On the Record of Women’s Rights

Protecting women from violence and discrimination is a hot topic. The feminist movement claims to address these issues in its fight for women’s rights. However, without knowing the true source for women’s rights—or human rights—communities will fail to accurately diagnose the problem and effectively provide a solution.

In this essay, Professor Laurie Stewart addresses the philosophical and legal foundation for human rights, and women’s rights more specifically. Uniquely, Stewart provides a comparison of women’s rights by worldview, answering definitively the question of who and what holds the greatest hope for women.

Is Christianity good news for those seeking to advance women’s rights, and to put an end to invidious discrimination and violence against women? Eradicating discrimination and violence against women has become a familiar global topic. Turn on the news any day and discover another report of a woman suffering from sexual harassment, assault, domestic violence, sex trafficking, rape, or murder.

Other examples of discrimination and violence against women include forced marriages, child brides, female genital mutilation, honor killings, dowry deaths, acid attacks, and forced abortions.