Promoting Gender Equality Essay

For centuries wo custody were non treated contact to manpower in galore(postnominal) ways. They were non allowed to own property, they did not become a Sh ar in the property of their pargonnts, they had no voting rights, they had no unthawdom to choose their gain or job and so on. like a shot that we fill come out of those dark days of oppression of women on that point is a need for strong movement to fight for the rights of women and to ensure that they adopt all the rights which men have or in other speech a movement for the Empowerment of Women. The present seminar has been planned with a visit to discuss the various issues related to the Empowerment of Women and to suggest broadsides for achieving this end.The body of enquiry on womens authorization has conceptualized and defined this construct in many ways and aimd distinct terms, often inter alternateably, including autonomy, stead, and agency (Lee-Rife and Edmeades 2011 Malhotra et al. 2002 Upadhyay and Hindi n 2005).see muchexamples of sex compareA review of the literature also shows different measures for the aforementi oned(prenominal) conceptualization. For example, studies often measure womens autonomy with an might that assesses their fellowship in stopping point-making in various kinsfolk issues. This index represents womens full point of take in over their environment. Some researchers include both major and minordecisions, age others include only major decisions, excluding day-to-day household decisions and those that are handed-downisticly within the womans domain. Womens empowerment encompasses many dimensions, including economic, socio-ethnical, familial/interpersonal, reasoned, political, and psychological (Malhotra et al. 2002), which contributes to the wide-eyed chromosomal mutation in conceptualizations of womens empowerment. Given this variation in conceptualization, it is difficult to measure womens empowerment consistently. Kabeer (2001), whose definiti on is wide accepted, defines empowerment as the expansion of peoples ability to work up st driftgic life choices in a context where this ability was antecedently denied to them.Two central comp anents of empowerment are agency and options needed to economic consumption life choices (Kabeer 2001 Malhotra et al. 2002). in time with a clear definition, these constructs are difficult to specify in a standardized way.Additionally, to measure empowerment at an both(prenominal)body level, researchers must(prenominal)iness translate the amorphous constructs into a set of specific questions that population-based surveys house ask of individual respondents (Kishor and Subaiya 2008). Another scrap is the variation in cultural contexts that affect the measurement of womens empowerment. It is desirable to use standardized questions that alter cross-cultural comparisons of empowerment.Yet a measure that captures empowerment in one context may have limited relevance in another, as is t he case with measures that assess mobility in a community where womens free movement is the norm. While many existing measures of empowerment were originally conceptualized and unquestionable for the context of Asia, and for South Asian countries in particular (Dyson and Moore 1983 Mason 1987), measures that are universally applicable regardless of the sexual activity equity environment, such as those used in Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), are most reusable for cross- national comparisons.Using the uncommitted standardized measures of womens empowerment among several population-based samples from sub-Saharan Africa will allow us to make comparisons and better understand whether the available measures adequately capture empowerment in these settings. It is still unknown whether the same dimensions of empowerment that were essential elsewhere are relevant in sub-Saharan Africa, where the sexuality environment is completely different than in other regions. In Africa, empow erment is presumable to look different than elsewhere because of such differences as more working women who have control over their earnings, more polygamy, more nuclear families (as opposed to extended families), and larger ideal family size, and because womens status is often tied to their magnificence.EMPOWERMENT AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHA across-the-board body of research exists on womens empowerment and procreative outcomes. meaty research, primarily focused on Asia, demonstratethat womens empowerment is associated with contraceptive use (Gwako 1997 Morgan and Niraula 1995 Schuler et al. 1997 Woldemicael 2009), lower fertility (Balk 1994 Dyson and Moore 1983 Hindin 2000), and longer birth intervals (Upadhyay and Hindin 2005). Some researchers have suggested that womens empowerment is a key pathway by which precept influences fertility (Jejeebhoy 1995 Mason 1987). To operationalize womens empowerment, much of the research literature uses the previously mentioned index of pa rticipation in house holddecision-making.The standard DHS questionnaire includes a set of questions to the highest degree household decision-making. Other approaches include assessing womens acceptance of reasons that a married man is justified for beating his wife, and also reasons that a wife is justified in refusing sex with her husband (Ethiopian Society of community Studies 2008). The DHS includes questions about these issues. Such gender-role attitudes measure the extent of womens acceptance of norms that justify mens control over women. As expected, they are associated with lower levels of power over household decision-making among women (Dhaher et al. 2010 Hindin 2003 Linos et al. 2010).MAJOR OBSTACLES TO THE PROMOTION OF GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENTNotwithstanding the far-flung commitment shown through the ratification of internationalistic and regional gender compare frameworks, normative gains are not yet fully reflected in tangible changes in womens lives, as sho wn in the preceding section. Large gaps expect between indemnity and practice and it is the aim of this section to discuss some of the major argufys that have been experienced. continue bearing of strong cultural and traditional practices constraining progress in achieving gender parity The go along front line of long standing cultural and traditional practices that discriminate against women and girls have encumber the progress towards achieving gender par. Discriminatory practices and public attitudes towards the advancement of women and gender equality have not changed at the same pace as policy, legal and institutional frameworks.Lack of ratification of the instruments that advertize gender equality antecedent sections have identified the status with respect to a number of regional instruments, particularly the African Womens Protocol. Some countries are yet to singularity this instrument, while a considerable number are yet to sustain it. Ineffective institutional an d policy effectuation mechanisms Thirteen years by and by the adoption of the BPFA by the Fourth World assemblage on Women in 1995, the greatest challenge facing countries and regional institutions is the effective implementation of the follow commitments. Good policies that do not have well formulated implementation plans and resources render the policies ineffective. In some countries, the capacity of gender machineries has also contributed to the thudding pace.Some policies are not effectively implemented because they were not developed in a participatory way inclusive of both men and women. Lack of targets with well defined time-frames are also some of the factors that have hampered effective implementation of policies. Lack of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms also reckons a significant role in the miss of implementation. Moreover, some policies tend to focus on the symptoms rather than addressing the persistent underlying causes of gender inequality. African women, oddly those living in rural communities and those with disabilities, still face exclusion from participate in development processes that can empower them and improve gender equality. It is all alpha(p) to undertake inclusive participatory approaches in policy development that involve women as equal partners.Lack of adequate resourcesLack of human and financial resources severely limits gender mainstreaming to achieve gender equality and womens empowerment. Even in situations where a comprehensive plan of action for gender mainstreaming has been developed, countries may not have adequate resources to implement the plan. In particular field of study grammatical gender Machineries (NGMs) experience limited financial and other material resource base to enhance the implementation of gender equality mandates, roles and responsibilities. In addition, in that location are gaps in human capacity, thither is generally a challenge with respect to gender competence skills of officers in the NGMs to influence the engendering of macro-economic and sector policy frameworks. There is high lag turn over of experts, and low staff retention, most countries are facing difficulties of retaining and sustaining staff with the necessary expertise.Continued presence of strong cultural and traditional practices constraining progress in achieving gender parity in education In taking decisions with respect to the education of their children, some families continue to have preference for educating boys rather than girls. As say female-to-male school enrolment, retention and completion favor boys in a majority of countries. Very few countries have female to male enrolment rates that favor girls over boys and these countries have been making progress to redress the situation. Continued presence of strong cultural and traditional practices constraining progress in achieving gender parity in health Some cultural and traditional practices continue to inhibit progress in the area of s exual and reproductive rights. Women and girls continue to risk death from maternal mortality.There is need to stick out get atible sexual and reproductive healthcare services and education to lose weight maternal mortality. Such interventions need to address the roles of both men and women. The rate of HIV infection is much higher among women than men and in this regard, governments must establish and monitor strict legal frameworks to address the vulnerability of women and girls. Furthermore, access to anti-retroviral treatment should be ensured. Lack of enforcement of laws that promote gender equality and lack of knowledge of laws In some countries laws that promote gender equality are in place, however lack of enforcement of such laws leads to the perpetuation of gender inequalities and force play against women. In some countries, laws are in place, but interpretation of these laws is lacking(p) and as such, they are not enforced.Lack of full involvement of men and boysChan ging cultural and traditional beliefs including patriarchy requires the involvement of men, and boys in the advancement of gender equality through innovative rights-based, culturally sensitive programmes and continued education and sensitization.Continued lack of identification of womens unpaid workThe continued lack of recognition of unpaid work (domestic, reproductive, care and support) performed by women hampers the development of policies that can effectively promote gender equality. There is accordingly need for such work to be given due recognition in the computation of national income.Limited role of the mediaThe media can play a major role in promoting gender equality beyond what it is currently doing. In particular in creating awareness, sensitization and education campaigns to change patriarchal attitudes. As noted before establishing new laws alone is not enough existing gendered social relations and cultural norms may quickly shape these laws. There is need for measu res to counter preexisting social forces through education and training of both men and women. The media can make a major contribution towards promoting these gender equality messages.Lack of sex disaggregated and gender responsive dataSex-disaggregated data and culture from gender-sensitive indicators are often not collected, lost in aggregation of published data, or not used. sexuality responsive data would facilitate in tracking the progress do towards achievement of gender equality.SUGGESTED RECOMMENDATIONSTranslation of commitments and policies promoting gender equality and womens empowerment into action on the ground remains a major challenge in Africa. Based on the findings of this study, this section highlights some recommendations that can help countries boomingly implement the commitments and policies aimed at promoting gender equality and womens empowerment. ameliorate research and collection of gender responsive statistical data It is important to systematically co llect accurate sex and gender disaggregated data and place research that is essential for monitoring and evaluating progress towards achievement of gender equality and womens empowerment.More efforts are needed to build capacity of national experts to collect gender disaggregated data in order to enhance integrating of gender perspectives in the development process. Strengthen documentation and dissemination of culture on promoting gender equality and womens empowerment Sharing of information is important within countries, between countries and internationally and is critical to the success of achieving gender equality and womens empowerment. There is need to intensify documentation of experiences with successful and unsuccessful practices and widely disseminate this information. It is important for member States, development partners and international and regional bodies to identify information exchange systems that can facilitate wide exchange of this information in the region. CONCLUSIONThe Empowerment of women has become one of the most important Concerns of 21st century not only at national level but also at the international level. Efforts by the Govt. are on to ensure gender equality but governing initiatives alone would not be sufficient to achieve this goal. Society must take initiative to create a climate in which there is no gender discrimination and Women have full opportunities of Self decision making and participating in the Social, Political and frugal life of the outlandish with a sense of equality.As countries around the world work to promote gender equality and empower women as part of achieving the Millennium ripening Goals, it can be expected that demand for smaller families will follow. Additionally, family training programs can address womens empowerment as part of their committee to help women and couples have only the number of children they want. Such programs are likely to generate interest in family planning services, creat e demand for smaller families, and also reduce unwanted fertility.REFRENCES_Abadian, S. 1996. Womens Autonomy and Its Impact on Fertility. World emergence 24(12)1793-1809._Gwako, E.L. 1997. 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