...2. Women Empowerment in Modern India Dr. Shruti Singh For centuries women were not treated equal to men in many ways. They were not allowed to own property, they did not have a Share in the property of their parents, they had no voting rights, and they had no freedom to choose their work or job and so on. Gender inequality has been part and parcel of an accepted male-dominated Indian society throughout history. Women were expected to be bound to the house, while men went out and worked. This division of labor was one of the major reasons why certain evils like 'Sati Pratha', ‘PardahSystem', 'Child Marriage', 'Dowry System', etc. took birth in our society. The traditional Indian mentality assumes that the place of women is mainly concentrated to the household activities like kitchen work and upbringing of the children. There is systematic discrimination against women economically, socially, politically and culturally more so, in India. These discriminations & disabilities are practiced at all levels day in & day out. Women Empowerment is the ability of women to exercise full control over their actions. This means control over material assets, intellectual resources and even over their ideologies. It involves, at the psychological level, women's ability to assert them which has, so far, been constricted by the 'gender roles' assigned to them especially in a culture like India which resists changes. This essay throws light upon the different challenges that are faced by Indian...
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...CONCEPTS UNDERLYING GENDER MAINSTREAMING Gender The concept of gender needs to be understood clearly as a cross-cutting socio-cultural variable. It is an overarching variable in the sense that gender can also be applied to all other cross-cutting variables such as race, class, age, ethnic group, etc. Gender systems are established in different socio-cultural contexts which determine what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman/man and girl/boy in these specific contexts. Gender roles are learned through socialization processes; they are not fixed but are changeable. Gender systems are institutionalized through education systems, political and economic systems, legislation, and culture and traditions. In utilizing a gender approach the focus is not on individual women and men but on the system which determines gender roles / responsibilities, access to and control over resources, and decision-making potentials. It is also important to emphasize that the concept of gender is not interchangeable with women. Gender refers to both women and men, and the relations between them. Promotion of gender equality should concern and engage men as well as women. In recent years there has been a much stronger direct focus on men in research on gender perspectives. There are three main approaches taken in the increased focus on men. Firstly, the need to identify men as allies for gender equality and involve them more actively in this work. Secondly, the recognition that gender equality is not...
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...Women’s Empowerment Principles www.unwomen.org /en/partnerships/businesses-and-foundations/womens-empowerment-principles Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. The private sector is a key partner in efforts to advance gender equality and empower women. Current research demonstrating that gender diversity helps businesses perform better signals that self-interest and common interest can come together. Yet, ensuring the inclusion of women’s talents, skills and energies— from executive offices to the factory floor and the supply chain—requires intentional actions and deliberate policies. The Women’s Empowerment Principles offer practical guidance to business and the private sector on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Developed through a partnership between UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact, the Principles are designed to support companies in reviewing existing policies and practices—or establishing new ones—to realize women’s empowerment. In brief, the Principles are: 1. Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality 2. Treat all women and men fairly at work—respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination 3. Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers ...
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...landscape of these countries? Why some countries have been slow to empower women in their countries? This paper will address these questions and other areas as it relates to the empowerment of women. Empowering means “To invest with power, especially legal power or official authority”. So when you hear the phrase “empowering women” what comes to mind? Initially I had no clue, it was until I read articles that I fully understood what it meant. Political empowerment, Economic empowerment, and Social empowerment is what empowering women is all about. I’ve only listed a few of the categories, but some countries and or societies treat them as mutually exclusive to women. The first article I read emphasis the importance’s of education among women. Educating women would be one of the first steps toward empowerment. Education helps with social development and improves your well-being. Yet there are still place that excluded young girls from a formal education. The benefits of women being educated greatly outweigh them being illiterate. With education empowerment among women; they better informed on health matters which can lead to deduction in population and child mortality rates. Educated women can seek better employment opportunities, which in turn help their households and national income. Empowerment for women in terms of educations; drive women to become more politically active and more informed how to exercise their legal rights. What I found fascinating there are...
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...ABSTRACT Gender is a common term where as gender discrimination is meant only for women, because females are the only victims of gender discrimination. Females are nearly 50 percent of the total population but their representation in public life is very low. Recognizing women’s right and believing their ability are essential for women’s empowerment and development. This study deals with gender discrimination in India, its various forms and its causes. Importance of women in development, legislation for women and solution for gender discrimination are also discussed in this paper. Key Words: gender discrimination, women’s development, legislation for women, education, employment, economic independence, empowerment, decision making and self confidence. GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA Introduction Gender is a common term where as gender discrimination is meant only for women, because females are the only victims of gender discrimination. Gender discrimination is not biologically determined but it is determined by socially and the discrimination can be changed by the proper and perpetuate efforts. Denial of equality, rights and opportunity and suppresment in any form on the basis of gender is gender discrimination. Half of the world’s population is females. They are doing two-third of work of the total work in the world but received only one-tenth of the world’s total income. Nearly two-third of the women is...
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... Topic: Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Pakistan Dated: 6-12-2013 SYNDICATE MEMBERS: 1. Dharmoon Bhawani (Leader) 2. Amna Rafique 3. Kamal Khan 4. Nergis Shazia Chaudhary TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Title………………………………………………………………………………………1 2. Syndicate Members………………………………………………………………………2 3. Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………...3 4. Theme…………………………………………………………………………………….4 5. Preface……………………………………………………………………………………7 6. Thesis Statement…………………………………………………………………………8 7. Executive statement………………………………………………………………………9 8. Abbreviations………………………………………………………………………...….11 9. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..12 10. Statement of Problems………………………………………………………………….13 11. Methodology……………………………………………………………………………14 12. Scope of Study………………………………………………………………………….14 13. Review of Literature…………………………………………………………………….15 SECTION 1: GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT 1.1. Introduction …………………………………………………………………….17 1.2. Definition of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment…………………….17 1.3. Current state of Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Pakistan……..18 1.4. Biswas’s Indicator of Women Empowerment ………………………………….19 1.5. Violence against Women………………………………………………………..19 1.6. Women Empowerment in Legislation and Judiciary…………………………...20 1.7. The Role of Rural Support Programme Network……………………………….21 1.8. Universal Standard Of Gender Equality...
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...microfinance: Reaching and empowering women Guide for practitioners Enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty This paper was prepared by Linda Mayoux and Maria Hartl. Linda Mayoux is an international consultant on gender issues in economic development including microfinance. She is currently global consultant for Oxfam Novib’s Women’s Empowerment, Mainstreaming and Networking (WEMAN) programme. Mayoux prepared this paper in collaboration with Maria Hartl, Technical Adviser for Gender and Social Equity in IFAD’s Technical Advisory Division. Annina Lubbock, Senior Technical Adviser for Gender and Poverty Targeting, Michael Hamp, Senior Technical Adviser for Rural Finance. Ambra Gallina, Gender and Poverty Targeting Consultant, also contributed. The following people reviewed the content: Maria Pagura (Rural Finance Officer, Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Carola Saba (Development Manager, Women’s World Banking) and Margaret Miller (Senior Microfinance Specialist, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor – CGAP). The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IFAD concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or...
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...Education and Gender Equality within Millennium Development Goals: KSA & China Name: Institution: Course: Date: Declaration I hereby declare that this is my work and nothing has been plagiarized. Every aspect of this work has been appropriately referenced using the APA referencing format. Executive Summary Table of Contents Contents of the report with page numbers, list of tables, and list of figures. Introduction to the Research Topic Education and gender equality are critical components of societal progress and development. They reflect basic rights that require no economic justification. This notion is reflected in the inclusion of gender related developmental and propagative objectives in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Yet it is also a case that education and gender equality has broad and positive implications for economic as well as social development to any nation. A significant decline in child illiteracy and maternal mortality remains somewhat elusive and thus the Millennium Developmental Goals initiative that has been deemed to reduce child illiteracy and promote gender equality coupled with the establishment of women empowerment within all regions of the world is poised with inconsistent progress rates within some certain countries. To deliver such Millennium Development goals and MDG3 and its supporting targets which promotes specifically gender equality and empowers women, it will be critical to elevate...
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...2, No. 2; April 2014 ISSN 2324-8033 E-ISSN 2324-8041 Published by Redfame Publishing URL: http://ijsss.redfame.com Social Norms and Impediments of Women Development in Bangladesh Abul Kalam Lecturer in Sociology, Department of Economics, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT)Mirpur-2, Dhaka, Bangladesh Correspondence: Md. KALAM, 32-44 Steinway Astoria, NY11103, United States. Received: January 11, 2014 doi:10.11114/ijsss.v2i2.365 Accepted: February 17, 2014 Available online: March 3, 2014 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v2i2.365 Abstract This study focuses upon the contemporary process of Social Norms and Impediments of Women Development in Bangladesh. The development of women in organizations, Decision making, Political participation and gender mainstreaming is currently seen as the dominant conceptual model for promoting social justice and women equality. This study intends to see the position of women, discourses and various political, economic and social factors that surrounded these events. The impediments of women in Bangladesh were being pulled in different directions as a result, the context of social norms and gender inequality that existed at global, national, community and domestic levels. Child marriage is one of the main impediments of women empowerment and implementation of the government‟s vision-2021. In Bangladesh, the patriarchal capitalism puts women in such a position within their communities that they...
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...Gender equality has three aspects: equal opportunities, equal treatment and equal entitlements for both, men and women. It is directly linked with human development. The author says that patriarchy thrives on control of women’s sexuality, fertility and labour for male hegemony over economic resources. Economic institutions and policy can exacerbate existing gender inequalities instead of mitigating them. Laws and policies too play a significant role in determining the extent of gender inequality that exists in a society. They can serve to protect women’s rights or to reduce them. For example, in many countries, women still lack the legal right to inherit or own property and, in many others, violence against women is not considered a criminal offense. The paper argues that without transformations in economic relations or the implementation and enforcement of legal rights and protection, gender equality and the empowerment of women can remain an elusive goal. Women’s Studies have challenged the conventional indicators of development that focus on urbanization, higher education, mobility of labor, technological development, modernization, infra-structural development, industrialization etc. Through the lens of Gender Economics, the author contextualizes day to day survival struggles of women in the family, in the households, in the community and in the micro and macro economy with the perspective of power relations which control women and girl children's sexuality, fertility...
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...the power structure of society is strengthened by the force of tradition ,values,history and by the prevalent ways of thinking and behaving.Any effort to change the balance of power entails change in the existing power structure. Women's empowerment is the process by which women negotiate a more equitable distribution of power , a greater space in the critical decision making processes in the home ,in the community and in the economic and political life.The aim of empowerment of women is the fuller and wholesome development of both men and women. Empowerment of women is anti-men.It is against patriarchy.Changes in law pertaining to marriage ,property,sexual harassment ,dowry,rape and other forms of violence,so as to bring in laws favouring or supporting women's empowerment are necessary but not enough.Enabling women to actually access to the benefits of appropriate laws is the key task of the empowerment process. The process of empowerment which seeks an equitable and active share for women has to deal with the burden of ideas and values which are passed on to women as part of their socialisation process from their very childhood.This social conditioning becomes part of her person and mindset and influences her behaviour.The empowerment process must begin with women changing their own ways of thinking and behaving .They must try to appreciate themselves more and to recognise and value their knowledge and skills and their contribution of the sustainability of the households...
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...Report No 55 Gender and Development: Concepts and Definitions Prepared for the Department for International Development (DFID) for its gender mainstreaming intranet resource by Hazel Reeves and Sally Baden February 2000 BRIDGE (development - gender) Institute of Development Studies University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9RE, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1273 606261 Fax: +44 (0) 1273 621202 Email: bridge@ids.ac.uk Website: http://www.ids.ac.uk/bridge/ © Institute of Development Studies ISBN 1 85864 381 3 Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2. Quick Definitions ................................................................................................... 2 3. Detailed Explanations and Further Reading ....................................................... 4 Culture ..................................................................................................................... 4 Gender Analysis ...................................................................................................... 6 Gender Discrimination ............................................................................................. 7 Gender Division of Labour....................................................................................... 8 Gender Equality and Equity................................................................................... 10 Gender Mainstreaming ................
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...Report No 55 Gender and Development: Concepts and Definitions Prepared for the Department for International Development (DFID) for its gender mainstreaming intranet resource by Hazel Reeves and Sally Baden February 2000 BRIDGE (development - gender) Institute of Development Studies University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9RE, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1273 606261 Fax: +44 (0) 1273 621202 Email: bridge@ids.ac.uk Website: http://www.ids.ac.uk/bridge/ © Institute of Development Studies ISBN 1 85864 381 3 Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2. Quick Definitions ................................................................................................... 2 3. Detailed Explanations and Further Reading ....................................................... 4 Culture ..................................................................................................................... 4 Gender Analysis ...................................................................................................... 6 Gender Discrimination ............................................................................................. 7 Gender Division of Labour....................................................................................... 8 Gender Equality and Equity................................................................................... 10 Gender Mainstreaming ................
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...Musvosvi, E (Ms) Course: Gender and Development (HSO 306) Question: Briefly discuss the following theories and show the strengths and weaknesses of each approach to Gender Development; WID, WAD and GAD. Gender relates to the social constructions and relations between men and women and it does not simply look at maleness or femaleness. Development is a multidimensional concept but in general it entails social upward mobility and empowerment but not limited to this. In studying gender relations and development it is of great importance to look at the approaches adopted by feminists in redressing and addressing social disparities. There are many approaches but shall give considerable to WID, WAD and GAD and give their contributions to development as well as their strengths and weaknesses. One of the most famous approaches to development was the feminist Women in development (WID). This was adopted in the 1970s in response to women movement in the west. The women in the west advocated for inclusion of women who have been excluded from development policies and programs. Baserup (1979) point out that the primary goal of WID was to include women into existing initiatives cited in Schech and Haggis (2000). Women were marginalized and excluded from the benefits of development. In so doing, the WID approach pointed out that the major problem to women’s unequal representation and participation is the male biased and patriarch cal development policies (Beneria and Sen 1982:161...
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...Women Empowerment in Bangladesh: Effect of WTO Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) Introduction The negotiations on Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) in the World Trade Organization (WTO) are expected to lead Bangladesh to substantial increase in ReadyMade Garments (RMG) export in world market. The NAMA negotiations are aimed to reduce or eliminate tariffs, including tariff peaks, high tariffs, tariff escalation and nontariff barriers for non-agricultural goods, in particular on products of export interest to developing countries. Non-agricultural products include industrial goods, manufactured goods, textiles, fuels and mining products, footwear, jewellery, forestry products, fish and fisheries, and chemicals. Collectively, they represent almost 90% of world merchandise exports. WTO has decided to take Special and Differential treatment for developing and least developed Members like Bangladesh, including through less than full reciprocity in the reduction measures to assist LDCs to participate effectively in the negotiations. NAMA negotiations are likely to have important positive implications for the LDCs like Bangladesh in the form of increased export. As the structure of Bangladesh export is heavily titled towards labor-intensive sectors as apparels and textiles, increase in export will likely to have consequent positive implications on new job creations in RMG sector. In Bangladesh nearly 3 million workers are with RMG sector of which 80% is female workers. The...
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