Sheryl WuDunn - Our century's greatest injustice

While browsing for a TED talk that intrigued me, I was halted when I stumbled across Sheryl WuDunn’s lecture titled “Our Century’s Greatest Injustice”. After skimming the description of the talk and learning it was about the oppression of women globally I had to hear more. Women in the United States take for granted that we won the lottery in our birthplace. WuDunn calls it our “great fortune”.

I must admit that prior to listening to the WuDunn I was aware of oppression of women but I thought it only existed in Third World countries; quite the contrary. In China babies that are female are often aborted. What a misfortune that the sex of an unborn child can warrant such prejudice. Even if a girl is lucky enough to be born, in many countries, they do not receive the same treatment as boys. I was saddened by the accompanying slides shown during WuDunn’s talk of young girls that were emaciated and she spoke of their brothers being completely healthy and of average weight.

Education is the key to diminishing this injustice. Research proves that educated women marry later, therefore have children later, which results in fewer children. Education could eventually reduce the overpopulation that sparks injustice towards women.

This is worth watching!!!

http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl_wudunn_our_century_s_greatest_injustice.html