Module 5

Gender Issues

Gender stereotyping is defined as an overgeneralization of characteristics,

differences and attributes of a certain group based on their gender. Gender stereotypes
create widely accepted biases about certain characteristics or traits and perpetuate the
notion that each gender and associated behaviors are binary. Under this assumption,r. i
If a man or a woman act differently from how their gender is expected to behave there is
a disconnect in the evaluator’s mind. As our society moves to a broader construct of what
“gender means,” individuals who are stuck in this binary idea of gender have a difficult
time wrapping their brains around individuals who do not fit into a strict gender dichotomy,
or do not identify with any gender at all.For example: assertive women are called “bitches”
and “whores”, while men who don’t appear or act masculine are called “sissies” or “wimps”
or assumed to be gay, which is a very offensive stereotype in the LGBT community.

Gender stereotypes are dangerous because they can cause us to might be

disoriented in our perceptions. When individuals don’t conform to our gender stereotypes
the result can lead to discrimination and unequal or create unequal or unfair treatment. s
to a certain person who chooses to defy people’s assumptions about his/her gender.
When gender inequality occurs in the background of gender stereotyping, this is in the
most basic sense sexism.

We are easily thrown in terms of our interactions with others for whom our brain
has not been programmed to stereotype to some degree. This is because stereotyping
enables us to make sense of the world – at least sometimes. Someone who considers
themselves “Gender Fluid,” or “Gender non-conforming,” threatens the stereotypes we
are familiar with and for that reason can seem is weird and/or threatening because we
can’t even stereotype them.

Every day, transgender and gender non-conforming people bear the brunt of social
and economic marginalization due to discrimination based on their gender identity or
expression. Advocates face this reality regularly working with transgender people who
have lost housing, been fired from jobs, experienced mistreatment and violence, or been
unable to access the health care they need.

Sixty-three percent of transgender and gender-nonconforming people experience

serious acts of discrimination – events that have a major impact on a persons’ quality of
life.

We need to work hard to fight against ingrained stereotypes, and challenge these
world views.

In general, gender discrimination occurs when an employer treats one employee

differently based on his or her sex. In many instances, the employer will rely on a
stereotype as the basis for this unequal treatment. These stereotypes can be most
pernicious when decision-makers view women negatively because of their sexual
orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. For example, the employer may
say that a woman cannot perform a certain duty because women are not as strong as
men, or because women are too emotional.

Many employers will rely on these stereotypes when deciding whether to promote
one employee over another. Women lose ground when educators and employers make
decisions based on outdated stereotypes about the roles of women at work, at school or
in regard to their perceived role as mothers and wives. Many employers may decide to
hire or promote a male candidate, assuming that a female candidate of a certain age
range will become pregnant.

Although often people presume that gender-based stereotypes target women,

stereotypes geared toward men exist as well. For example, an employer may believe that
a woman is better equipped for a job because women are more sensitive than men, or
because a woman is more sexually appealing.
 The State of New York and New York City have enacted a number of laws that
provide protections for employees from inappropriate and unnecessary gender
discrimination. These laws require an employer to treat employees and hiring candidates
equally throughout every phase of the employment process. This includes matters
involving hiring, compensation, layoffs, promotions, job training, work conditions, benefits,
and other privileges. If an employer treats candidates or employers differently based on
their gender in relation to any of these matters, the employer likely has engaged in gender
discrimination.

Additionally, under the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Equal

Pay Act of 1963, both women and men are required to receive equal pay for substantially
equal jobs within the same company. This does not only include salary but also
encompasses benefits, stock options, bonuses, and overtime compensation. Ultimately,
if you are performing substantially the same work as an employee of another gender and
receiving less pay, you may have a claim against your employer pursuant to this law.

Sexism, prejudice or discrimination based on sex or gender, especially against

women and girls. Although its origin is unclear, the term sexism emerged from the
“second-wave” feminism of the 1960s through the ’80s and was most likely modeled on
the civil rights movement’s term racism (prejudice or discrimination based on race).
Sexism can be a belief that one sex is superior to or more valuable than another sex. It
imposes limits on what men and boys can and should do and what women and girls can
and should do. The concept of sexism was originally formulated to
raise consciousness about the oppression of girls and women, although by the early 21st
century it had sometimes been expanded to include the oppression of any sex, including
men and boys, intersexual people, and transgender people.

Social stratification refers to a society's categorization of its people into groups

based on socioeconomic factors
like wealth, income, race, education, ethnicity, gender, occupation, social status, or
derived power (social and political). As such, stratification is the relative social position
of persons within a social group, category, geographic region, or social unit.

Social stratification is a system of ranking individuals and groups within societies.

It refers to a society’s ranking of its people into socioeconomic tiers based on factors like
wealth, income, race, education, and power. You may remember the word “stratification”
from geology class. The distinct horizontal layers found in rock, called “strata,” are an
illustrative way to visualize social structure. Society’s layers are made of people, and
society’s resources are distributed unevenly throughout the layers. Social stratification
has been a part of all societies dating from the agricultural revolution, which took place in
various parts of the world between 7,000-10,000 BCE. Unlike relatively even strata in
rock, though, there are not equal numbers of people in each layer of society. There are
typically very few at the top and a great many at the bottom, with some variously
populated layers in the middle.

Social Inequality

Social inequality is the state of unequal distribution of valued goods and

opportunities. All societies today have social inequality. Examining social stratification
requires a macrosociological perspective in order to view societal systems that make
inequalities visible. Although individuals may support or fight inequalities, social
stratification is created and supported by society as a whole through values and norms
and consistently durable systems of stratification.

Most of us are accustomed to thinking of stratification as economic inequality. For

example, we can compare wages in the United States to wages in Mexico. Social
inequality, however, is just as harmful as economic discrepancy. Prejudice and
discrimination—whether against a certain race, ethnicity, religion, or the like—can
become a causal factor by creating and aggravating conditions of economic inequality,
both within and between nations.

Gender inequality is another global concern. Consider the controversy surrounding

female circumcision (also known as female genital mutilation or FGM). Nations favoring
this practice, often through systems of patriarchal authority, defend it as a longstanding
cultural tradition among certain tribes and argue that the West shouldn’t interfere.
Western nations, however, decry the practice and are working to expose and stop it.

Inequalities based on sexual orientation and gender identity exist around the globe.
According to Amnesty International, a range of crimes are commonly committed against
individuals who do not conform to traditional gender roles or sexual orientations (however
those are culturally defined). From culturally sanctioned rape to state-sanctioned
executions, the abuses are serious. These legalized and culturally accepted forms of
prejudice, discrimination, and punishment exist everywhere—from the United States to
Somalia to Tibet—restricting the freedom of individuals and often putting their lives at risk
(Amnesty International 2012).

Sexual Harrasment

Sexual harassment is a type of harassment involving the use of explicit or implicit

sexual overtones, including the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in
exchange for sexual favors.[1] Sexual harassment includes a range of actions from verbal
transgressions to sexual abuse or assault.[2] Harassment can occur in many different
social settings such as the workplace, the home, school, churches, etc. Harassers or
victims may be of any gender.

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there are

two types of sexual harassment claims: "quid pro quo" and "hostile work environment."
The EEOC provides guidance on defining sexual harassment and establishing employer
liability.

Quid pro quo means "this for that." In this context, it involves expressed or implied
demands for sexual favors in exchange for some benefit (e.g., a promotion, pay increase)
or to avoid some detriment (e.g., termination, demotion) in the workplace. Quid pro quo
harassment is perpetrated by someone who is in a position of power or authority over
another (e.g., manager or supervisor over a subordinate). A clear example of quid pro
quo harassment would be a supervisor threatening to fire an employee if he or she does
not have sex with the supervisor.

Hostile work environment harassment arises when speech or conduct is so severe

and pervasive it that creates an intimidating or demeaning environment or situation that
negatively affects a person's job performance. Unlike quid pro quo harassment, this type
of harassment can be perpetrated by anyone in the work environment, including a peer,
supervisor, subordinate, vendor, customer or contractor. Hostile work environment
situations are not as easy to recognize, given that an individual comment or occurrence
may not be severe, demeaning behavior may occur that is not based on sex, and there
may be long periods between offensive incidents. Examples of conduct that might create
a hostile work environment include inappropriate touching, sexual jokes or comments,
repeated requests for dates and a work environment where offensive pictures are
displayed.

The EEOC says sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including the
following:

 The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not
have to be of the opposite sex.
 The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor
in another area, a co-worker or a nonemployee.
 The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected
by the offensive conduct.
 Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of
the victim.
 The harasser's conduct must be unwelcome.

Prevention is the best tool to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. By

communicating to employees that sexual harassment will not be tolerated, by training on
harassment prevention, by establishing an effective complaint process, and by taking
immediate and appropriate action when an employee complains, employers have an
 opportunity to stop inappropriate behavior before it reaches the level of illegal
harassment.

Human rights law clearly recognizes that sexual harassment is often not about
sexual desire or interest at all. In fact, it often involves hostility, rejection, and/or bullying
of a sexual nature. For more information, see the section entitled “Gender-based
harassment.”

The following list is not exhaustive, but it should help to identify what may be sexual
and gender-based harassment:

 demanding hugs[18]
 invading personal space[19]
 unnecessary physical contact,[20] including unwanted touching,[21] etc.
 derogatory language and/or comments toward women[22] (or men, depending on the
circumstances), sex-specific derogatory names[23]
 leering[24] or inappropriate staring
 gender-related comment about a person’s physical characteristics or mannerisms[25]
 comments or conduct relating to a person’s perceived non-conformity with a sex-role
stereotype[26]
 displaying or circulating pornography,[27] sexual pictures or cartoons,[28] sexually
explicit graffiti,[29] or other sexual images (including online)
 sexual jokes, including circulating written sexual jokes (e.g. by e-mail)[30]
 rough and vulgar humour or language related to gender
 sexual or gender-related comment or conduct used to bully a person
 spreading sexual rumours (including online)[31]
 suggestive or offensive remarks or innuendo about members of a specific gender
 propositions of physical intimacy
 gender-related verbal abuse, threats, or taunting
 bragging about sexual prowess
 demanding dates or sexual favours
 questions or discussions about sexual activities
 requiring an employee to dress in a sexualized or gender-specific way[32]
 paternalistic behaviour based on gender which a person feels undermines their status or
position of responsibility
 threats to penalize or otherwise punish a person who refuses to comply with sexual
advances (known as reprisal).

The prevalence of domestic violence is arguably one of the top health concerns in
the country. Understanding its definition can help you to take more effective action against
its many manifestations of abuse. In some cases, abusers may not even realize that
they're inflicting domestic violence on someone else. On the flipside, victims may not take
action against their abusers if they don't realize that the behavior they're experiencing is
indeed domestic violence.

Also important is that friends and loved ones of victims are in a better place to help
if they understand what domestic violence looks like. Therefore, it's important that people
understand the definition of domestic violence and the many forms it can take.

Definition of Domestic Violence: Types of Abuse

According to the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against

Women, the definition of domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any
relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain control over another intimate
partner. Many types of abuse are included in the definition of domestic violence:

 Physical abuse can include hitting, biting, slapping, battering, shoving, punching,
pulling hair, burning, cutting, pinching, etc. (any type of violent behavior inflicted
on the victim). Physical abuse also includes denying someone medical treatment
and forcing drug/alcohol use on someone.
 Sexual abuse occurs when the abuser coerces or attempts to coerce the victim
into having sexual contact or sexual behavior without the victim's consent. This
often takes the form of marital rape, attacking sexual body parts, physical violence
that is followed by forcing sex, sexually demeaning the victim, or even telling
sexual jokes at the victim's expense.
  Emotional abuse involves invalidating or deflating the victim's sense of self-worth
and/or self-esteem. Emotional abuse often takes the form of constant criticism,
name-calling, injuring the victim's relationship with his/her children, or interfering
with the victim's abilities.
 Economic abuse takes place when the abuser makes or tries to make the victim
financially reliant. Economic abusers often seek to maintain total control over
financial resources, withhold the victims access to funds, or prohibit the victim from
going to school or work.
 Psychological abuse involves the abuser invoking fear through intimidation;
threatening to physically hurt himself/herself, the victim, children, the victim's family
or friends, or the pets; destruction of property; injuring the pets; isolating the victim
from loved ones; and prohibiting the victim from going to school or work.
 Threats to hit, injure, or use a weapon are a form of psychological abuse.
 Stalking can include following the victim, spying, watching, harassing, showing up
at the victim's home or work, sending gifts, collecting information, making phone
calls, leaving written messages, or appearing at a person's home or workplace.
These acts individually are typically legal, but any of these behaviors done
continuously results in a stalking crime.
 Cyberstalking refers to online action or repeated emailing that inflicts substantial
emotional distress in the recipient.

Definition of Domestic Violence: Victims

Definitions of domestic violence recognize that victims can include anyone,

regardless of socioeconomic background, education level, race, age, sexual orientation,
religion, or gender. Domestic violence was formerly referred to as wife abuse. However,
this term was abandoned when the definition of domestic violence was changed to reflect
that wives are not the only ones who can fall victim to domestic violence. The definition
of domestic violence now recognizes that victims can be:

 Spouses
 Sexual/Dating/Intimate partners
  Family members
 Children
 Cohabitants

Many people think that a victim of domestic violence can only obtain a protective
order against their spouse. This is actually a myth. Most states allow victims of abusive
cohabitant lovers to obtain protective orders (also referred to as temporary restraining
orders or emergency protective orders). Some states allow victims of abusive adult
relatives, roommates, or even non-cohabitating partners to obtain protective orders. The
laws in each state are different, so check the most updated laws in your state.

Dating Violence

Dating violence is another form of domestic violence. The Violence Against Women
Act defines dating violence according to the relationship between the abuser and victim.
Dating violence is committed by a person in a social, romantic, or intimate relationship
with the victim. The existence of such relationship is determined using the following
factors:

 The length of the relationship

 The type of relationship
 The partners frequency of interaction
Some signs of dating abuse include:1

 Forcing you to have sex when you don’t want to

 Telling you that you owe them sex in exchange for taking you out on a date
 Acting overly jealous, including constantly accusing you of cheating
 Being extremely controlling, such as telling you what to wear, forbidding you from
seeing friends and family, or demanding to check your phone, email, and social
media
 Constantly checking in with you and getting angry if you don’t check in with him or
her
  Putting you down, including your appearance (clothes, makeup, hair, weight),
intelligence, and activities
 Trying to isolate you from other people, including by insulting them
 Blaming you for the abusive behavior and listing the ways you “made him or her
do it”
 Refusing to take responsibility for their own actions
 Apologizing for abuse and promising to change again and again
 Having a quick temper, so you never know what you will do or say that may cause
a problem
 Not allowing you to end the relationship or making you feel guilty for leaving
 Threatening to call the authorities (police, deportation officials, child protective
services, etc.) as a way to control your behavior
 Stopping you from using birth control or going to the doctor or nurse
 Committig any physical violence, such as hitting, pushing, or slapping you

None of the behavior described above is OK. Even if your partner does only a few
of these things, it’s still abuse. It is never OK for someone to hit you or be cruel to you in
any way.

How common is teenage pregnancy?

Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in a woman 19 years of age or younger. A

woman can get pregnant if she has vaginal sex with a man at any age after she’s begun
having regular monthly periods.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted

Source, in 2017, around 194,000 babies were born to American girls between the ages
of 15 to 19.

While the number of teenage pregnancies in the United States has been in decline,
it still remains higher than in other industrialized countries.
What are the signs of pregnancy?

You’ll probably first realize you’re pregnant when you skip a regular period. But if you get
a very light period around the time you expect it, don’t assume you’re not pregnant. It’s
possible to have very light bleeding in the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Signs of pregnancy include:

 missed or very light period

 breast tenderness

 nausea, often in the morning

 vomiting

 feeling lightheaded

 fainting

 weight gain

 feeling tired

 swelling abdomen

How does teenage pregnancy affect teen mothers?

Teens are at a higher risk for pregnancy-related high blood pressure

(preeclampsia) and its complications than average age mothers. Risks for the baby
include premature birth and low birth weight. Preeclampsia can also harm the kidneys or
even be fatal for mother or baby.

Pregnant teens also have a higher chance of becoming anemic. Anemia is a

reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs). This can make you feel weak and tired
and can affect your baby’s development.
 Giving birth in the United States is safer than ever, but it’s still more dangerous for
a teen than for a woman 20 or older. According to the World Health Organization
(WHO)Trusted Source, complications during pregnancy or childbirth are the leading
cause of death globally for girls ages 15 to 19.

If you get pregnant as a teen, you might feel frightened and worried about telling
your family and friends. Not talking to someone and not getting the help and support you
need, can make you feel more isolated and depressed. This can lead to problems in home
and at school.

Many pregnant teens drop out of school, and some never complete their education.
That means a lot of mothers who get pregnant as teenagers live in poverty.

Women who first got pregnant as teens are more likely to have more than one
child. About one in fiveTrusted Source births to a teen mother is a repeat birth. A woman
with little education and multiple children to care for will find it very difficult to earn a living.

How does teenage pregnancy affect babies?

A healthy pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. A baby that’s delivered before 37 weeks of

pregnancy is premature. Teen mothers are more likelyTrusted Source to give birth
to premature babies.

Sometimes, these babies lack complete development in their bodies and brains.
Depending on how premature the baby is, this can lead to lifelong difficulties with health
and development.

Premature babies also tend to be underweight. Underweight babies might have

trouble breathing and feeding as infants. As adults, underweight babies are more
susceptible to diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
 Low birth weight also affects brain development. Children who were born
underweight have been observed to have learning difficulties.

In addition to having an increased risk of being underweight, infants born to teenage

mothers are also at a higher risk of infant mortality.

How does teenage pregnancy affect teen fathers?

Fathering a child as a teenager can be a frightening and life-changing event. Teen

fathers don’t have to worry about the health implications of pregnancy and childbirth, but
they could face similar difficulties staying in school and earning a living.

State laws vary on the legal age for people to have sexual intercourse.

Arrest or legal action against teens who are sexually active can have devastating
effects. A young man may be required to register as a sex offender if he has reached the
legal age (age 18 in some states) and his partner has not (age 17 or under).

How is pregnancy diagnosed?

Most supermarkets and drugstores sell home pregnancy tests. These tests are
designed to detect pregnancy hormones in your urine. They’re most accurate if you use
them more than a week after your missed period.

If a home pregnancy test indicates you’re not pregnant, wait a week, and take
another test to make sure.

If a home test shows you’re pregnant, you need to make an appointment with your
doctor. They’ll confirm your pregnancy with a blood test and maybe a physical exam.
What are the options for teenagers who are pregnant?

Teens who become pregnant may be afraid to see a doctor, but it’s extremely
important for the safety of the mother and the unborn child.

Your doctor should discuss all options with you regarding your pregnancy, including:

 abortion, or ending the pregnancy medically

 adoption, or giving birth and legally permitting someone else to raise your child

 giving birth and raising the child yourself

Ideally, the future father and family members of both mother and father will be
involved in making the best decisions. However, this isn’t always possible.

Birth control clinics and public health offices can provide counseling information to
help you make the right choices for you and your baby.

Is it possible for a teenager to have a healthy baby?

Teen moms can have healthy babies. Make sure you see your doctor as soon as
you know you’re pregnant, and attend all your scheduled appointments.

Proper obstetrical care throughout your pregnancy is so important to the health

and well-being of both the mother and the baby. Eat well, exercise, and confide in
supportive friends and family members.

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy has been shown to lower birth weight and
cause babies to be born prematurely. You shouldn’t smoke during pregnancy.

Drugs and alcohol can have very damaging effects on a mother and her unborn
child. Don’t drink alcohol or use illicit drugs during pregnancy. If you think you might be
addicted to drugs or alcohol, ask your doctor about counseling and treatment programs
to help you quit.

Only take the medicines your doctor prescribes. Make sure your doctor knows
about any over-the-counter (OTC) medicines you are taking.

It’s important for all pregnant women to get proper medical care regardless of how
old they are. But because teens’ bodies are still developing, seeing a doctor regularly is
especially important for teen mothers.

What should you expect during prenatal visits?

You’ll see a lot of your doctor during your pregnancy.

During the first six months, you’ll probably have an appointment at least once every
month. In the last months of your pregnancy, you may see your doctor every other week,
ending with weekly visits in your final month. These visits are to make sure you and your
baby are healthy.

At the doctor’s office, you’ll be weighed, your blood pressure will be taken, and your
stomach will be measured. As your baby develops, the doctor will feel its position and
listen for its heartbeat.

Your doctor will ask how you’re feeling and if you have any questions. They’ll
usually then explain what you can expect during the upcoming weeks of your pregnancy.

It’s a good idea to write down any questions or concerns you have so that you can
remember to ask them during your appointment. Make sure you talk to your doctor about
your health, the baby’s health, and any emotional or family concerns you have.

See your doctor right away if you have:

  any vaginal bleeding

 severe or continuous headache

 dimness or blurring of vision

 abdominal pain

 persistent vomiting

 chills or fever

 pain or burning during urination

 leaking of fluid from your vagina

 swelling or pain in your legs

How can teenage pregnancy be prevented?

The only way to be sure you won’t get pregnant is to not have sexual intercourse.
However, there are many methods to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant if you’re
sexually active.

According to a study published in the journal PLoS One, an abstinence-only sex

education was positively correlated with an increase in teen pregnancies.

Many communities offer counseling and support programs that help prevent teen
pregnancy.

These groups can provide information on birth control and help teens understand their
own sexual limits so they don’t get into situations where they might have unprotected sex
and get pregnant.

Some programs offer peer counseling, since it might feel more comfortable talking to
someone your own age. Contact your health department for information on programs in
your area.
What prescription birth control methods are available?

Prescription birth control is available through your doctor or a women’s health clinic.

Intrauterine device (IUD)

An intrauterine device (IUD) is a device a doctor implants in your uterus. The procedure
is well tolerated, and hospitalization isn’t required. The IUD prevents pregnancy by
various mechanisms. It has a 99 percent rate of effectiveness, according to Planned
Parenthood.

IUDs are sold under the following brand names:

 Kyleena

 Liletta

 Mirena

 ParaGard

 Skyla

Birth control implant

Several birth control methods affect hormone levels in your body, so you’re less likely to
get pregnant. The most effective is a birth control implant, also called Nexplanon.

This is a very small plastic stick that’s inserted under the skin of your arm. Implants stay
in place for up to three years. They have a 99 percent rate of effectiveness.
Other methods

Birth control pills, shots, and patches also affect your hormone levels. They have an
effectiveness rate of 91 to 94 percent. Examples of available brands include:

 Alesse, Apri, Enpresse, Loestrin, Ortho-Novum, Yasmin, and many more (pills)

 Depo-Provera (shot)

 Ortho Evra (patch)

The diaphragm and cervical cap (FemCap) are devices you place in your vagina when
you’re going to have sex. They block sperm from entering your uterus. The effectiveness
of these devices is 71 to 88 percent.

What over-the-counter birth control methods are available?

You can also buy over-the-counter (OTC) birth control at a drugstore and some
supermarkets. These methods are not as effective as prescription birth control, but they
do reduce your chance of getting pregnant.

Condoms

Teen pregnancy rates have been dropping in the United States for at least 25
years. Experts think this is because more sexually active teens use condoms.

Proper use of a condom can keep you from getting pregnant. When used correctly,
condoms also protect you from many sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The
effectiveness of condoms is 85 percent.

Birth control sponge

 Sponges treated with spermicide also block sperm from entering your uterus. Used
properly, these methods prevent pregnancy with an effectiveness of 76 to 88 percent.
The brand of sponge sold in the United States is called the Today Sponge.

Morning-after pill

Available from the brands Plan B One-Step, Ella, and Next Choice,
this medicine contains hormones that prevent your body from releasing eggs into your
uterus and cause the lining of the uterus to shed, inhibiting implantation.

Eggs have to come into contact with sperm for you to get pregnant and need to
implant in order to start developing properly.

The morning-after pill might be a good choice for you if you think your regular birth
control didn’t work or you weren’t using birth control. Women 17 and older do not need a
prescription for the morning-after pill.

The effectiveness of the morning-after pills such as Plan B One-Step and Next
Choice is 75 to 89 percent if taken within three days of having unprotected sex, according
to Planned Parenthood. The effectiveness of the Ella morning-after pill is 85 percent if
you take it within five days of having unprotected sex.

What’s the takeaway for people affected by teenage pregnancy?

Although teens can often safely deliver healthy babies, there are possible health
concerns for both mother and child. If you become pregnant, you should see your doctor
as soon as possible to discuss your pregnancy.
 There are many methods available to help prevent pregnancy, including IUDs, birth
control pills, and condoms.

LGBTI rights are human rights

Recognize, Protect, and Promote the Rights of LGBTI People

Around the world, the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
intersex (LGBTI) people are violated daily. People are beaten, imprisoned, or killed by
their own governments simply because of who they are.

There are still more than 70 countries with sodomy laws; punishment can include
flogging, imprisonment, and in about a dozen jurisdictions, even the death penalty. LGBTI
people, or who are perceived as such, are also routinely the victims of harassment,
discrimination, and violence. Many of those who speak up for LGBTI rights—regardless
of their sexual orientation or gender identity—are themselves persecuted with impunity.

Equality under the law

Amnesty believes that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender
identity, have the right to be equal under the law and the right to exercise their full range
of human rights, without exception.
 The right to marry and found a family is clearly articulated under international law,
the basis of which is enshrined in Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Amnesty believes that the denial of equal recognition of same-sex relationships prevents
many people from accessing a range of other rights, such as rights to housing and social
security, and stigmatizes those relationships in ways that can fuel discrimination and other
human rights abuses against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

To fulfill its human rights obligations Amnesty International recommends that all
governments recognize, promote, and protect the human rights of LGBTI people as fully
embedded in international human rights law and norms.

In addition, Amnesty asserts that all governments must continue to condemn all
human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and give such
violations the same consideration and concern as all other types of human rights
violations based on other grounds. Governments should support global efforts to
decriminalize homosexuality and work towards LGBTI equality.

Promoting and protecting rights for LGBTI people

In the 70+ years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
at a time when homosexuality was even more widely criminalized than it is now, the UN
has made significant developments in promoting and protecting human rights and sexual
orientation and gender identity. The UN Human Rights Committee has affirmed that no
individual can be denied the enjoyment of the rights protected by the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including equality before the law and equal
protection of the law, because of their sexual orientation.

Similar affirmations that the principle of non-discrimination includes discrimination

on the basis of sexual orientation have been made by the Committee on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Working Group on
Arbitrary Detention. The Human Rights Committee now routinely requests information
regarding the steps taken by states to prevent, address, and prohibit discrimination on
grounds of sexual orientation. It urges states not only to repeal laws criminalizing
homosexuality but also to enshrine the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual
orientation into their constitutions or other fundamental laws.