Deborah L. Billings

Women in Southern, or Third World, nations face a variety of health problems because they do not have sexual freedom, Deborah L. Billings contends in the following viewpoint. According to Billings, these problems include maternal mortality, sexually transmitted diseases, and violence against women, and occur at much higher rates than in the industrialized Northern nations. She argues that women’s health is a human rights issue that needs to be addressed by women’s organizations and governments. Billings is a research associate for IPAS, a nonprofit organization that works to improve female reproductive health.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How many women die each year from pregnancy-related causes, according to the author?
2. According to Billings, why do some cultures practice female genital mutilation?
3. Why does Billings...