Sexuality and Reproductive Rights of Women

Abstract

This article examines the concepts of sex and gender and their implications on the socio­economic standing of both men and women in thOe society. It also analyzes the health status of men and women globally and more specifically in Kenya. The findings show that biological sex is used to allocate roles for men and women yet some of them have no biological bearing. For instance, a woman is allocated all the types of rales associated with taking care of the domestic chores such as, fetching water, firewood, and bringing up babies. Although man can do these tasks equally well, society does not expect them to perform such assignments. These are traditional roles of women. As result women are overburdened for besides performing these reproductive roles, they have to work to earn a living. The health status of women compared to that of male counterparts is weak and is more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases. This is particularly because women sexuality is viewed by society as a man's possession. Women have little or no control over their sexuality and are also liable to violence such as rape. Educationally, women are disadvantaged because society prefers to invest more in the education of boys than that of girls. Consequently, girls and women are locked out of well-paying and decision making jobs because they lack the requisite knowledge and skills of such jobs.