Introduction
The term cisgender involves people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person assigned female at birth (AFAB) and identifying as female is a cisgender female. Similarly, an AFAB person who does not identify as either male or female is considered a non-binary/genderqueer. Both AFAB and women, mostly in low-income countries, suffer from personal body rights violations and poor access to healthcare.
Discussion
AFAB people mainly suffer from social isolation, economic vulnerability, and lack of employment opportunities. Their rights to health and education are often violated or limited, especially in underdeveloped countries. AFABs are more likely not to finish school, receive higher education, be rejected by family and friends, and face discrimination at work. Such a life limits their educational and economic opportunities. These people cannot access regular services and have difficulties in being hired into the desired position. Hence, the most spread job among them is the field of intimate services, which is the only income available to transgender people (“Transgender People”). The statistics are horrifying, “the proportion of transgender people engaged in sex work for survival is up to 90% in India, 84% in Malaysia, 81% in Indonesia, 47% in El Salvador, and 36% in Cambodia” (“Transgender People”). Such activities lead to the prevalence of HIV, which is nine times higher among AFAB workers compared to cisgender sex workers (“Transgender People”). Moreover, in the health care field, a queer woman who needs a prostate exam may be upset when this exam is referred to as “men’s health.” A non-binary person may also rightfully reject phrases such as “mother-to-be” and “female reproductive system” concerning their pregnancy, affecting their psychological health and social adjustment. Given the low standard of living, social security, and lack of benefits, AFABs suffer from limited rights in all areas, especially in underdeveloped countries.
The lack of legal recognition of AFAB gender and the absence of anti-discrimination laws causes the limitation of such groups’ rights, even in developed countries such as China or the United States. The recently published Trans Legal Mapping Report consists of the following statistics: “Only 13 countries have clear laws that specifically criminalize transgender people; 37 countries have de facto laws that criminalize transgender people; 47 countries worldwide prohibit transgender people from legally changing their gender” (“Transgender People”). Such indicators show that racism and discrimination only contribute to the behavior associated with the risk of HIV infection. These social groups suffer from healthcare inequities that are particularly prevalent among transgender women of color. Factors such as the intersection of race, gender, and age are the leading causes of disparities in HIV testing, prevention, and treatment of chronic diseases and infections. Therefore, restrictions on rights related to access to health care, employment, and housing increase the risks of spreading diseases among AFAB people.
A female’s right to self-determination regarding her body and reproductive functions is the basis of her fundamental rights to equality, privacy, and bodily integrity. The UN Working Group is concerned about the discrimination against women and girls mainly because of the economic crisis, austerity measures, and cultural and religious conservatism. Reproductive health equality includes access to information and contraceptives, including emergency contraception (Diamant and Mohamed). In addition, the woman’s decision whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy rests on her shoulders and determines her personal life. Such a decision has a decisive impact on women’s exercise of other human rights. The UN working group thus calls on government officials in various countries to allow women to terminate their pregnancies at will during the first trimester.
The right to receive timely medical services would reduce the mortality rate among females and requires a differentiated approach to women and men according to their biological needs. Analyzing mortality statistics, “861 women in the United States were identified as having died of maternal causes in 2020, compared to 754 in 2019” (Hoyert). Non-Hispanic black women were the most affected, accounting for 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births. This rate is 2.9 times higher than that of non-Hispanic white women (Hoyert). The increased mortality rate is associated with the limited rights of women in these countries to contraception, abortion, timely access to health care, and the frequent resort to self-medication and the use of prohibited drugs that are not controlled. Therefore, the right to end the prosecution and punishment of women or health care providers for murder or manslaughter for abortion is important (“Women’s Autonomy, Equality and Reproductive Health”). Equally important are the decriminalization of abortion and the repeal of restrictive abortion laws. In many countries, government officials prioritize the public interest in pregnancy rather than protecting a woman’s right to life, health, and other human rights.
Conclusion
In conclusion, women, as well as AFAB, suffer from personal body rights violations and poor access to healthcare, which increases their mortality level in low-income countries and worldwide. AFAB people are usually indoctrinated to identify as female; however, AFAB people can be any gender and have any gender presentation. A growing body of research on transgender men and non-binary/genderqueer people AFAB shows higher levels of discrimination in all walks of life than for non-binary people.
Works Cited
Diamant, Jeff, and Besheer Mohamed. “What the Data Says about Abortion in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, 2023, Web.
Hoyert, Donna. “Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2020.” CDC, Web.
“Transgender People.” International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, 2023, Web.
“Women’s Autonomy, Equality and Reproductive Health.” OHCHR, 2023, Web.