When They Try to Silence Women’s Voices: The Global Fight for Health, Autonomy, and Respect
Freeman’s Alley, NYC, NY
Every day, women around the world face choices – or are stripped of them - in ways that impact their families, communities, and our shared futures. Their health, agency, and dignity are under threat, not only in moments of crisis but also through the slow erosion of access and opportunity.
The stories flowing out of Sudan of women and girls taking their own lives to escape rape or its aftermath are chilling. These women, caught in the crosshairs of violence and used as a tool to proliferate it, are assaulted once again when facing a society that too often punishes survivors instead of perpetrators. Rape as a weapon of war isn't just an attack on individuals; it shatters entire communities, spreading shame and silence where there should be support and community.
In Afghanistan, under the Taliban’s restrictive regime, women continue being denied the right to education – most recently forbidden from attending medical schools. This recent ban creates a ripple effect impacting both women and girls’ present-day survival, and that of future generations. Unless women are accompanied by a male relative, male doctors are forbidden from treating them, making female healthcare workers essential. Without nurses and midwives, maternal mortality in Afghanistan - which is already one of the highest in the world, will continue rising, preventable illness will take an even greater toll, and the fragile healthcare system will further disintegrate.
During one of my trips to Uganda several years ago, I saw a different but equally frustrating denial of choice. I spent time with a women’s craft group – which really was their time to spend alone and bond, talk about concerns – and gossip. Most of the women were asking questions about a worm-like looking item in their arm. It was birth control. While this may sound like women taking control of their lives, their questions – starting with the efficacy and what side effects could be, were ignored by doctors. Their constant headaches and ongoing illnesses after the insertion were also dismissed by doctors. They weren’t given alternatives either, just this one-size-fits-all option, without much of an explanation, empathy, or support. Many of the women faced further consequence at home when their husbands found out about their decision, while others have continued to hide the procedure knowing their decisions – borne out of necessity and thoughtful contemplation for their families’ wellbeing – could have even more dire consequences at the hand of disgruntled partners.
Here, in the United States, why does it take social media fervor to finally get the health industry to listen to women after decades of hushing their concerns? In August, the healthcare industry finally acknowledged the severe pain many women endure during IUD insertions, updating its pain management guidance following an organic digital uprising. And, just last month, when 57% of Floridians voted in favor of a measure to protect reproductive rights, it still wasn’t enough to overcome the supermajority (60%) required for its passage. Women’s – and allies’ - voices, even when they speak loudly, are too often drowned out by systemic barriers that prioritize control over compassion.
When women are denied autonomy, and in the most grave of cases, access to basic care and rights - the consequences ripple outward. Women are the backbone of their families and communities. When women suffer, everyone suffers; families lose stability, economies falter, and bonds of societies are strained to their breaking point.
Women frequently make choices not just for their own well-being but for the good of their families - financially, mentally, and physically. Yet, they are often forced to navigate systems that don’t prioritize, and often dismiss, their needs.
These stories, though difficult, underscore unending resilience. Despite violence, disregard, and systemic oppression, women persist. They fight for their identities and voices, they fight for health and safety – and not just for themselves but for our children and future generations. Yet resilience should not be mistaken for a solution. Women should not have to bear the weight of broken systems or face impossible decisions between survival and dignity.
We need to do better. We need to listen to women, and we need to support women, and not just in moments of outrage but in the ongoing fight for equity and respect. Addressing systemic failures are critical steps forward. We must also encourage cultural norms where men and boys actively listen and value women’s perspectives – and presence. Building societies of mutual respect and shared responsibility will lead to stronger, more equitable communities - when women thrive, everyone does.
