Women are generally not treated as equals in the modern world. Throughout developing countries, it is women who bear the brunt of poverty and suffer disproportionately from its effects. In western societies, women have become commodities who are treated as objects to sell goods and services. Sexist advertising is rife, with the implicit message being that women are pieces of meat who define themselves in terms of the male sexual reaction to them, and exist only for the consumption of men.

This must end. Patriarchy and sexism have to be consigned to history, and women should be given the freedom to make a full contribution to society as the equals of men. For too long, the potential of women has gone unfulfilled, which has led to a great loss of human talent in every society.

Women and men together must strive for equal rights and respect for women. In the developing world, the crusade for women’s rights is tied hand in hand with the fight against poverty and war, which have such a serious effect on women in those regions. In all societies, all forms of direct and indirect discrimination against women should be abolished, and there should be a prohibition on sexist advertising, which ultimately demeans women as human beings. If these measures are taken, then women will be well on the way to achieving the same dignity and status afforded to men.