Gender and Women Empowerment
Is reservation for women in parliament justified? Women empowerment and social issue, Status of women in Indian society.
What is empowerment for women?
The last decades have witnessed some basic changes in the status and role of women in our society. There has been shift in policy approaches from the concept of 'welfare' and 'development' to 'empowerment' of women. The most common explanation of 'women's empowerment' is the ability to exercise full control over one's actions. Are women free to take her own decisions?
Present status of women
The Constitution of India grants equality to women in different fields of life. Yet a large number of women are either ill outfitted or not in a position to drive themselves out of their usually unsatisfactory socio-economic conditions. They are poor, uneducated and inadequately trained. They are often absorbed in the struggle to sustain the family physically and emotionally and as a rule are discouraged from taking interest in affairs outside home. Oppression and atrocities on women are still out of control. Female infanticide continues to be common. Statistics show that there is still a very high preference for a male child in states like Harayana, UP, MP, Punjab , Bihar and Rajsthan etc. The male to female ratio is very high in these states. Domestic violence is also widespread and is also associated with dowry. Leaving a meager number of urban and sub-urban women, Indian women are still crying for social justice. Women make up 5o% of our country's population. Hence there can be no progress unless their needs and interests are fully met. Empowerment would not hold any meaning unless they are made strong, alert and aware of their equal status in the society. Policies should be framed to bring them into the mainstream of society. It is important to educate the women. The need of the hour is to improve female literacy as education holds the key to development. Empowerment would become more relevant if women are
What is empowerment for women?
The last decades have witnessed some basic changes in the status and role of women in our society. There has been shift in policy approaches from the concept of 'welfare' and 'development' to 'empowerment' of women. The most common explanation of 'women's empowerment' is the ability to exercise full control over one's actions. Are women free to take her own decisions?
Present status of women
The Constitution of India grants equality to women in different fields of life. Yet a large number of women are either ill outfitted or not in a position to drive themselves out of their usually unsatisfactory socio-economic conditions. They are poor, uneducated and inadequately trained. They are often absorbed in the struggle to sustain the family physically and emotionally and as a rule are discouraged from taking interest in affairs outside home. Oppression and atrocities on women are still out of control. Female infanticide continues to be common. Statistics show that there is still a very high preference for a male child in states like Harayana, UP, MP, Punjab , Bihar and Rajsthan etc. The male to female ratio is very high in these states. Domestic violence is also widespread and is also associated with dowry. Leaving a meager number of urban and sub-urban women, Indian women are still crying for social justice. Women make up 5o% of our country's population. Hence there can be no progress unless their needs and interests are fully met. Empowerment would not hold any meaning unless they are made strong, alert and aware of their equal status in the society. Policies should be framed to bring them into the mainstream of society. It is important to educate the women. The need of the hour is to improve female literacy as education holds the key to development. Empowerment would become more relevant if women are