Introduction
In the modern developing world, nations are ranked depending on their social, political, and economical status. Most countries that fall under the third world nations are the underdeveloped nations found in the Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. The people of these regions have ancient traditions and practices that they have refused to detach themselves. Some of these practices are unethical and “inhuman”, the purpose of this research paper, therefore, is to discuss how bias some of these practices are and how the affect the millions and millions of third world women and men.
Biasness against Third World Women and Men
Some traditional practices have made women in third world countries look inferior as compared to their counterparts in the western world. I Africa for instance, some nations have religious practices female genital mutilation (FGM) or clitoridectomy / female circumcision for ages, this is even though some of the women in these communities believe it is an outdated act that should be shunned. The women are forced to undergo the “cut” as a sign that they are ready for womanhood; this however is not true since such heinous acts expose them to diseases and the woman may develop complications during pregnancy. The women of Africa have also been subjected to all forms of slavery by their superior female and male counterparts, it has been observed that some young women are subjected to be sex slaves with the belief that having sexual intercourse with an underage girl is a medication to HIV / AID. This is a belief that most traditional leaders have held dear for years yet the truth is that it has increased the prevalence of the disease. As for the men, slavery is top of the least especially from the colonial master. This has made the African men no matter how intelligent they are appear inferior to their western counterparts.
Religion is a very powerful tool and in some cases, people have become slaves of religion. In India for example, there is a religious practice known as the Suttee Practice, where widow ascends the traditional funeral pyres of their departed husbands to be cremated with them. This is a demonic act but one that is still practiced in some parts of the nation. Most of the biasness that women and men in third world countries go through is because of the traditions that the traditional African leaders adhere to.
The Problematic Term to Avoid
Categorizing people/nations based on social, political, and economic strength is unfair and unjust. The use of the term third world countries shows how low some nations and its population are rated. This is despite the fact most of the economies of the so-called “First World” nations are powered by the labor and skills from the “Third World” countries. It is human and just if the term was dropped and replaced with developing nations. The reason for this is that although most of the nations that are categories under the third world nations are still struggling economically, socially, and politically but the growth and development of the internet and telecommunication industry have helped to elevate the living conditions of these nations. The dropping of the term will also give the women and men of these nations a sense of respect and they will not feel inferior as compared to their western counterparts.
Conclusion
In the recent past, women in third world countries have shown certain mobility and economic prowess attributes. These attributes illustrate gender diversity where women have become economically mobile since men in these countries seem, to a greater extent, to be absent from domestic space. The dynamism observed in women is explained as an adaption to challenges coming as a result of men in absentia from their roles in the domestic space. This underlines the need for co-existence to share responsibilities and productive work to keep a third-world family going.