EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMY

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1 EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMY Dr. Anju B. Nandrajog Assistant Professor, Dev Samaj College for Women, Ferozepur ABSTRACT This paper attempts to analyze role of Women Empowerment in development of the economy and highlights the different approaches for Women Empowerment. Today the empowerment of women has become one of the most important concerns of 21st century. We are celebrating international women s day, but practically women empowerment is still an illusion of reality. We observe in our day to day life how women become victimized by various economic evils. Women Empowerment is the vital instrument to expand women s ability to have resources and to make strategic life choices. Empowerment of women is essentially the process of upliftment of economic, social and political status of women, the traditionally underprivileged ones, in the society. It is the process of aware and protects them against all forms of violence. The study is based on purely from secondary sources. The study reveals that women are relatively disempowered and they did not enjoy somewhat equal status than that of men in spite of many efforts undertaken by Government. The study concludes by an observation that women voice in decision making, ending violence and promoting women economic empowerment are only the enabling factors to Women Empowerment. Key Words: Economic Development, Gender Equality, Violence, Women Empowerment, I CONCEPT OF EMPOWERMENT Empowerment is a multi-folds process, which should enable women or group of women to realize their full identity and power in all spheres of life (Surekharao and Rajamanamma, 1999). It consists that women should greater access to knowledge and resources, greater autonomy in decision making, rising voice against violence to enable them to have greater ability to plan their lives or to have greater control over the real circumstances that put a greater influence on their lives and free them from all shocks imposed on them through custom, belief, tradition and practice etc.. Generally development with justice is expected to generate the forces that lead to empowerment of various sections of population in a country and to raise their status specially in case of women. Empowerment comes from 51 P a g e

2 Women s groups who seek to empower themselves through greater self-reliance. They have right to determine their own choices in life. They also seek to gain control and access to resources. Empowerment is process, which helps people to gain control of their lives through raising awareness, taking action and working in order to exercise greater control. Empowerment is the feeling that activates the psychological energy to accomplish one s goals (Indiresan, 1999). Empowerment of women is essentially the process of upliftment of economic, social and political status of women, the traditionally underprivileged ones, in the society. It is the process of guarding them against all forms of violence. Women empowerment involves the building up of a society, a political environment, wherein women can breathe without the fear of oppression, exploitation, apprehension, discrimination and the general feeling of persecution which goes with being a woman in a traditionally male dominated structure. II REVIEW OF LITERATURE A number of studies have been undertaken on women empowerment at the global level and in India. Some studies dealt on methodological issues, some on empirical analysis and some others on the measures and tools of empowerment. Moser (1993) studied on the interrelationship between gender and development, the formulation and the implementation of gender policy, planning and practices. Shields (1995) explained an exploratory framework to understand and develop the concept of empowerment from both the perspective that are a theoretical and practical with a particular focus on women s perception about empowerment in their lives. Anand and Sen (1995) focused to develop a measure of gender inequality. Similarly Dijkstra and Hanmer (2000) assessed that GDI conflates relative gender equality with absolute levels of human development and thus gives no information on comparative gender inequality among countries. The paper was concluded by offering a conceptual framework that provides the basis for an alternative measure of gender inequality. Malhotra et al (2002) in their paper highlighted methodological issues of measurement and analysis of women empowerment. Dijkstra in 2006 argued that UNDP should take the lead in either constructing a new index for measuring gender equality or elaborating a revised GDI and GEM. He made a detailed recommendation for both the possibilities on the basis of a brief review of alternatives presented in the literature. Klasen (2006) suggested some modifications to the measures that addressed some of the identified problems associated with GDI and GEM. Schüler (2006) reviewed how the two indexes were used in academia and the press and revealed that the GDI in particular seems to be a measure that was not used appropriately. In most cases of misuse, the GDI was wrongly interpreted as a measure of gender inequality. Beteta (2006) in his paper argued that the GEM is an incomplete and biased index on women s empowerment and measures inequality among the most educated and economically advantaged and fails to include important non-economic dimensions of decision-making power both at the household level and over women s own bodies and sexuality. Barkat (2008) discussed the present status of women in Bangladesh opined that although women as mothers are held in high respect at the individual level, there was an unclear understanding of 52 P a g e

3 empowerment of women as a process of awareness and capacity building leading to greater participation in decision making and control over her own life. III OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY To discuss the role of Women Empowerment in the development of the Economy To discuss the priorities and approaches to empower women. To study, how the gender equality is helpful for economic development. IV ROLE OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Experience over recent decades demonstrates that gender equality, economic growth and development are mutually reinforcing and significantly correlated. The relationship runs in two directions. First, gender equality and empowering women contribute to growth, development and stability. Global gross domestic product could rise, if women and men entrepreneurs could participate equally in the economy. Women could increase their income by up to 76 per cent if the employment participation gap and wage gap between men and women were closed. Women who are better educated have fewer, healthier and better-educated children, which reduce dependency burdens and increases savings. Female farmers provided with equal access to resources could reduce under-nutrition for an estimated 100 to 150 million people. Greater gender equality contributes to stability and peace. Women are often instrumental in brokering ceasefires in conflict situations, and peacekeeping operations involving women as soldiers, police and civilian personnel are more effective. Greater equality can prevent disputes escalating to armed conflict. Violence against women undermines a community s social fabric and prevents women and economic equality. from achieving social Second, economic growth, development and globalisation can provide opportunities to reduce inequality between women and men. However, growth alone will not deliver gender equality; much depends on the kind of growth, the nature of the economy, a country s policy settings, and political will. 53 P a g e

4 V PRIORITIES AND APPROACHES Three priorities will guide our work on gender equality. These are connected and mutually reinforcing and apply across many contexts. We will consider funding explicit investments or streams within investments to address these priorities. We will create opportunities to engage on them in our foreign policy and economic diplomacy work and report regularly against them. In multilateral flora we can take a lead to provide opportunities for women s leadership and active participation. Our human resource development programs can promote equal employment opportunities and our investments in trade and economic sectors can implement a zero tolerance approach to violence against women among employees. 5.1 Enhancing women s voice in decision-making, leadership and peace-building Women s participation in decision-making, leadership and peace-building is important as a right in itself. Women also bring particular perspectives, priorities and strengths resulting from their life experiences, which are often different from men s. This means they are likely to make different decisions, with women leaders responding more strongly to women s policy priorities. Private sector businesses that have female leaders tend to deliver stronger financial performance. Where women s representation in leadership and formal decision-making is low, the role of women s organisations and coalitions is particularly crucial for ensuring women s perspectives are heard. The key factor in countries delivering legislation that criminalizes violence against women is the presence of strong women s organisations. Women can and do play a key role in conflict prevention, peace negotiations and peace building, but too often are excluded from these efforts. In our work in situations of conflict and fragility, it is important that we ensure women participate, recognising women can be powerful agents for change. Building gender equality into reconstruction efforts can help to ensure more lasting peace. 5.2 Promoting women s economic empowerment Women s economic participation helps to drive growth at a national level and reduce poverty within communities and households. Societies that make better use of the skills, talents and time of all members will more likely prosper. Women are often more likely than men to use income to support development outcomes within their families. Increasing women s earnings can strengthen their hand in decision-making in their households. Women remain poorer than men globally, so in promoting economic growth internationally, work is needed to ensure women can participate in economic life and benefit equitably from doing so. This can promote equality and lead to empowerment, although often it merely increases women s time burdens and contributes to increased exploitation and violence. Careful analysis and considered interventions are needed so women s economic 54 P a g e

5 participation is empowering and does not exacerbate inequalities or place unfair burdens on women and their children. Accelerating women s participation in the paid workforce reflects the G20 commitment to close the gap between women s and men s participation rates by 25 per cent by A focus on women s formal sector workforce participation in development program, economic diplomacy and global and regional flora is important to support this and ensure that developing nations do not fall further behind. Investing in women s employment is not only the right thing to do it s also essential for business. Companies that learn to effectively develop and retain women employees will gain a huge competitive advantage. Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group President Women comprise nearly half of the world s agricultural workers but have less access than men to productive resources and opportunities. Improving women s access could increase women s agricultural yields by 25 to 30 per cent and increase agricultural output in developing countries between 2.5 and 4 per cent. 5.3 Ending Violence against Women and Girls Violence against women and girls is pervasive and persistent throughout the world and a significant human rights violation. Violence against women and girls takes many forms including: violence in the home, sexual abuse of girls at school, sexual harassment at work and in the streets, rape by husbands or strangers, child marriage, acid attacks, trafficking of women and female genital mutilation. In conflict situations, rape is often used as a tactic of war and women and girls can be over-represented among displaced populations. Women and girls with disabilities are more likely to experience violence and face additional barriers in seeking justice and support. Boys are also at increased risk of certain types of gendered violence and exploitation, such as through labour involving significant risks to their health and safety. Violence or the fear of violence restricts women s lives and opportunities and constrains development. It causes trauma and limits women s social, political and economic participation. It can have a lifelong impact on women s children. It creates significant strain on national economies with escalating costs in health care, social services, policing and the justice system. In the aftermath of natural disasters and during conflicts, rates of sexual and gender-based violence increase. An effective response to ending violence against women is based around improved quality services and responses, access to justice, and prevention. Integrated responses that account for diverse forms of violence against women and girls are crucial. In any response, it is paramount to focus on the safety of survivors of violence and their children. Ensuring protection during humanitarian responses is also essential. 55 P a g e

6 VI INTEGRATING GENDER EQUALITY ACROSS DEVELOPMENT To integrate gender equality across all sectors and investments the following steps should be taken into consideration. 6.1 Identify key challenges, opportunities and the gender equality context of each country It is necessary to assess the key challenges, opportunities and the gender equality context of partner countries, given how deeply embedded gender inequality is in all societies. Before committing to programing, and during implementation, understand where women and men stand in that context, how they benefit or are disadvantaged, the barriers to gender equality and how need to address these. It is essential to integrate gender equality into all of our analysis, including on growth and political economy, and draw on specific gender analysis. This analysis may be available or need to commission work, depending on the nature of the intervention, the sector and the scale of programing. Therefore: always draw on gender analysis, as part of other analysis or as a stand-alone analysis consider the three priorities that guide our work in the context think about how gender norms and political dynamics affect program outcomes or progress towards equality identify barriers to gender equality and women s empowerment identify and manage risks to gender equality. 6.2 Identify appropriate interventions Firstly, decide if gender equality considerations are best addressed through integration within a mainstream investment or through a stand-alone investment. It is necessary to identify partners and champions as well as those who might resist change. In deciding on the most appropriate intervention, we need to determine opportunities that exist against this strategy s three priorities to ensure women can benefit from our interventions along with men. We must therefore: be clear about the results we can realistically achieve at investment level use adequate gender expertise when making programing decisions at all stages of the development cycle. 6.3 Make gender equality actions explicit in all documents and processes It is necessary to make explicit commitment to promoting gender equality and women s empowerment in all guiding documents and processes, at both investment and activity level, to be able to deliver on our gender equality objectives. Therefore: 56 P a g e

7 consider a gender equality objective in aid investment plans, particularly where gender inequality will likely be a constraint on our ability to achieve development results Clearly explain in concept and design documents what actions will take to advance gender equality ensure that gender equality aims are reflected explicitly in investment objectives explicitly address gender equality in implementing documentation, including scope of services, contracts and grant agreements, to clarify our intentions to implementing partners. 6.4 Provide adequate resources We must ensure adequate time and funding to advance gender equality and women s empowerment. Therefore: cost and adequately fund gender equality interventions allocate sufficient time to deliver on gender equality commitments include resourcing in program and human resource plans build accountability into contractor and personal performance agreements. 6.5 Build gender equality and women s empowerment explicitly into monitoring, evaluation and learning processes We must monitor gender equality outcomes and, where there are no separate gender equality objectives, assess impacts on gender equality through mainstream programing and learning processes. Therefore: build gender equality into performance assessment frameworks in aid investment plans and include gender equality results in annual program performance reviews include adequate targets and indicators for gender equality in all monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks make gender equality an explicit focus of investigation in all our reviews and evaluations make sure we deliberately capture and report on gender equality results and learning. 6.6 Make sure investments are coherent and aligned We must make sure that investments are coherent and aligned. We will build on results to accelerate progress. Within each country or regional program, our investments should add up to a co-ordinated gender equality endeavour. We must therefore: ensure our gender equality interventions across investments in a country or region add up to a coherent program of work aligned with local priorities 57 P a g e

8 share learning and results across investments within a program flexibly address constraints or grasp opportunities as they arise build on our work in other sectors build on the work of our development partners where possible. 6.7 Support women s organisations and coalitions We should support women s organisations and coalitions, including women entrepreneurs, associations and service providers for women. Each of our partner countries has women s organisations or coalitions committed to equality. These can play a key role in supporting women s rights and in delivering services to women, particularly for disadvantaged and difficult to reach women. They play a role in helping women access and influence government and in raising community awareness of gender equality. VII FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS To tackle the areas of inequality the following suggestions are found from the present study. We should Advocacy to protect gender equality through international and national policy reform such as develop and implement equal opportunity policies and develop new tools for better analysis and statistics of national and international policymaking. We should provide greater access to assets and economic opportunities for women through improved access to financial institutions for women, improved access to water, energy, sanitation, transport and reform of land and inheritance laws. We should also put some efforts for adherence to core labour standards and development of family-friendly practices. We should provide more equality for women in human development areas such as education and healthcare through removing gender barriers to education, policies/programmes to bring down maternal mortality and increase access to reproductive services and improve the national statistics system to provide sex-disaggregated data across all key social indicators. We should also make efforts for more participation of women in decision-making and leadership roles for capacity-building and other support to women s organisations, electoral and other reforms to increase women s participation in public life and public awareness campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes. It is also found necessary to increase women s personal security and reduce violence against women through reform and strengthen criminal and civil law, raise awareness of women s rights among the police and judiciary, through public information campaigns and support to women s organisations. It is advised to promote women s participation in government and civil society through civil service and public spending reforms to establish and support appropriate government structures and strengthening the role of civil society organisations in advancing gender equality. 58 P a g e

9 We should also promote equality of women under the law through reform and strengthen criminal and civil law, support to legal literacy programmes and training and capacity-building for the police, judiciary and civil society organisations. It is also suggested to reduce gender stereotyping and bring about changes in social attitudes towards women through support to media projects and campaigns, including gender training for journalists and programmemakers, to women s organisations and create awareness among policymakers and political leaders. We should provide gender-aware approaches to management of the environment through gender-aware planning and women s participation in the development of strategies for sustainable development, strengthen tenure and common property rights in line with gender equity and ensuring that local planning and access to natural resources are gender-aware. We should uphold the rights of boys and girls in the Convention on the Rights of the Child in improved data, research and statistics and support programmes to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. VIII CONCLUSION This is the dire need of the hour is to identify those loopholes or limitations which are observing the realization of empowerment of women and initiative must be started from the women folk itself as well as more importantly policy initiative taken by the state and society at global level. Women s empowerment is not one house story, it is for every women all over the world, including countries in South, have been challenging and changing gender inequalities since the beginning of the history. These struggles have also been supported by many men who have been outraged at injustice against women. Women represent half the world s population and gender inequality exists in every nation on the planet. Until women are given the same opportunities that men are, entire societies will be destined to perform below their true potentials. The greatest need of the hour is change of social attitude towards women. When women move forward the family moves, the village moves and the nation movement will also start. It is essential as their thought and their value systems lead the development of a good family, good society and ultimately a good nation. Women empowerment will be real and effective only when they are endowed income and property so that they may stand on their feet and build up their identity in the society. Government 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 social, political and economic life of the country with a sense of equality. REFERENCES [1] Action aid, 2015, Close the Gap! The cost of inequality in women s work, p. 9. [2] Boston Consulting Group, Bridging the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap, p. 3. [3] C Lindsey, Women Facing War, International Committee of the Red Cross (2001). [4] Duflo E. (2011) Women s empowerment and economic Development, national Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge. 59 P a g e

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