In many Muslim societies, Islamic law deems women inferior to men. A woman's testimony is worth half that of a man, and her independence is restricted by seclusion in the home, laws of guardianship by male kin, polygamy and unilateral divorce.
In the flood of news and information that surrounds us every day, we may take for granted the constant ripple of voices around the globe whose struggle to be heard often ends in violence, imprisonment or death.
Look closely at the images of mass demonstrations taking place in Iran this week and you will see them: thousands of brave Iranian women taking to the streets to protest an election they feel was stolen.