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Stages of the historical development of women's rights
Nafisakhon OSMONOVA
1
National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received February 2025
Received in revised form
28 February 2025
Accepted 20 March 2025
Available online
15 April 2025
This article analyzes the historical stages in developing
women's rights, changes in women's legal status, and their
political and social activities from ancient times to the modern
legal system. It highlights the significance of key international
documents adopted to protect women's rights, including
conventions such as CEDAW. The article also considers the
current importance of ensuring gender equality, strengthening
women's active participation in political and social processes,
and improving legal mechanisms as crucial issues.
2181-
1415/©
2025 in Science LLC.
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-1415-vol6-iss3/S-pp
This is an open access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru)
Keywords:
women's rights,
gender equality,
suffragism,
United Nations,
gender equality,
declaration,
convention.
Ayollar huquqlari tarixiy rivojlanish bosqichlari
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar
:
ayollar huquqlari,
gender tenglik,
suffragizm,
Birlashgan Millatlar
Tashkiloti,
gender tenglik,
deklaratsiya,
konvensiya.
Ushbu maqolada qadimgi davrdan to zamonaviy huquq
tizimigacha bo‘lgan davrda ayollar huquqlarining rivojlanish
bosqichlari, ayollarning huquqiy maqomidagi o‘zgarishlar
hamda ularning siyosiy va ijtimoiy faoliyati tahlil qilinadi.
Ayollar huquqlarini himoya qilish uchun qabul qilingan asosiy
xalqaro hujjatlar, jumladan CEDAW kabi konvensiyalarning
ahamiyati alohida ta’kidlanadi. Shuningdek, maqolada
gender tenglikni ta’minlash, ayollarning siyosiy va ijtimoiy
jarayonlardagi faol ishtirokini kuchaytirish hamda huquqiy
mexanizmlarni takomillashtirish hozirgi kundagi dolzarb
masalalar sifatida ko‘rib chiqiladi.
1
Doctoral student, National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan. E-mail: nafisao1991@gmail.com
Жамият
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Society and innovations
Special Issue
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383
Этапы исторического развития прав женщин
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
права женщин,
гендерное равенство,
суфражизм,
Организация
Объединенных Наций,
гендерное равенство,
декларация,
конвенция.
В данной статье анализируются исторические этапы
развития прав женщин, изменения их правового статуса, а
также политическая и общественная деятельность женщин
с древнейших времен до современной правовой системы.
Подчеркивается значимость ключевых международных
документов, принятых для защиты прав женщин, включая
такие конвенции, как КЛДЖ (Конвенция о ликвидации всех
форм дискриминации в отношении женщин). В статье
также
рассматривается
актуальность
обеспечения
гендерного равенства, усиления активного участия
женщин в политических и социальных процессах,
совершенствования правовых механизмов как важнейших
вопросов современности.
INTRODUCTION
In the context of modern globalization processes and the system of international
legal norms, the issue of ensuring women's rights is viewed not only as an integral part of
human rights but also as one of the crucial conditions for sustainable development and
building a democratic state. Analyzing the pages of history, we can observe that the legal
status of women has always been interconnected with the overall level of societal
development. The journey from ancient times to the modern legal system comprises
complex and significant stages on the path to women's freedom, equality, and legal
recognition. This process has undergone several historical phases, from ancient societies
dominated by the patriarchal system to civic activism during the Industrial Revolution,
the adoption of international legal documents in the 20th century, and continuing to the
present day.
LITERATURE ANALYSIS AND METHOD
The compilation of scholarly works on the foundations of women's rights reveals a
dual-structured jurisprudence architecture consisting of international treaties and
regional/national mechanisms. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) [1], ratified by 189 states, remains the
cornerstone of global gender equality foundations, obligating participating states to
eliminate discriminatory practices and ensure reproductive rights. However, regional
documents such as the Istanbul Convention (2011) and the Maputo Protocol (2003) have
expanded protection by criminalizing new forms of violence, including economic
coercion. These systems are implemented through hybrid monitoring mechanisms like
the CEDAW platform, which synchronizes compliance across more than 85 national
mechanisms.
Quantitative analyses consistently reveal implementation gaps: while 73% of
countries have ratified CEDAW, only 64% are fully implementing its provisions, and
discrepancies exist in combating digital violence (reported in 41% of cases). The World
Bank's 2024 Women, Business and the Law index underscores systemic inequalities,
showing that women worldwide have access to only 64% of the legal protections
available to men, a figure that drops to 52% when considering childcare and safety
Жамият
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Общество
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Society and innovations
Special Issue
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03 (2025) / ISSN 2181-1415
384
provisions. National case studies, such as Germany's post-2018 reforms under the
Istanbul Convention, demonstrate a 19% reduction in gaps within domestic violence
reporting, while India's constitutional guarantees (Article 51A) are associated with a
14% increase in women's political participation since 2019 [2].
DISCUSSION
The history of inequality in women's status dates back to ancient times.
As historians note, a matriarchal system prevailed in the early periods of human society.
Thus, women held a dominant position, and property, lineage, and social status were
passed down through the maternal line. Over time, the dissolution of the matriarchal
system created a prolonged period of stagnation in women's rights throughout society
[3]. Subsequently, with the onset of patriarchal rule, as men took the reins of power into
their own hands, we can observe that women's rights became more restricted. The role of
women who became historical figures was largely undervalued; their independent and
historical activities were concealed or denied. Politically and socially active women and
their historically significant initiatives are an integral, yet unfortunately almost unknown,
part of human cultural experience and an important aspect of civilization. In early
periods, women had
specific
legal status only in some societies.
In ancient times, women's rights were ensured in the land of Turan, where they
were entrusted with fundamental rights and state administration duties, as evidenced by
historical sources through the figure of Tomyris. In ancient Egypt, women had the right to
partial property ownership and the ability to conclude several legal agreements.
However, in the legal systems of Ancient Greece and Rome, women's political and social
activities were severely restricted, confining them mainly to family and private life. Later,
although the Hellenistic period granted some rights to women, these rights were
primarily enjoyed by aristocratic women.
During the Middle Ages, women's rights differed sharply between Eastern and
Western countries. In the East, Islamic law is recognized as an important socio-legal
development for protecting and advancing women's rights. Specifically, women had the
right to refuse marriage without their consent, and they were entitled to manage
property acquired through their labor, marry independently, or receive as mahr (dowry).
According to Annemarie Schimmel, Islamic law achieved significant progress in women's
rights compared to the pre-Islamic period [4].
During this period in Europe, women's rights were controlled by men and
restricted by church and marriage laws, as well as the absence of political rights. The
privilege of participating in state affairs and governance was granted only to royal family
women [5].
In Indian and Chinese societies, women were traditionally subordinate to the family
system: in India, women's rights were severely restricted by the "Sati" custom (women were
forced to commit suicide after the death of their husbands), and in China, by "Confucian
philosophy" (which dictated that women should fully submit to their husbands).
Approximately two hundred years ago, the traditional order applied to women
was weakened by the powerful impact of the "Great Bourgeois" revolutions.
These revolutions were recognized as the beginning of the era of women's rights, thus
rejecting the notion that men's absolute power over women should be viewed as strict
laws. Instead, they advanced the idea of freedom and equality for everyone before the
law. As a result, "the concept and movements of feminism emerged," arising from the
protest against the social subordination of women.
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Feminism emerged in the 18th century as a theory of gender equality rooted in
women's liberation movements, with its first wave spanning from 1776 to 1929. One of the
earliest prominent figures who rebelled against patriarchal traditions and laws was Olympe
de Gouges (France), the author of the "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female
Citizen" (1791). She declared, "Woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights.
At the end of the 18th century, English journalist Mary Wollstonecraft, a supporter
of the French Revolution, published the manifesto "A Vindication of the Rights of
Woman" (1792), advocating for women's right to education and equal status with men in
society. Additionally, Abigail Adams, the first lady of the United States, exclaimed,
"Remember the ladies!" during discussions on the US Declaration of Independence,
defending women's rights and sparking the development of the first feminist ideas in
America.
The second wave of women's rights advocacy is called "neo-feminism," which
primarily began with "Suffragism" (the movement for women's voting rights), "Social
feminists" (advocating for equal labor rights, fair wages, and equal participation in trade
unions), Radical feminists (promoting conscious choice of motherhood, birth control, and
women's physical autonomy), and the struggle for de facto gender equality. As women
gained political rights in the early 20th century, "the principle of humanism for women's
liberation" emerged.
By the latter part of the 20th century, a significant shift was underway in the global
approach to gender equality. International standards were beginning to coalesce, and a
robust legal framework was being constructed to safeguard women's rights. This marked
the first instance in history where concerted efforts were made to codify women's rights
at a legislative level and establish legal benchmarks.
Since 1945, the United Nations (UN) has transcended borders and become
a distinct entity in international public law. Its mission to ensure peace throughout the
world has led it to monitor the activities of states that have accepted international
obligations. The third article of the UN Charter, a global call to action, enshrines norms
prohibiting gender discrimination, establishing provisions that call for respect and
promotion of human rights and freedoms "regardless of sex." This global effort is
a testament to the UN's commitment to gender equality.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, is a crucial document
that initiated a new era in ensuring gender equality and protecting women's rights [6].
The second article of the Declaration states that all people are equal from birth and
prohibits discrimination based on gender differences. According to UN statistics, in the
second half of the 20th century, the level of illiteracy among women was high, which was
one of the main reasons for women's low status in society. This situation intensified the
need to implement new legal measures to protect women's rights.
By the mid-1950s, special attention was given to the necessity of legally regulating
women's rights, and this process was institutionally strengthened through the adoption
of special conventions by the UN. In particular, in 1952, the UN General Assembly
adopted the Convention on Women's Political Rights [7]. This Convention guaranteed
women the right to vote and participate in the management of state affairs, as well as
ensuring the opportunity to hold public office on an equal basis with men. In 1952, the
UN adopted another important document, namely the Convention on the Protection of
Motherhood, and in 1957, the Convention on the Nationality of Married Women.
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The 1960s were a crucial stage in the struggle to protect women's rights and
gender equality. In 1966, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural
Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were adopted. These
international legal documents strengthened the human rights system and expanded
anti-discrimination provisions. In 1967, the UN entered a new phase of development in
this area by adopting the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women, and in 1979, based on this Declaration, the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was adopted. This Convention
elevated women's rights to a new level, obligating all states to enshrine gender equality
in their national laws. It also, for the first time, clearly defined the concepts of gender
equality and discrimination against women, providing comprehensive approaches to the
protection of women's rights.
CONCLUSION
The aforementioned documents aim to eliminate stereotypes about the roles of
women and men, obligating participating states to improve legislation ensuring equal
rights for women and men and establishing mechanisms for implementing anti-
discrimination measures.
In conclusion, the history of women's rights is an integral part of societal
development, and its evolution is interconnected with the formation of human culture
and legal principles. The legal status of women has varied across different periods and
regions; in some societies, women enjoyed a certain degree of rights, while in others,
their rights were severely restricted.
By the second half of the 20th century, the legal framework to protect women's
rights had systematically developed, its international standards were established, and the
most crucial international documents were adopted. Today, increasing the effectiveness
of international and national documents in women's rights, improving legal mechanisms,
and ensuring women's active participation in socio-political processes have become
increasingly important. In the current process of globalization, ensuring gender equality
requires not only a legal approach but also a comprehensive approach in the socio-
economic, political, and cultural spheres.
Therefore, effectively implementing international obligations to ensure gender
equality and protect women's rights, strengthen interstate cooperation, and raise legal
awareness in society remain among the pressing issues of our time.
REFERENCES:
1.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(1979) Article 3.
2.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sociology/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.12
31790/full
3.
Friedrich Engels "Family, the Origin of Private Property and the State".
4.
Schimmel (1992) p. 65.
5.
Winkler, John J. The Constraints of Desire: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender
in Ancient Greece.
–
New York: Routledge, 1990.
—
P. 5.
6.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 10 December 1948.
7.
Convention on the Political Rights of Women, New York, 31 March 1953.
