Kind of ... Although you can have sex without reproduction but not vice versa unless your name is Mary. But I also see themas quite distinct. Prostitution is not about reproduction, its about sex (and power). I see reproductive autonomy as the ability to say no (or yes) to pregnancy.

For me, the main issues are:

The inadequacy of the Child Maintenance Service.

The way fathers are allowed to walk out of their DC's lives and the mother gets the criticism.

Reproductive health, by which I mean everything from hormonal contraception issues, to the hoop jumping required to get an abortion, to the dismissive way the NHS treats some pregnant women wanting C-sections or pain relief during/after childbirth. To the lack of treatment for childbirth injuries. And FGM.

Gender pay gap and obstacles to women getting good jobs and promotions.

Lack of flexible working for both men and women.

Cost of childcare.

Removal of safe spaces for women (because of transactivism).

Poor conviction rate for rape and sexual assault. And the soft sentences if they are convicted.

Male violence.

Lack of female autonomy over the female body- any law about reproductive organs, fgm, breastfeeding being an issue that even needs to be discussed, sexual violence. I'd include the pressure and expectations to look young, thin and groomed. The objectification of females not only on porn but in main stream media.

The responsibility of children, childcare and the home ultimately falling on the woman.

But as a pp said- the patriarchy. Men have always set the rules. Of course they are to the advantage of males and the disadvantage of females. In every aspect of life.