Gender Equality Need of An Hour

Vishal Tomar

Sardar Patel Subharti Institute of Law

This Article is written by Vishal Tomar, a Fifth Year Law Student of Sardar Patel Subharti Institute of Law

ABSTRACT

Gender equality is a very important thing needed for the development of a country. It has been convincingly appeared to invigorate economic growth, which is crucial for low – income countries.[1]

Gender equality among women and men alludes to the equivalent rights, obligations and open doors for women and men and boys and girls.

Fairness doesn’t imply that women and men will become same however that women and men’s privileges, duties and openings won’t rely upon.

Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration recognizing the diversity of different groups of women and men.

Key words: Gender, Equality, man, woman, SDG.

INTRODUCTION

Gender equality between women and men refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for women and men and girls and boys. Equality does not mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female. Gender equality implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into consideration recognizing the diversity of different groups of women and men. Gender equity that provides a level playing field for men & women so that they have a fair chance to realize equal outcomes are a precondition for ensuring gender equality and human rights. The ultimate goal in gender equality is to ensure that women and men have equitable access to, and benefit from society’s resources, opportunities and rewards. And, as part of this, women need to have equal participation in defining what is valued and how this can be achieved. Equity is a means. Equality is the result. Gender equity denotes an element of interpretation of social justice, usually based on tradition, custom, religion or culture, which is most often to the detriment to women.[2]

In a society, everyone has the right to lead his/her life accordingly without any discrimination. When this state is achieved where all individuals are considered to be equal irrespective of their caste, gender, color, profession, and status, we call it equality. Equality can also be defined as the situation where every individual has the same rights and equal opportunity to grow and prosper.

Every individual of society dreams for equal rights and access to resources available at their disposal, but there is a lot of discrimination. This discrimination can be due to cultural differences, geographical differences, the colour of the individual, social status and even gender. The most prevalent discrimination is gender inequality. It is not a localized issue and is limited to only certain spheres of life but is prevalent across the globe. Even in progressive societies and top organizations, we can see many examples of gender bias. Gender equality can only be achieved when both male and female individuals are treated similarly.

Ø Gender Equality builds a Nation

In this century, women and men enjoy the same privileges. The perception is changing slowly but steadily. People are now becoming more aware of their rights and what they can do in a free society. It has been found that when women and men hold the same position and participate equally, society progresses exclusively and creates a landmark. When a community reaches gender equality, everyone enjoys the same privileges and gets similar scopes in education, health, occupation, and political aspect. Even in the family, when both male and female members are treated in the same way, it is the best place to grow, learn, and add great value.

A nation needs to value every gender equally to progress at the right place. A society attains better development in all aspects when both genders are entitled to similar opportunities. Equal rights in decision making, health, politics, infrastructure, profession, etc will surely advance our society to a new level. The social stigma of women staying inside the house has changed. Nowadays, girls are equally competing with boys in school. They are also creating landmark development in their respective profession. Women are now seeking economic independence before they get married. It gives them the confidence to stand against oppression and make better decisions for themselves.

The age-old social structure dictated that women need to stay inside the home taking care of all when men go out to earn bread and butter. This has been practiced for ages when the world outside was not safe. Now that the time has changed and we have successfully made our environment quite safer, women can step forward, get educated, pursue their passion, bring economic balance in their families, and share the weight of a family with men. This, in a cumulative way, will also make a country’s economy progress faster and better.

Ø Methods to measure Gender Equality

Gender equality can be measured and a country’s growth can be traced by using the following methods.

¡ Gender Development Index (GDI) is a gender-based calculation done similar to the Human Development Index.

¡ Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM) is a detailed calculation method of the percentage of female members in decision-making roles.

¡ Gender Equity Index (GEI) considers economic participation, education, and empowerment.

¡ Global Gender Gap Index assesses the level of gender inequality present on the basis of four criteria: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment, health and survival.

According to the Gender Gap Index (GGI), India ranks 140 among 156 participating countries. This denotes that the performance of India has fallen from the previous years, denoting negative growth in terms of closing the gender gap. In the current environment where equality and equal opportunities are considered supreme, this makes India be at a significant disadvantage.

Ø GENDER EQUALITY: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.[3]

Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore also half of its potential. But gender inequality persists everywhere and stagnates social progress.

On average, women in the labor market still earn 23 percent less than men globally and women spend about three times as many hours in unpaid domestic and care work as men.

Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office, all remain huge barriers. All these areas of inequality have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: there has been a surge in reports of sexual violence, women have taken on more care work due to school closures, and 70% of health and social workers globally are women.

At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.

Political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to achieving Goal 5 Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets and institutions.

The major issues debarring women from enjoying and achieving equality in our country are:[4]

I. Education

II. Preference for sons

III. Domestic Violence

IV. Female foeticide

V. Sexual Harrashment at Workplace

VI. Gender biased Violence

VII. Healthcare issues

Ø Roadblocks to Gender Equality

Indian society is still wrecked by such stigmas that dictate that women are meant to manage the home and stay indoors. This is being done for ages, leading to neglect of women in areas like education, health, wealth, and socio-economic fields.

The journey toward women's empowerment in India is imbued with a history of remarkable milestones.[5] From the courageous women who fought for the right to vote during the Independence movement to the historic moment in 1956 when the Hindu Succession Act granted daughters equal rights to ancestral property, the trajectory has been one of progress. The Preamble of the Indian Constitution itself promises justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens, regardless of gender. These milestones signal a future where women stand shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts.

Since Independence, India has made significant progress in the journey towards empowering women across various facets of life, including education, health, economy, politics, and social justice. The National Policy for the Empowerment of Women in 2001 aims to eradicate discrimination and violence against women while promoting their active participation in decision-making processes. The Right to Education Act of 2009 ensures free and compulsory education for all children aged 6 to 14, with special provisions benefiting girls and disadvantaged groups. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005 guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households, with a focus on empowering women. Furthermore, a recent breakthrough is the Women's Reservation Bill of 2023, passed by Parliament, proposing a 33% reservation of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.

However, as we celebrate these victories, it is impossible to ignore the stark realities that persist. A fundamental roadblock that hinders the realisation of women's rights is the lack of confidence and resources that many women face while trying to spread their wings and leverage opportunities. Rising to the occasion, women display a remarkable ability to excel at anything and everything they pursue, owing to their innate multitasking skills. Time and again, they have demonstrated their competence as effective leaders across diverse sectors. Being traditionally entrusted with managing the household has hard-wired women generation by generation to excel at multitasking. Managing chores, finances, complex relationships, and expectations - all at once - is essentially entrepreneurship as we know it today. What can truly empower women is their own willpower and determination - their willingness to step out of their comfort sone and take control of their lives.

Especially in rural India, challenges are more acute due to a pervasive patriarchal mindset, limiting women's potential. Legal frameworks exist, but implementation lags, emphasising the need for comprehensive support systems. Therefore, dismantling stereotypes is crucial for creating an environment where women can freely explore, dream, and achieve. Breaking free from these shackles requires women's own determination, confidence, and a seal to make a difference.

The future must recognise women based on merit, irrespective of gender. Educational initiatives should reach every corner, empowering girls with knowledge and skills. It envisions a future where every girl, regardless of location or social standing, can shape her destiny.

Heading towards the future of women's rights in India requires a vision transcending present challenges. Collective commitment is essential for furthering women's rights and gender equality. The road ahead demands unwavering determination, driven by the belief that an empowered future for every woman in India is not just a possibility but an inevitability. It envisions a world celebrating women's resilience, hearing their voices, and acknowledging their contributions.

Poverty is also one of the major roadblocks towards gender equality. It has led to other malpractices such as child marriage, sale of children, trafficking and child labour, to name a few. Providing equal job opportunities and upliftment of people below the poverty line can help bring some checks onto this.

Ø Initiative Towards Gender Equality

Any kind of discrimination acts as a roadblock in any nation’s growth, and a nation can only prosper when all its citizens have equal rights. Most of the developed countries has comparatively less gender discrimination and provide equal opportunity to both genders. Even the Indian government is taking multiple initiatives to cut down gender discrimination.

They have initiated a social campaign called “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Yojana” to encourage the education of girl children. Besides this, the government runs multiple other schemes, such as the Women Helpline Scheme, UJJAWALA, Mahila Police Volunteers, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna (SSY) , National Mission for Empowerment of Women, etc., to generate awareness among the people. Moreover, as responsible citizens, it is our responsibility to spread knowledge on gender discrimination to create a beautiful world for women. [6]

Ø Conclusion

Once all these menaces will be eradicated, every family will understand the value of a woman and our country will achieve gender equality in a real sense. Women are creating examples everywhere and we all should highlight them to change the scenario and give them equal rights. In the end, the performance of India in the Olympics 2021 is the current example where India has won seven medals. Out of those seven medals, six came in individual events and out of those six medals, female athletes won three. It shows that even after facing such hardship, their performance is at par with male athletes.

REFERENCES

¡ S Shanti Kakarla Sai Mitravinda, Gender equality- The need of the hour (2020) (PDF) Gender equality- The need of the hour (researchgate.net) (accessed on 06 September 2024)

¡ Vibhuti Amar Patel, Gender Equality and Human Rights (2018) Gender Equality and Human Rights by Vibhuti Amar Patel: SSRN (accessed on 07 September 2024)

· Heejung Chung & Tanja van der Lippe, Flexible Working, Work–Life Balance, and Gender Equality: Introduction (2018) Flexible Working, Work–Life Balance, and Gender Equality: Introduction | Social Indicators Research (springer.com) ( accessed on 09 September 2024)

¡ Daizy thakur, gender equality and human rights in India: issues and perspectives (2019) (269-275) GENDER EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES.pdf (gapinterdisciplinarities.org) (accessed on 10 September 2024)

¡ Anupama Katkar, Women's rights and gender equality: Milestones and challenges (2023) Women's rights and gender equality: Milestones and challenges - Hindustan Times ( accessed on 11 September 20224)

¡ Kelly L. Hazel &Kerry S. Kleyman, Gender and sex inequalities: Implications and resistance (2019) Full article: Gender and sex inequalities: Implications and resistance (tandfonline.com) (accessed on 11 September 2024)

¡ Nidhi Bajaj, Government policies for gender equality in India (2022) Government policies for gender equality in India - iPleaders (accessed on 12 September)


[1] S Shanti Kakarla Sai Mitravinda, ‘Gender equality- The need of the hour ‘(2020) <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344903917_Gender_equality-_The_need_of_the_hour> (accessed on 06 September 2024)

[2] Vibhuti Amar Patel, ‘Gender Equality and Human Rights ‘(2018) <https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3182315 > (accessed on 07 September 2024)

[3] ‘United Nations: Gender equality and women's empowerment’ https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/

[4] Daizy thakur, ‘gender equality and human rights in India: issues and perspectives’ (2019) <https://www.gapinterdisciplinarities.org/res/articles/(269-275)%20GENDER%20EQUALITY%20AND%20HUMAN%20RIGHTS%20IN%20INDIA%20ISSUES%20AND%20PERSPECTIVES.pdf >(accessed on 10 September 2024)

[5] Anupama Katkar, ‘Women's rights and gender equality: Milestones and challenges’ (2023) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/gender-equality/womens-rights-and-gender-equality-milestones-and-challenges-101703661400704.html > (accessed on 11 September 20224)

[6] Nidhi Bajaj, Government policies for gender equality in India (2022) https://blog.ipleaders.in/government-policies-for-gender-equality-in-india/ (accessed on 12 September)