WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: IS IT A MYTH IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

To begin, we must comprehend the fundamental meaning of the words "women empowerment," as many of us are perplexed by the primary goal concealed behind them, just as it had been the case with the term "feminism," which has lost the value it once had due to its usage for numerous selfish and greedy purposes or for personal sex advancement. Women's empowerment can be defined in a variety of ways because it includes a broad spectrum of ideas. The first, and most crucial idea, is to accept women's perspectives in all fields; to uphold women's rights to education, awareness, and literacy; to enable women to live their lives as they see fit; to be independent and free to pursue their goals and to be free from social pressure.

Women experience gender discrimination in our society and do not have the same rights as men. Women aren't allowed to lead their own independent lives because they are expected to mold into the role of a homemaker.

All these preconceived notions catalyze the patriarchal nature of society into further brewing inequalities between the opposite sex. The most common types of inequality in our culture are gender-based violence, financial discrimination, evil conventional customs, and sexual abuse.

If we talk about current statistics of women empowerment in this whole,

In contrast to what one might expect, domestic workers make up almost 60% of the women employed in the "service" sector. As the largest employer, the government of India employs 41.39 lakh women, who are each expected to receive an average of Rs 100 per day. These include Anganwadi workers, midday meal workers, and accredited social health activists (ASHAs), who help with childbirth, awareness-raising for women and adolescent girls, capacity building for these groups, and early childhood education. In a nutshell, women are the social sector's hands and feet. However, while working in appalling conditions, these women are not entitled to even the minimum pay, let alone social security or paid leave.

A society can only advance when all the members are on an equal footing and there is no place for bias, discrimination, or traditional values. The lives of all of us will be significantly improved when women are empowered and granted the rights that they are entitled to, as human beings. Sustainable economic gain, a huge workforce, children's bright future, and a healthy and happy environment are just a few benefits of having women lead society alongside males. True, males rule the globe, but women are advancing quickly and giving men a run for their money. It has not been an exception to the global trend of increasing growth in the proportion of women entrepreneurs throughout time.

Is Women Empowerment a Myth or Reality?

There have been significant developments in recent years, and we are now seeing an evolution in the way that all types of genders are treated equally, in terms of rights and authority on a global scale. Speaking about developing nations, women's empowerment is evident in every line of work, but it only affects a minority of the people, whose numbers are lower than those of males. Women can be seen carving out a place for themselves and making a name for themselves, but there are so many women out there who are victims of social injustices, which calls into question, the idea that women are empowering themselves. In the present world, all women are not the same, regardless of their caste, color, looks, educational level, or socioeconomic status, but at least the cases are publicized and people are more aware of them now than they ever were before. Rural women have particularly had numerous challenges since an early age. However, when it came to their empowerment, it couldn't happen in a split second; change must occur gradually.

It has long been the ideal illustration of a patriarchal society, where gender inequity has been entrenched for many years. The patriarchal system in India has been a major barrier to any woman's ability to live the life of her choosing and has never allowed women to feel empowered.

Since they lack financial independence, women continue to experience domestic violence, sexual assault, and life-controlling situations. If a woman doesn't receive the right education, it will be even harder for her to achieve financial independence and lead an independent life.

The greatest challenge for all women worldwide is economic deprivation, because it provides the other genders in society the ability to dominate them. Women around the world battle mightily to uphold their dignity in a variety of contexts.

But society has undergone a lot of changes during the last few years. The unmatched power and skills of women are helping them to thrive and successfully assert their own rights while inspiring others.

Domestic violence, sexual assault, and having their lives controlled are all issues that still affect women. The root cause of these issues is receiving inadequate education which prevents women from attaining financial independence. The biggest obstacle for any woman in the globe is economic inferiority since it provides the opposite gender in society the upper hand. Women around the world face significant challenges in upholding their dignity in many spheres of life.

Today, we can see how women labor in a variety of fields: sports, movies, education, business, domestic chores, adventures, and social work, to name a few. Women are becoming more and more powerful not just in India, but worldwide.

The idea of "empowerment" is an international concern, and talks about women's rights are prominent in many formal and unofficial movements around the world. At the 1985 international women's conference in Nairobi, the idea of women's empowerment was first presented. Five elements make up women's empowerment: —

1. The self-worth of women.

2. The freedom to choose and exercise decisions.

3. The right to resources and chances..

4. The freedom to live their own lives, both inside and outside of their houses.

5. Their capacity to shape social change to establish more equitable social and economic systems on a national and international scale.

Conclusion

Any group in a community cannot be considered empowered until they are granted equal protection under the law. Recognizing that all members of society have inherent dignity and unalienable rights is the cornerstone of freedom, justice, and brotherhood. The status and functions of women in our society have undergone some fundamental changes during the past few decades. Policy methods have changed through time, moving from the idea of "welfare" in the 1970s to "development" in the 1980s, and now to "empowerment" in the 1990s. Due to some groups of women becoming more aware of their prejudice in various spheres of family and public life, this trend has been further accelerated.

The goal is to disprove the stereotype that women are weak. The woman will need to gain empowerment for that. In this aspect, men must also contribute positively. Due to the variety of responsibilities that women play in their lives, they must respect them. None of her roles—mother, sister, wife, etc.—are more important than the others. She also needs to find her own strength. Only after that, will society significantly improve. Society must realize that women are not inferior to males in any way and that a woman has a compassionate heart rather than a soft one. Compassion is one of the many qualities that women excel in and that men can never fully possess. However, women would never describe themselves as "able," and the moment has come for them to take action and make an effort for both their individual advancement and the "upliftment" of society as a whole.

Cover Image Credits: Gates Archive/ Mansi Midha

About the author: Mansi Midha is pursuing BA in Economics, she likes to read and write on Medium, she is also a part of MUN organisation where she plays the role of U.S.G.