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The 5th SDG Goal of gender equality is as follows- “Achieve Gender Equality and empower all women and girls”.
Why the inflammatory title? First off, I am not against nor will ever be against gender equality for women and girls across the globe. Its my belief that this goal is very short-sighted and tunnel visions only on one gender identity that faces discrimination. Why is this bad? Because nothing happens in a bubble, a person is not solely an individual which belongs to one group but a complex being that belongs to multiple if not dozens of groups , and because of that complex makeup of things such as discrimination will affect others differently, even if they share a common group. For example, a Black woman could face more discrimination than a white woman, this is because she belongs to another group that faces different types of discrimination as well as still facing the discrimination that comes with being black. Understanding that people are a makeup of multiple groups and that discrimination will affect people differently because of how their identities overlap is called intersectionality.
Intersectionality is a response to earlier forms of progressive though that focused around the victim status of an individual without any concern for how these groups overlap. A common critique of second wave feminism is that it only focused around middle-class white women and rarely addressed issues to black women , poor women, or trans women. I believe that this UN goal is a product of this time and is in dire need of an update The goals are noble, and address the majority of discriminatory practices that white women face, though never address the unique issues that black or trans women face. Black women are considered less “womanly” because blackness is considered more masculine than whiteness , and trans women face discrimination in the form of not even being recognised as a woman or treated as a man by the state and in day-to-day life.
So what should the UN do ?
I believe the UN should Rephrase the goal and build upon the previous tenants of their goal. This goal should not be to “Achieve Gender Equality and empower all women and girls across the globe” but instead focus more on “achieving gender equality and empowering all those affected by gendered discrimination regardless of their identity” , everyone faces gendered discrimination in many different forms, how much or how little is a moot point as the goal is total equality and equity. The UN accepts that trans people need support and advocacy and has made strides in the advancement of transgender rights and use of intersectionality. Such as the adoption of the resolution to protect against discrimination and violence based on ones sexual orientation or gender identity in 2016. The 5th goal is a small misstep in their advocacy for the rights of LGBTQIA+ and they have indeed made many strides, though I feel it would definitely be a big step in the right direction if they were to officially consider trans and non-binary people when it comes to their 5th goal as well as other identities that intersect with gendered based discrimination. The SDG’s are a big part of the UN , its their core goals for a better future and I believe if we amend this goal to include every form of gendered based violence it would be a huge piece of advocacy and a massive step in the improvement of everyone facing such discrimination