Empowering Woman - A Boon or a Bane.

History Of Empowering Women

Empowering women has a long history in India. Great social reformers in the past like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Acharya Vinobha Bhave, and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, etc abolished ghastly practices like Sati and child marriage and worked relentlessly in the past for the upliftment of women in India. In 1917, the Indian National Congress, one of the first political parties in India, demanded the inclusion of women in politics. Women's empowerment is well-integrated into the Indian constitution, which came into effect in 1950. Women have the right to equality guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution; Article 15(1) prohibits gender discrimination, and Article 15(3) empowers the state to take affirmative measures in favor of women. Some of the specific laws sanctioned by the Indian Parliament regarding women's rights include the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (prevention and protection act) of 2013. India launched its National Policy for Women Empowerment in 2001 with specific objectives like strengthening legal systems aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against women. Despite this, India still has a long way to go when it comes to women exercising their fundamental rights and enjoying their freedom equally with men. Although the Indian constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women, gender disparity persists both in urban and rural areas.

Current Statistics of India in Women Empowerment

With a female population of 48.4% (and a male population of 51.6%), India is on the cusp of growth, and women have a significant role to play in the economy. Patriarchy and gender inequality still plague Indian women. Women's inclusion in the job market in India is of paramount importance as well. In the corporate world, women are fighting for top positions and decision-making power, while in the rural world, women are still fighting for their freedom, basic amenities, and equal opportunities. In India, the literacy rate of the adult male population is 80.95 percent, whereas the literacy rate of the adult female population is disappointingly low at 62.84%. For most of their lives, rural Indian women lack basic formal education and are dependent on their husbands for financial support. In addition, rural Indian women face more domestic abuse and violence than their urban counterparts.

Why We Need To Empower Women

Women's empowerment is important because everyone should be able to have a significant role in society. Women's empowerment and gender equality have proven to be beneficial for the economy, for business, for a country's happiness, and even for men! Some societies still discriminate against women based on their gender. The same rights are not granted to women as to men. Among other things, they're still underpaid, expected to cook, clean, etc. Families and cultures still hold women to certain standards. For some Indian women, their parents or husband make all the decisions. They still don't allow women to study or work far from their homes because they believed that women were weaker than men and some husbands might get jealous.

Further, some Indian women marry at a young age, while others are forced to marry by their parents. Societies need to empower women. The issue is so important for women's self-esteem as well as for society as a whole. Women's empowerment is the right of women. In education, society, economy, and politics, women should have equal rights. It is important for women to be active in society because they have the freedom to choose their religion, language, work, and other activities. Women should have access to higher education like men do. With high-level education, they can complete their classes, learn the skill, and study whatever they like. In addition to being able to vote, women can also participate in politics through certain activities. Women's empowerment helps reduce domestic violence by promoting and valuing them. Women are not abused by any of these factors, such as sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or physical abuse. Many women nowadays are achieving the same level of success as men. Women have been promoted to become commune chiefs, leaders, and other high-ranking positions. Many women now participate in society in terms of politics, education, and economics.

5 Types Of Women Empowerment

Social Empowerment
An enabling force is that which strengthens women's social ties and their position in social structures. The purpose of social empowerment is to address the racial, ethnic, religious, and gender discrimination that exists in society. Often, empowerment is associated with feminism. The term empowerment is defined as "a multidimensional social process that helps people take charge of their own lives.". People gain control in their lives, their communities, and their society by taking charge of issues that matter to them.

Educational Empowerment
Higher education is traditionally viewed as an instrument of personal development. The program helps a person's intellectual horizons, wellbeing, and potential for empowerment to expand. Socio-Political and economic change cannot be accomplished without it. However, the picture of women's empowerment in India isn't always rosy. India was ranked 140th out of 156 countries in the United Nations Development Report recently released. The empowerment of women cannot take place without equal education for girls as well as boys. “Women need compulsory education so that they are aware of their rights and duties and provided with free legal aid so that they can fight their cases without struggling." An educated mother is one thousandfold superior to a mere lecturer. Through education, a person gains self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency. Hope is brought; social, political, intellectual, cultural, and religious awareness increases; an open mind is broadened; bigotry, narrow-mindedness, and superstition are removed; and neighborliness, tolerance is enhanced.

Economic Empowerment
Today, economic empowerment is a pressing need. For women, other rights and responsibilities are meaningless without economic independence. Generally, economic empowerment means that women of all ages and backgrounds in all societies will be able to benefit directly from the marketplace and household; can provide both square and nutritious food, as well as fulfill basic requirements such as a house, clothing, medicine, etc.

Political Empowerment
It is important to empower women by allowing them to participate in political and decision-making bodies. For women's actual empowerment, participation at all levels of governance is of utmost importance. In doing so, it encourages women to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to overcome obstacles in life and work and to ultimately develop within themselves or as a whole.

Psychological Empowerment
When women are empowered psychologically, they transcend traditional and patriarchal taboos and social obligations, as well as transform themselves and subjectivities. By joining educational institutions, political parties, or decision-making bodies; taking decisions and traveling to different locations; owning land and wealth, women become psychologically empowered and build their self-confidence, recognize their value, and take charge of their health and income. Taking part in any institution or job gives them the opportunity to see more of the world than those who remained at home.

What Would Happen If Women Are Empowered?

Women would no longer be fragile or dependent; they would no longer be victimized; they would no longer be abused if they ruled the world. Our goal is for women to be warriors. Women who are free and happy will know how to rule the world. Women in power make a big difference. By empowering women, businesses can reap substantial benefits in terms of economic growth, human development, and business benefits. In addition to better education and health, higher per capita income, faster and more inclusive economic growth, and greater international competitiveness, greater gender equality benefits a country.

Gender Equality is the only way to achieve greater and sustainable development in India and around the world.