Despite gains from the women’s gender movement and states policy of women empowerment, gender equality is far from achieved. Identify two major challenges the prevent this goal from being reached. (UPSC CSE Mains 2017 - Sociology, Paper 2)
The two most important challenges in front of the gender equality perspective are
(i) Social Attitude and Lack of Awareness of Women
(ii) Lack of Leadership Roles/Lesser Political Representation.
(i) Social Attitude and Lack of Awareness of Women
- Despite pronounced social development and technological advancement, women in our society still continue to be victims of exploitation, superstition, illiteracy and social atrocities The social stigma that women are housekeepers and should be confined to the four walls of the house is perhaps a viable cause of gender disparity. In patriarchal society a lot of weightages is given to men.
- In the health and nutritional field, male members of family are supposed to take fresh and nutritious food in comparison to women because either they are earning members or head of the family.
(ii) Lack of Leadership Roles/Lesser Political Representation
- Although the Constitution of India removed gender inequalities, discrimination continues to be a widespread barrier to women''s political participation. A 2012 study of 3,000 Indian women found the barriers in participation, specifically in running for political office, in the form of illiteracy, work burdens within the household and discriminatory attitudes towards women as leaders.
- The burden of household duties is a significant reason why many Indian women do not participate in political activities. Unlike men, there are fewer opportunities for women to get involved in organizations to gain leadership skills.
- There are many more challenges that the country is still facing to achieve the goal of gender equality like education, health, economic opportunities, etc. But the societal attitudinal change is the key to fight against all these gender prejudices.
- Secondly, leadership roles can give the women the desired self-respect so that they can boost themselves up and contribute well to the development of the society and the country.
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