Family Rights
1. Polyandry relationships provide for marriage system in which a woman can have more than one husband. Speaking from the historical perspective, the emergence of such marital arrangement in Tibet is related to the fact that the social system compelled marriage within a social status category.To understand the Tibetans' practice of polyandry, "it must be realized that Tibetan families consider it of great importance to keep together, without any division, whatever property they possess" (Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark, 1962, p. 414). That is the reason why husbands are often brothers or close relatives, which is referred to as 'fraternal polyandry'.
2. According to Azhar (2013), Pakistan "is not the kind of place that most people would associate with gay liberation" (qtd. in BBC.com). Even in large cities same sex couples have to be extremely careful and discreet as being open about homosexual orientation is considered a taboo in this country. For the majority of gay men in Pakistan, "a heterosexual marriage and a life of anonymous homosexual relations is the long-term reality" (Azhar, 2013). However, same sex relations are even more difficult for women as " Expressions of female sexuality are shunned in the public sphere, even among heterosexuals" (Azhar, 2013). Speaking from the perspective of rights, same sex couples are extremely limited in their rights: they no right to marry or adopt children, but it is also unacceptable and even dangerous to talk openly about their sexual orientation.
3. Interracial marriages became formally legal in all U.S. states in 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional. However, several states managed to legalize interracial marriage earlier than the Court decision was taken.
4. I was somewhat shocked to find out that in the 21st century, there are so many people, particularly from the Middle Eastern countries, treated with contempt just because of their sexual orientation. I also did not expect that in the contemporary society, there are so many families in Tibet that consider polyandry relationships to be a social norm.
Business
1. One of the fundamental problems associated with Maquiladoras in Mexico is the abuse and unfair treatment of workers as well as other burning social problems, "including the sexual harassment of working women" (Swanson, Lupro, & Tebbe, 2007, p. 81). Speaking from the economic perspective, the low wages of low-skilled Maquiladoras workers result into severe poverty all over the region. Another major problem relates to the irreversible environmental damage caused by the extensive production process at these plants.
2. The clothing manufacturers who were producing clothing in the Savar Building in Bangladesh prior to the collapse of 2013 include the following companies: Benetton, Monsoon Accessorize, and Mango.
3. Neoliberal thought, in its classical sense, is based on the principle of individual human freedom, which is "inevitably tied to capitalism as a system that promotes expansions of wealth and allows people the freedom to pursue wealth, and therefore to pursue their desires" (Luxton & Braedley, 2010, p. 8). Speaking from the perspective of its influence on modern business practices, neoliberalism centers around free-market methods, reducing or even eliminating government interventions and restrictions on business operations, and promoting property rights in the form of privatization. Neoliberalism also favors the opening of foreign markets by means of diplomacy and foreign direct investment.
4. It came as a surprise to me how business operations as well as working conditions significantly differ in the United States and the underdeveloped countries. I was particularly affected when I found out about the pressing problems of Maquiladoras in Mexico.
Animal Rights
1. Islamic cultures "have been markedly attentive to the well-being of animals, acknowledging their interests and extending legal rights and protection to a large number of species " (Tlili, 2012, p. 3). The Qur'an ascribes animals in the spiritual dimension, which means that all animals are presumed to thankfully praise God. Although the majority of people think that meat consumption is strictly prohibited in Islamic cultures, in actual fact, the Qur'an "explicitly permits humans to consume the flesh of many animal species and allows some instrumental uses of certain animals" that are otherwise referred to as 'halal' (lawful) animals.
2. The contemporary world "developed around not eating horses" for a number of reasons (Durankiev, 2015). Speaking from the historical perspective, and taking into consideration their scarcity and dear price in former times, horses have been for the most part considered as companion animals. However, according to Durankiev (2015), "for other cultures around the world, eating this type of meat is seen as something people in the lower ranks of society do". As of today, counties where people consume the most horse meat include Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Belgium, and Germany,
3. The Canadian Criminal Code provides for a zero tolerance towards killing pet animals, which means that a person who kills or injures pet dog or cat is guilty of an offence punishable within criminal justice system. In the meantime, killing the pet by means of euthanasia methods is considered to be "conditionally acceptable only in rare circumstances in remote areas or emergency situations" (Weatherby, 2012).
4. In my opinion, in the contemporary world, it is of fundamental importance to give great attention to the issue of animal rights. I was really surprised and pleased to find out that more and more countries introduce and enact legislation on animal rights.
Human Rights
1. Rape or sexual assault in Haiti is a common phenomenon today, which makes it a pressing social and public health problem. What makes matter worse is the fact that "many victims fear retaliation" on the part of the society, as being raped is thought to be shameful and disgraceful in Haitian society (Torgan, 2012). As a result, many victims may find themselves miserable and even abandoned by their families and loved ones.
2. Referring to the "issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women", Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper said that "it is not a “sociological phenomenon” and that “this is not a time to commit sociology” (Kaye & Béland, 2012). In other words, he simply neglected the reality that the number of cases of missing and murdered aboriginal women is indicative of a burning sociological issue rather than unlinked cases of murder, which resulted into public backlash to this statement. Stephen Harper received harsh criticism and commentaries from prominent sociologists and doctors, including Dr. Sarah Hunt, as well as other community professionals.
3. According to G8 statistical data, "every 15 seconds a child dies of hunger" (Alexander, 2013). The situation is the worst in African countries, particularly in Ethiopia, where the population is most vulnerable to the risk of starvation. Numerous studies and researches prove than a child in Ethiopia is 30 times more likely to die by the age of five as opposed to a child in a developed country of Western Europe.
4. I am truly concerned with the global challenges and issues of the 21st century, such as hunger and poverty, but I was not aware of the horrifying numbers related to these burning issues. I strongly believe that governments as well as international non-governmental organizations have to exert every effort to address massive human rights violations even in the farthermost regions of the world.
References
Alexander, R. (2013, June 18). Does a child die of hunger every 10 seconds? Retrieved February 01, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22935692
Azhar, M. (2013, August 27). Gay Pakistan: Where sex is available and relationships are difficult. Retrieved January 31, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/23811826
Durankiev , G. (2015, May 22). 6 Countries That Consume the Most Horse Meat. Retrieved February 01, 2017, from http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/6-countries-that-consume-the-most-horse-meat-348737/
Kaye, J., & Béland, D. (2014, August 22). Stephen Harper's dangerous refusal to 'commit sociology' Retrieved February 01, 2017, from https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/08/22/stephen_harpers_dangerous_refusal_to_commit_sociology.html
Luxton, M., & Braedley, S. (2010). Neoliberalism and everyday life. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press.
Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark. (1962). Polyandry. New Scientist,14(288), 414-418.
Swanson, S., Lupro, M., & Tebbe, S. (2007). Battleground states. Newcastle, UK: Cambridge Scholars Pub.
Tlili, S. (2012). Animals in the Qur'an. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
Torgan, A. (2012, October 18). Haitians living in fear 'under the tent' Retrieved February 01, 2017, from http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/18/world/americas/cnnheroes-haiti-rape/
Weatherby, R. (2012, March 14). Laws on euthanasia of pets need to be revisited. Retrieved February 01, 2017, from http://www.thesudburystar.com/2012/03/14/laws-on-euthanasia-of-pets-need-to-be-revisited-point-of-view
