Social Empowerment of Women
Indicators of women’s social empowerment include the basis of gender inequality, sex ratios, life expectancy rates, and fertility rates that show the general status of women in terms of literacy, economic growth, availability of health care and birth control services, educational level of women, age at marriage, literacy rates and participation of women outside the home. Gender inequality is a global phenomenon and, apart from some Nordic nations, the basis of gender inequality is very poorly reflected in almost every major country in the world. The sex ratio is against women in Asia and although life expectancy has increased worldwide, including in Asia, the general situation of women in much of the world has not improved. The same is true of fertility rates that have decreased in some regions, including Asia, but the positive impact of this change on women around the world is not as much as desired. There is an obvious gender gap in terms of literacy rates, although it is narrowing across Asia. Figures for female literacy rates are not encouraging in the developing world. Now let’s focus on several issues that are closely associated with the social empowerment of women.
Women’s Social Empowerment: Ending Violence Against Women
Violence against women is a real fact and we must recognize the true tragedy behind this crime. It totally destroys women from the core, both psychologically and physically. It is time that community development and feminist values become an integral aspect of women’s empowerment. Women must be educated and aware of their rights and must be encouraged to stand united against the biased and discriminatory social environment that directly and indirectly affects their physical and psychological being. Education and awareness would go a long way towards combating gender-based violence. Only through education and awareness can we connect with the vast majority of women who live in various parts of the world and prevent them from falling into the myriad forms of violence possible in their lives. We have to accept the fact that women are constantly under threat of violence from various sides. The oppressive structures of society must be changed and the oppression of women must be stopped, but it will not happen through some quick fixes. Change can only be possible through the social empowerment of women at the grassroots level with education and awareness.
Social empowerment of women: Issues related to the social empowerment of women
When we talk about the social empowerment of women, we are actually addressing various issues that could be applicable to different parts of the world to improve the general condition of women. Among them, the outstanding issues are related to women’s education, women’s health, women’s nutrition, drinking water and sanitation for women and their families, housing and shelter for women and their families, environment and the link with women, the participation of women in the field of science and technology, attention to women in difficult circumstances, the fight against violence against women and the rights of the girl.
Social Empowerment of Women: Education for Women
We need to accept the fact that gender inequality and discrimination has been the norm in society and, in this sense, touches all aspects of women’s lives. The education and training of women is one of the main objectives of the social empowerment of women that must be universally applicable to all parts of the world. This will definitely improve the awareness of women which in turn will boost their confidence. A self-confident and conscientious woman could tackle inequality and discrimination in a much better way than an ill-equipped and ill-trained woman. But on the other hand, we have to accept the fact that women and girls never had the same access to education as men and boys. Illiteracy is the highest among women in the population. Women lag far behind in gaining employment or a vocation due to lack of training and education. There is a huge gender gap in secondary and higher education. Furthermore, religious and caste equations have made things worse in many parts of the world. The work has to start at the grassroots levels. Education systems must be made more accessible to women at the grassroots level and must be revamped to include a gender-sensitive education system that avoids sexual stereotyping and discrimination. Social organizations can play an important role in the universalization of education at the basic level. This can be achieved by increasing the enrollment and retention rates of girls in primary schools and providing them with quality education and skills so that they can stand up and live a life of dignity.
Women’s Social Empowerment: Women’s Health
When it comes to women’s health, we must understand that women face very difficult times at all stages of their life cycle. It is sad to note that a part of our society is very prejudiced against girls and in fact they can be labeled as criminals of the highest level as they practice the heinous crime of female feticide. Then we have the problem of high infant and maternal mortality and one of the main reasons for this is early child marriages. Quality health care for women is not available in many parts of the world. Women’s right to an informed choice regarding their reproductive rights is another area that needs attention. Speaking of reproductive rights, women don’t even have affordable options for family planning methods. Education and awareness about it is non-existent and null. Women are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and other endemic, infectious and communicable diseases. HIV/AIDS is another major problem. Women’s traditional knowledge of health care and nutrition, and alternative systems of medicine, are actually underutilized and unrecognized. These alternative systems need to be recognized and integrated with mainstream health care systems to work together. This will help provide reasonable and quality medical care to women.
Social Empowerment of Women: Nutrition, Drinking Water, Sanitation and Housing
For women, from the stage of infancy and childhood to the stage of adolescence and the reproductive phase, the risk of malnutrition is greater. There is a close link between the health of an adolescent becoming pregnant and nursing mother and the health of the nursing child. The macro and micro nutrients are necessary for these special conditions, but are not available to the vast majority of women. At home, women and girls face great discrimination when it comes to good, nutritious food. This happens in the early growth period of a child, as well as a pregnant and lactating woman. Other important problems are drinking water and sanitation, especially in rural areas and urban slums. Housing and shelter are also areas of focus that include adequate and safe accommodation for single women, female heads of household, female workers, students, apprentices and apprentices. These are very real problems of the very real world we live in. Without addressing these basic needs, we cannot think of any significant steps towards women’s social empowerment.
Social empowerment of women: Women and environmental conservation
The social empowerment of women and the environment are closely linked. Women can play an important role in the conservation and restoration of the environment. Rural women use unconventional and nature-friendly energy sources in the form of animal manure, crop residues and firewood. The use of solar energy, biogas and smokeless stoves can really help rural women as they can act as environmentally friendly tools.
Social empowerment of women: Participation of women in the development of science and technology
The empowerment of women cannot be complete without their equal participation in science and technology. Women have a special role to play in the area of science and technology. They can bring a wave of creative and generative energy in the field of science and technology. Today their participation is restricted and limited to a very small number due to widespread discrimination at basic education levels and the lack of opportunities for higher education. Reducing heavy work with the help of science and technology is another important area of importance to free women from endless housework and make them contribute to the mainstream of society.
Women’s Social Empowerment: Helping Women in Difficult Times
Women in difficult circumstances need special attention. These include women in extreme poverty, destitute women, women in conflict situations, women affected by natural calamities, women in less developed regions, disabled widows, elderly women, single women in difficult circumstances, female heads of households, women displaced from employment, migrant women victims of conjugal violence, abandoned women and prostitutes. These women find themselves in difficult circumstances that are not of their own making. They are the victims of the selfish streak of society. It is ironic to note that women become the main prayer for all the malice and sins of society. It is time to reverse this phenomenon. Organizations, especially grassroots social organizations, should come in great numbers to help these women who are on the receiving end of a sin that is not their fault.
Social empowerment of women: Fight against violence and discrimination
Violence against women is a heinous crime against humanity. Violence can be both physical and psychological and occurs both on the domestic front and at other levels of society. In fact, it is openly practiced in many societies through various forms including customs and traditions. Sexual harassment at work, dowry-related violence, and trafficking in women and girls are different types of violence against women. Discrimination against women begins when they are just children. Discrimination of girls is the most prevalent form of bullying seen from a boy’s early age. Parental sex selection, female feticide, female infanticide, child marriage, child abuse, including sexual and psychological abuse, and child prostitution are the many types of violence and discrimination against girls observed both at home and in society. It is necessary to formulate and implement special awareness and education programs at all levels to combat violence against women. It is necessary to formulate strict laws to combat the crime of violence against women. More than formulating the laws, the priority must be to implement and enforce these laws so that we can eradicate violence against women. This is necessary for any meaningful social empowerment of women.