Compared to the past, the U.S. may be ahead on difficult conversations involving same-sex marriage and women’s rights, but many countries still fall behind on modern values. Traditions and religions around the world make it difficult for LGBTQ+ people and women to live freely as the restriction of independence greatly affects day-to-day life.
The HRC, Human Rights Campaign, reveals that only 29 countries declare same-sex marriage legal as of 2020. More countries approve; however they call the marriage a registered partnership, domestic partnership, or civil union instead. Though among these countries, many have restrictions on the approval for marriage. In Taiwan, same-sex marriage will only be allowed for Taiwanese citizens or marriage between a Taiwanese citizen and someone from a country that recognizes same-sex marriages as legal. In Mexico, rights for approval vary from state to state; in some states, citizens must go to federal court to obtain a marriage license.
In the Middle East, laws regarding women’s rights differ from Western ideals due to the weaker impact of feminist organizations, according to Cultural Survival. Feminist organizations exist, though they lack significant input because only men in politics have the means to create change. Reformation in urban areas has been instituted quicker when compared to women in rural areas. Under traditional Islamic laws, women behave submissively to all men, especially their husbands. Since attaining independence, Middle Eastern countries saw reformations directed at facing the inequalities between men and women. But this proves to be difficult because of conservative religious forces.
In the U.S., women have gained more rights since the women’s suffrage movement fought for the right to vote. The nineteenth amendment became approved in 1920, according to History. The legalization of abortion in 1973 shows growth in women’s rights, however many people consider this controversial and even protest for abortion to be illegal. LGBTQ+ rights in the United States also made strides in 2015 when legalization made the U.S. the 22nd country to fully recognize same-sex unions. Modern reformations continue to be made throughout many countries to allow for equality, as more countries legalize same-sex marriage and women gain more legal rights.
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