At first we need to understand what is the core meaning of the two words – “women empowerment” as many of us get confused about the main motive hidden behind these words just like it happened with the word – “feminism“, as it is being used for many inconsiderate & acquisitive reasons or for individual strength which has deteriorated the value feminism ever had.
Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong, it’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.
G.D. Anderson
Women Empowerment can be defined in many ways as it includes many things and the first & foremost thing is to accept the viewpoints of women in all areas, rights of women in education, awareness & literacy , making women capable of living their life according to them, women should be independent in and have their freedom to achieve their desired goals and at last, no societal pressure should be there.
I raise up my voice—not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.
Malala Yousafzai
Why Women Empowerment is so essential?
In our society, women have to face discrimination in terms of gender, they don’t possess equal rights as men. Women are always expected to do the household chores and are not even allowed to have a life of their own choice. People think women should not study & build a career because ultimately they will get married and have to manage the house. Women are also believed to be weaker than men and all these pre-conceived notions has resulted in giving more power to the dominant thinking of the men in our society to suppress the other gender. The most pervasive form of inequality that exists in are society includes gender based violence, monetary discrimination, baneful traditional practices & abusing sexually.
For a family to prosper, For a better future of a society, For a country to be proud of itself, it is necessary to give equal rights to every single gender in every area like education, work, household work, etc.
A society grows when everyone is at par and where there’s no room for discrimination, being judgemental & having conservative thinking or behaviour. When women are empowered and given all the rights they should have as a human being, will make a huge difference in our lives. Sustainable Economic benefit, large workforce, powerful future of the children, healthy and happy environment are some of the perks of women leading the society alongside the men.
If we talk about current statictics of women empowerment in this whole, over 2.7 million women are restricted legally from having and doing the choice of job same as men. Women likely refrain themselves from participating in work just because of their family and husbands. The labour workforce participation rate for women aged between 25-54 is only 63 per cent if compared to men which is approx 94 per cent. Also, when younger and older women included in this count, then it becomes even lower that is 48.5 per cent, 26. 5 per cent less than men. (Read More: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/08/104-countries-have-laws-that-prevent-women-from-working-in-some-jobs/ )
In 2017, global employment rate for both men & women was 5.5 per cent and 6.2 per cent, the survey reported that it will remain unchanged for few more years. The Pandemic, Covid -19 is going to effect this even more. Reports also said that women spends around 2.5 times more time on non – payment work,domestic & households works. Only 5 per cent of women in the whole world are in the position of CEOs . All these numbers clearly shows the status of women in our society. (Read More: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures )
Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong… it is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum not as two opposing sets of ideas.
Emma Watson
Is Women Empowerment a Myth Or Reality?
In the recent years, there has been vast changes occured, we are witnessing an evolutionary changes taking place in terms of equal rights and power between all sorts of gender at global level. Talking about developing countries, women empowerment can be seen in every field of work yet it exists in a minority group that means the number is less than the male persons. Women can be seen making a mark and position for themselves but there are so many women out there who are the victims of some socially wrong doings which makes it questionable about the fact of women being empowered.
If we look around us, women irrespective of their caste, colour, appearance, educational & economic background, are not same in the modern society but at least the cases get reported and people get to know more as an awareness nowadays which never used to be like that earlier. Especially, Women in rural areas faces a lot of difficulties from their younger age itself. But when it comes to them being empowered, it couldn’t happen within a fraction of second, everything takes its own time for the change to happen.
India, being a developing country has always been a perfect example of patriarchal society where gender inequality is thriving in its roots for decades. The patriarchal society in India has been a great obstruction in the pathway for all the women in achieving the life of their own choices and never let the women to empowered.
Women are still facing domestic violence, getting sexually abused, having a controlled life, all of these problems get developed just because of one problem and that is not being independent financially, and if a women is not getting her education properly then it gets really difficult for her to be financially independent and live a life of her own. Economic disadvantage is the greatest barrier for every women present in the world as it gives the domination power to the other gender existing in the society. Globally, it is a real struggle that women go through to maintain their dignity in life in various ways.
But now in the past years it has witnessed a lot of changes in its society. Women are growing and conquering their own rights in a positive way by setting amazing examples with the help of their strength and skills being unmatchable.
We can observe the kind of work done by women in today’s society in every field be it sports,cinema,education, entrepreneurship,business,household, adventures, social work and what not, the list never ends. Not only India, but globally women are rising day by day.
A society that is unable to respect, protect and nurture its women and children loses its moral moorings and runs adrift.
The Hindu – Opinion Sept 15, 2012
How Women Empowerment Can Be Achieved?
To achieve woman empowerment, we not only have to work towards the education, economic,social and political power of women but also by motivating their deeper self, helping in creating more inspiring in each & every field and helping them in figuring out their self strength.
Women is an incarnation of ‘Shakti’ – the Goddess of power. If she is bestowed with education, India’s strength will double.
Narendra Modi (Honourable Prime Minister of India).
Measures to be taken to boost women empowerment:
- To raise the self-confidence & self esteem in women
- To provide proper education to every girl child by making all the parents as well as the people of the society aware of the fact as to why education is important.
- By providing appropriate information, skills and knowledge about employment & jobs to the women.
- By creating an awareness program about the lawful rights of the women.
- Motivating and creating a sense of capability in every women so that they are confident about their self owned goals.
- Certifying each & every women’s decision making power over their life, work and personal matters.
- Boosting women’s participation in every field of life be it social, administrative, economic or political areas, this helps in inspiring millions of girls out there.
- Persuading to make sure the elimination of violence against women and girl child, implementation of constitutional and legal safeguards for the protection of women.
- Elimination of gender-inequality in terms of equal pay, equal property rights, equal power over everything that is male dominated in the society. Equality is what we need to make this world a better place for everyone.
- By developing a nurturing & supporting family structure and by changing the harmful or superstitious cultural practices against women.
