Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Why won't the US government ratify the International Equal Rights Amendment Treaty?

The seven UN member states that have not ratified or acceded to the convention are Iran, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tonga, and the United States."

Dear friends,  
For all of the publicity that so many women in our society receive, from Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton to Beyonce and Kim Kardashian, why is it that neither the Equal Rights Amendment in this country or its international version have yet to be ratified? After all, as was done at the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, most advanced countries in the world, through the United Nations, have agreed upon giving all citizens equal rights, regardless of "gender". Still, the non-compliance list reveals: The seven UN member states that have not ratified or acceded to the convention are Iran, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tonga, and the United States. 

I mean, nations that share in their absolute refusal to recognize females as equal citizens, much less beings, would not seem to include a country like ours that loves to spout brave words about "freedom and democracy". Moreover, Male Supremacy, euphemistically called sexism, rules, even in the countries that have signed the treaty mentioned above. People can talk about White Supremacy, euphemistically called racism, all day. However, to talk about Male Supremacy is a no-no. Even in places where racism isn't the problem, Male Supremacy remains. 

Worse yet, just as most non-Europeans have internalized racism or White Supremacy, and, therefore, contribute to its proliferation through practices of self-hatred towards each other, all females, regardless of culture or skin color, have internalized the oppression and exploitation of sexism or Male Supremacy, as they too contribute to its proliferation via the self-hatred that exists between females. Consequently, neither Michelle Obama nor Hillary Clinton would ever dare mention the term Male Supremacy to their husbands - or in public. Think about it! 

G. Djata Bumpus 

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