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The object of this team research paper is to discover a definition of women’s well-being that can be embraced by women
of different countries and cultures. In order to explore the topic of women’s well-being, the team first had to create
personal definitions of well-being. This was accomplished by writing personal essay which can be found on the member's personal
sites: Alicia, Laidene, Ri, and Selma. After the essays were complete, it was readily apparent that definitions of well-being would vary by environment and culture.
As Selma pointed out, “well-being…means different things to different people.” This paper intends to discover
if there are aspects of well being that could be considered universal.
Subjects of special examination were established through the team’s personal essays. Each essay asserted that health
played a vital role in well-being. Laidene claimed “the first main subject that falls into well-being is health.”
Another subject of study identified by the essays was the triumvirate of physical, mental and emotional well-being. According
to Alicia, “well being can represent the physical, mental…or emotional aspects of a person.” The influence
of relationships and environment was also considered important in the personal essays. Ri believed “relationships can
contribute both negatively and positively to a woman’s sense of well-being…the environmental situation in which
a person finds herself [also] contributes to her sense of well-being". The research paper will further explore the impact
of each of these subjects on well-being.
Defining women’s well-being is an important task to undertake. When one knows which aspects of women’s well-being
are most imperative and most in need of improvement, one can work to improve the situation and status of women across the
globe. Women should also question their status in their own countries as well as those of their sisters in other countries.
Knowledge can be self-propagating and looking at conditions of women could lead to greater awareness and action.
The research paper’s main literary source was written by Martha Nussbaum. An American philosopher and the Ernst Freund
Distinguished Service Professor of Law and Ethics at the University of Chicago, she is a board member of the Human Rights
Program. Her article, entitled “Women, Work, and the Capabilities Approach,” explores aspects of women’s
well-being that could be seen as universal.
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