Women empowerment

WOMEN EMPOWERMENTWOMEN EMPOWERMENTMrs. Sahbanthul Missiriya, M.A., M.Sc (N), M.A. Child care & Edu., Ph.DAssociate Professor,Community Health Nursing Department,Saveetha College of Nursing,Saveetha University, Chennai -77

Jawaharlal Nehru “You can tell the condition of the NATION by looking at the status of WOMEN.”

A clear vision is needed to remove the obstacles A clear vision is needed to remove the obstacles to the path of women's emancipation both from to the path of women's emancipation both from the government and women themselves. the government and women themselves.

In the past, women were treated as mere house-In the past, women were treated as mere house-makers.makers.

They were expected to be bound to the house, They were expected to be bound to the house, while men went out and worked. This is still in a while men went out and worked. This is still in a few parts of the country one of the major reason few parts of the country one of the major reason because of which certain evils took birth in our because of which certain evils took birth in our society child marriage, female infanticide, society child marriage, female infanticide, women trafficking. women trafficking.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

DEFINITIONDEFINITION Empowerment Empowerment is increasing the is increasing the

spiritual, political, social or economic spiritual, political, social or economic strength of individuals and strength of individuals and communities and often involves communities and often involves developing confidence in one’s own developing confidence in one’s own capacities. capacities.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT is the WOMEN EMPOWERMENT is the ability of women to exercise full ability of women to exercise full control over one’s actions. control over one’s actions.

India's Population: India's Population: 1.07 billion1.07 billion

Sex Ratio of Population: Sex Ratio of Population: 930 women per 930 women per 1000 1000 menmen Literacy rate : Literacy rate : Males : 75.96 % Males : 75.96 %

Females : 54.28 %Females : 54.28 %

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILEDEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

Often the lame excuse is women are the Often the lame excuse is women are the ‘weaker sex’!‘weaker sex’!

But biological evidence proves, due to the But biological evidence proves, due to the presence of two X hormones women are more presence of two X hormones women are more resistant to diseases compared to men. resistant to diseases compared to men.

Life expectancy is a proof of this. (In our Life expectancy is a proof of this. (In our country life expectancy of women is 65 country life expectancy of women is 65 whereas for men it’s only 60 years). whereas for men it’s only 60 years).

OBSTACLES & STRATEGIES TO OBSTACLES & STRATEGIES TO OVERCOMEOVERCOME

Built a constant rapport sharing the Built a constant rapport sharing the notable developments at the notable developments at the organizationorganization

Systematic reinforcement and Systematic reinforcement and perpetuation of traditional, male-perpetuation of traditional, male-dominateddominated

Attitudes by most of the subsystems of Attitudes by most of the subsystems of society : education, law, judiciary, society : education, law, judiciary, mediamedia

Working at curative & preventive levels Working at curative & preventive levels with varied target groupswith varied target groups

LEVELS OF WOMEN LEVELS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENTEMPOWERMENT

WelfareWelfare

AccessAccess

ConscientizationConscientization

Mobilization Mobilization

ControlControl

WELFAREWELFARE

Welfare means an improvement in socio-Welfare means an improvement in socio-economic status, such as improved economic status, such as improved nutritional status, shelter or income.nutritional status, shelter or income.

Here it is the zero level of empowerment, Here it is the zero level of empowerment, where women are the passive recipients where women are the passive recipients of benefits that are 'given' from on high. of benefits that are 'given' from on high.

Access to resources and services stands Access to resources and services stands for the first level of empowerment, since for the first level of empowerment, since women improve their own status, relative women improve their own status, relative to men, by their own work and organization to men, by their own work and organization arising from increased access to resources arising from increased access to resources and services. and services.

ACCESSACCESS

CONSCIENTIZATIONCONSCIENTIZATION

Conscientization is defined as the Conscientization is defined as the process, by which women collectively process, by which women collectively urge to act to remove one or more of the urge to act to remove one or more of the discriminatory practices that impede their discriminatory practices that impede their access to resources. access to resources.

Here, women form groups to understand Here, women form groups to understand the underlying causes of their problems the underlying causes of their problems and to identify strategies for action for and to identify strategies for action for gender equity.gender equity.

Mobilisation is the action level of Mobilisation is the action level of empowerment by forging links with the empowerment by forging links with the larger women's movement, to learn from larger women's movement, to learn from the successes of women's similar strategic the successes of women's similar strategic action elsewhere and to connect with the action elsewhere and to connect with the wider struggle.wider struggle.

MOBILIZATIONMOBILIZATION

CONTROLCONTROL

Control is the level of empowerment Control is the level of empowerment when women have taken action so that when women have taken action so that there is gender equality in decisions there is gender equality in decisions making over access to resources, so that making over access to resources, so that women achieve direct control over their women achieve direct control over their access to resources. access to resources.

STEPS TAKEN BY STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

The government has passed many laws The government has passed many laws so as to empower the women. These so as to empower the women. These rules have empowered them socially, rules have empowered them socially, economically, legally and politically.economically, legally and politically.

Not only the government but various Not only the government but various non-governmental organizations have non-governmental organizations have done a lot so as to improve the status of done a lot so as to improve the status of woman in our society. woman in our society.

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Mahatma Gandhi:- Mahatma Gandhi:- “If you educate a man “If you educate a man you educate an individual, you educate an individual, but if you educate but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” a woman you educate an entire family.”

Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t provide enough chances for women to have provide enough chances for women to have higher education even if they wish. higher education even if they wish.

Girls should be motivated to take up higher Girls should be motivated to take up higher education. Universal education for all below education. Universal education for all below 14 years should be strictly implemented. 14 years should be strictly implemented.

EVIL PRACTICESEVIL PRACTICES Child marriageChild marriages have also been stopped. s have also been stopped. Dowry systemDowry system still remains the major still remains the major

reason for all the discrimination and reason for all the discrimination and injustice shown to women. Dowry has injustice shown to women. Dowry has always been an important part of Hindu always been an important part of Hindu marriages. marriages.

Not only among Hindus, its evil tentacles Not only among Hindus, its evil tentacles are now spreading to other religions also. are now spreading to other religions also.

Although dowry was legally prohibited in Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961(Dowry Prohibition Act), it continues 1961(Dowry Prohibition Act), it continues to be highly institutionalized. to be highly institutionalized.

The Jogini system in Andhra Pradesh is The Jogini system in Andhra Pradesh is another social evil that requires to be another social evil that requires to be eliminated. eliminated.

In this system, women are forced to leave In this system, women are forced to leave their houses and follow the temple their houses and follow the temple concubine system. concubine system.

Then there are also other problems like Then there are also other problems like domestic violence to be eliminated. . domestic violence to be eliminated. .

““Bride Burning”, Bride Burning”, the burning of women the burning of women whose dowries were not considered whose dowries were not considered sufficient by their husband or in-laws. sufficient by their husband or in-laws. 

Most of these incidents are reported as Most of these incidents are reported as accidental burns in the kitchen or are accidental burns in the kitchen or are disguised as suicide.disguised as suicide.

It is evident that there exist It is evident that there exist

deep-rooted prejudices against deep-rooted prejudices against

women in India. women in India. It is to be eradicated completely.It is to be eradicated completely.

OCCUPATIONOCCUPATION

Women should be allowed to work and should Women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work. be provided enough safety and support to work.

Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as maternity relief, and other provisions should be maternity relief, and other provisions should be strictly followed.strictly followed.

Poverty eradication policies need to be Poverty eradication policies need to be implemented. Macro economic policies would implemented. Macro economic policies would help in this drive. Through economic help in this drive. Through economic empowerment women’s emancipation could be empowerment women’s emancipation could be realized. realized.

POLITICAL SYSTEMPOLITICAL SYSTEM Increased the participation of women in the political Increased the participation of women in the political

systemsystem

In Panchayat Raj System In Panchayat Raj System where women have been where women have been given representation as a sign of political given representation as a sign of political empowermentempowerment

There are many elected women representatives at the There are many elected women representatives at the village council level.village council level.

However their power is restricted, as the men However their power is restricted, as the men

wield all authority. Their decisions are often wield all authority. Their decisions are often

over-ruled by the government machinery. over-ruled by the government machinery.

TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENTTAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT

Mahalir Thittam:Mahalir Thittam: Mahalir Thittam is a socio-economic Mahalir Thittam is a socio-economic

empowerment programme for women empowerment programme for women implemented by Tamil Nadu Corporation for implemented by Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women Ltd. Development of Women Ltd.

Mahalir Thittam is based on Self Help Group Mahalir Thittam is based on Self Help Group (SHG) approach and is implemented in (SHG) approach and is implemented in partnership with Non Governmental partnership with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community based Organisations (NGOs) and Community based organizations. organizations.

The SHG approach was started in a small way in The SHG approach was started in a small way in Dharmapuri district in the year 1989.Dharmapuri district in the year 1989.

FOCUS AREAS:FOCUS AREAS:

1. Social and Economic Development2. Capacity Building3. Income Generating Activities4. Micro-Finance5. Micro-Enterprises6. Entrepreneur Development7. Vocational Training Programme8. Skill Development Programme9. News Letter:–Mutram10. E-Governance Activities

•Empowerment would become more relevant when women are actually treated as equal to men.

• Men are the only one who can earn a living for the family, has to be removed.

•Further, women should be better educated , better informed – only then can take rational decisions.

• Meanwhile, a woman needs to be physically healthy in order to work equally. This is sadly lacking in a majority of women especially in the rural areas.

• They have unequal access to basic health resources and lack adequate counseling.

• There is no doubt that the status of women has

improved a lot.

•Thus, a clear vision is needed to remove the obstacles to the path of women's emancipation both from the government and women themselves.

•Efforts should be directed towards all round development of each and every section of Indian women by giving them their due share.

•But despite all these measures there should be a strong But despite all these measures there should be a strong determination among every man that every woman in this determination among every man that every woman in this country should be honored. country should be honored.

•Only then empowerment in its true meaning will be realized. Only then empowerment in its true meaning will be realized.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION All this shows that the process of gender

equality and women's empowerment still has a long way to go and may even have become more difficult in the recent years.

Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda had said had said

“ “That country and That country and that nation which that nation which doesn’t respect doesn’t respect women will never women will never become great now become great now and nor will ever in and nor will ever in future” and in pursuit future” and in pursuit of making India a of making India a great nation, let us great nation, let us work towards giving work towards giving women their much women their much deserved status.deserved status.