Women empowerment is a prerequisite for the progress and prosperity of any society. What does women empowerment actually mean? Women empowerment has two interrelated dimensions: personal independence and social responsibility. In this context, women empowerment refers to creating a conducive and supportive environment in which women can make decisions about their own lives and contribute to social, economic, political and developmental aspects.
Personal independence includes women’s ability to make choices and decisions about their private lives, healthcare, education and well-being, free from coercion, violence and discrimination. Social responsibility includes women’s ability to realise their inherent human potential and to contribute to society by participating in decision-making processes and to exercise leadership. It includes women’s involvement in the social, economic, political and developmental aspects of society and their ability to affect positive change.
To assess the level of women’s empowerment in a society, several key indicators can be looked at. These include women’s relative voice in political, economic and social issues, as well as the levels of freedom, discrimination and patriarchy. Political aspects include voting rights and political participation, representation in public offices and decision-making positions, influence on policy-making and legislation, access to political education and training, leadership and capacity building, and efforts to encourage women to run for office. Economic aspects include access to employment opportunities and training, job security and protection from workplace discrimination, ownership and control of assets and property, support for entrepreneurship and business development, increased participation in the formal economy, and access to social security and benefits.
Access to health care and reproductive services, education and knowledge, freedom of thought, religion and expression are all important indicators of women’s empowerment in a country. Furthermore, the level of gender stereotypes, patriarchy, harmful trends, chauvinistic social norms, prevalence of domestic violence and recognition of women’s contribution to society are also important social indicators of women’s empowerment. Strong political, social and economic indicators indicate a high level of women’s empowerment in a society.
However, when most indicators suggest that the outlook for society is bleak, women empowerment is just a myth. One may wonder what factors are hindering women empowerment in society. Lack of participation and bleak outlook in all aspects of society, politics and economy are hindering women empowerment. Moreover, pervasive harmful patriarchy, gender bias and outdated and inhumane practices also prevent women from being empowered in society.
Lack of women’s empowerment has serious consequences at both individual and societal levels. Women face political marginalization, adverse economic conditions, and social discrimination. The effects of these discriminations can manifest as sexual harassment, domestic violence, and physical violence such as honor killings. Structurally, it leads to lack of political representation, economic dependency, limited access to education and healthcare, and limited opportunities. Rigid gender roles, discriminatory property rights, and social prejudices all contribute to a patriarchal environment. At the national level, such societies stagnate as women’s talents and potential are underutilized.
Women’s empowerment requires a multi-pronged approach. First, it is crucial to increase women’s participation in all aspects of society. This includes politics, the economy, the social sector and development initiatives. By giving them a greater voice, women can contribute their unique perspectives and talents to the country’s development. Second, it is essential to dismantle patriarchal structures and discriminatory practices. This means tackling harmful stereotypes, harmful social norms and all forms of discrimination that women face at all stages. Only by dismantling these barriers can women fully contribute to inclusive development.
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