What is Women’s Empowerment?
The term women empowerment refers to the independence of women in their choices. It covers the promotion of their self-worth and esteem so that they can live without other people’s influences and their ability to stand by the process of social change. The term is also closely associated with the empowerment of the female gender or female empowerment. A journey toward the realization of their fundamental rights and toward contributing to prosperous and peaceful living. In this way, a woman is empowered to pursue her personal, social as well as economic aspiration. The term female empowerment is commonly linked with the three historical waves of women’s struggle for their rights in the history of mankind.
The first wave started in the 19th century and continued in the coming century. The age of the 19th and 20th centuries are linked with women’s struggle for the right to suffrage. Women’s quest to secure the right to vote was their first major political as well as social recognition of the fact that women are no more inferior to men. The next wave inspired the women to take a stand around the 1960s against the sexual assaults and their mere role as a toy for men’s sexual pleasure and child-bearer in the society. The third wave of feminism which started in the 1990s stated the equality of women across all spheres of life on equal footing with men. Feminists want social, economic, and political rights in the same manner as the men have them.
Although the women empowerment theories, waves, and practical adaptation to new trends are realized, women still suffer violence besides discrimination around every corner of the globe. Probably, the psyche of powerful men considers women a lesser or lower gender based on physical features. The data revealed by the United Nations exposed the grim picture of this gender. Of all women inhabiting the globe, around 750 million females are married before the age of 18. UN further revealed that 1 in every 5 women has suffered violence whether it may be physical or sexual. These perturbed figures highlight the dire need for women’s empowerment in our society.
Gender Equality and Empower All Women and Girls
Plato once scorned the men’s nature of undervaluing the women in the social and political realm and desired gender equality by empowering women and girls. However, he was less worried about their rights than the flagrant waste of remarkable resources which can otherwise contribute to the development of human society. But the problem is still prevalent in today’s age. This gender bias has inflicted great harm on humans. Not only in human dignity and social values but also in the loss of potential human growth and development. The world would have been different if the social, economic, and political contribution of this gender was utilized. Gender equality, thereby, refers to the equal contribution of all human beings regardless of their sex or physical features in all spheres of human life.
Gender inequality is seen everywhere, whether it is a house, school, or a working zone. It is not limited to one community, but it is prevalent throughout the world although in different ratios. The restricted opportunity for women for professional growth and their limitation to the household besides complete absence from civic life degrades the situation. Discriminatory practices are prevalent in every field of their lives. They often get less attention in the school years as compared to their fellow boys. This promotes the gender gap and the promotion of inferior or complicated thoughts among the girls. Consequently, they are not able to put foot by foot with the other gender in the long run of life. The data revealed by UNICEF shows that every 1 in 4 girls with an age range from 15 to 19 years are neither taking proper education or training nor are employed in any work as compared to 1/10 boys.
Women Empowerment Quotes
“I raise up my voice – not so I can shut, but so that those without a voice can be heard…we cannot succeed with half of us are held back.” Malala Yousafzai, youngest noble prize laureate and an activist for female education from Pakistan.
“Women are always saying ‘We can do anything that men can do’ but men should be saying,’ We can do anything that women can do’ ” Gloria Steinem, American activist, feminist and political and social activist.
Need For Women’s Empowerment
Women empowerment is essential to realize the complete development of the human race on the earth. A woman is responsible for the proper nurturing of the children whether they’re male or female and they, in turn, contribute towards the community development. Their empowerment is imperative for healthy development at all levels from families, and communities to nations. Women empowerment is their fundamental right, by empowering we mean that the women must be treated on a non-discrimination basis along with the provision of health, and nutrition with education, and training. Moreover, women empowerment can strengthen women to take part in everyday life activities along with their male partners. Thereby, women are no more dependent on men for their basic needs. In this way, they can feel confident even in working in high or difficult positions where usually men work, thus contributing to the workforce of the society and benefiting the economy.
The need for women’s empowerment is valued when we see women struggling for even basic human rights. Honor killings, street harassment, rape, inequality in education and wages, and child marriages are but a few mentioned reasons for the dire need for women’s empowerment. For instance, Time’s study shows that in India and Pakistan, around 2000 women are killed yearly by their family members on the preface of honor, and most of them are acquitted by the courts. There are a number of cases in which women became the victim of male dominance in society. The killing of Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch by her brother was another case of honor killing. Women empowerment is sine qua non in today’s society. Child marriages in South Asia and African societies have become a norm. Research conducted by Because I am a Girl depicted that around 140 million girls have become child brides by 2020, a gruesome figure insisting the women’s empowerment.
Benefits Of Women’s Empowerment
Women empowerment is linked with the strengthening of households, communities, nations, and in turn, the whole globe. The subsequent benefits can be realized if the manifestation of women’s empowerment is achieved in letter and spirit.
- Strengthening the women make them feel strong and powerful who is capable of doing any complex task or activity instead of the feelings of being weak and vulnerable.
- The phenomenon can greatly enlighten the discouraged gender about their rights and duties which is beneficial for them as well as for society.
- The mere acknowledgment of women let her perform well in common aspects of her life. A woman is bestowed with the ability of multitasking. Acknowledging their abilities can enhance them.
- Enhanced interaction, hard work, new ideas, and encouraging growth can benefit society, the economy, and the politics of a nation.
- The economically empowered female can change the prevalent gender norms. For instance, empowered women can encourage their fellow women to work outside their homes even in patriarchal societies.
The benefits of women’s empowerment are numerous. Therefore, strengthening this gender is strongly associated with an improved society or community with increased economic activity and the promotion of quality of life.
Steps to be Taken Towards Women Empowerment
The grim discrimination in gender suggests some concrete measures to be taken to ensure women’s empowerment. The subsequent discussion may become an effective way to improve the situation. The first step is to put an end to forms of discrimination based on gender. People must realize that women or girls are equally responsible and able to live their full potential and improve the overall life around the globe. No one should dare to exploit women and girls in houses, education, or training institutions as well as in workplaces. The worst exploitation is sexual assault including women trafficking. The unhealthy and harmful practices of forced and child marriages must be banned. The stereotype-based practice of female genital mutilation must be eliminated which is prevalent in many communities. These mandatory steps can prove to empower women at an early age. Men must acknowledge the services and care provided by women in the household and domestic work. At least this can ensure their significance to them. Promotion of social protection regulations along with the values of shared responsibilities can strengthen the community, household, and cohesive forces between the genders.
Women’s empowerment can significantly be improved when they are encouraged to participate in decision-making and leadership roles. They must be given the opportunity to take part in political, public, and economic spheres of life. Moreover, women must be given full access to health benefits mainly in sexual and reproductive health. Their health is often compromised during the birth-giving times. Women must be given full economic independence. Women’s empowerment is possible only when they are fully independent to own property, and financial resources, and are allowed to provide business and financial services. The law of inheritance must be followed in the case of women’s inheritance as this law is often undervalued by the masculine gender. In the same way, penetration of technology throughout this gender sine qua non for their empowerment. Empowerment of women would become easy if they are self-aware of their rights and duties. The promotion of gender equality is possible by the adoption of concrete laws that strengthen women’s empowerment.
In the quest to empower women across the world, UN Global Compact and UN Women have collectively given seven principles to ensure women empowerment. These principles are:
- Creation of prominent corporate leadership to promote gender equality
- Dealing with everyone on an equal basis without any gender discrimination, especially in workspaces.
- Safeguarding the welfare and health of everyone without any gender discrimination.
- Promotion of personal development of female gender through education and training.
- Empowering women through marketing, business development, and supply chain practices.
- Taking optimistic community initiatives to reduce the gender gap.
- Publicizing the data about the measures of achievement on the goals of women empowerment.
Conclusion
By and large, gender-based discrimination has been prevalent across the globe since the beginning of human civilization. The world has witnessed rapid development in the rights and positions of the female gender. Women’s struggle has been widespread throughout history along with women’s suppression. Women have become victims of a male-dominated patriarchal society. The ill practices of child and forced marriages, honor killings, denial of their economic rights, sexual assaults, and their treatment as mere sex slaves or child-bearers have undermined the true value of this beautiful creation. Women have proved themselves that they can perform tasks of all sorts. Today, women are steering many nations as their leaders, serving in the military, working as a business entrepreneur, working day and night in health care, serving the civil services, and many more. These developments are the manifestation of women’s empowerment and their subsequent benefits. However, there is still a larger room left for improvement. The ills attached to this gender-based discrimination must be cured to make the pace of the progress unprecedented. Women empowerment besides lifting the women out of poverty, violence, and low life, can greatly improve the economic, social, and political arenas of the human race.
