EMPOWER WOMEN FOR DEVELOPMENT

Sir,

It is without doubt that women have always played a crucial role in different aspects of society and many studies have revealed that women empowerment and economic development are interrelated.

Due to such studies many policies both global and locally have been created to promote women empowerment in order to achieve economic development. When we talk about female empowerment initiatives this includes, investment in education, exposing women to workforce opportunities, finding ways to increase women’s self-esteem, increasing bargaining power and even providing them with credit market means.

However, it is important to take into account that some measures taken towards women empowerment may not always lead to economic empowerment in fact, many a research reveals the opposite.

However, I will be looking at the extent to which increasing a woman’s bargaining power within a household leads to economic development. Women empowerment is granting women the freedom to make the required life choices for themselves. Patriarchal society in most countries has been the main reason for discrimination against women in most of the countries all over the world. Hence, women empowerment has not been entirely accepted by most countries, and this is becoming a significant issue in the overall development of a nation. Preventing women from the rights that they deserve is derailing progress and development.

Women

It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing alone. Therefore, inclusion of women empowerment as one of the prime goals in sustainable development goals through equality, underscores the relevance of this fact. Thus, in order to achieve the status of a developed nation, economic empowerment should enable women to take greater financial risks, greater standards of development and more access to resources; it is not merely a marginal increase in income.
However, if economic empowerment has to translate into substantial change in power relations, the socio-political empowerment should take place simultaneously.

A nation’s competitiveness in the long-term depends on how it educates, trains and equips its women power potential talent base by providing them the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities as male counterparts.

Being a man or woman shapes one’s roles in society, whether in the labour market or among a family. These roles are dynamic and vary by society. Gender inequality can exist when gender roles support established injustices between men and women. Women are more susceptible to and are disproportionately affected by such inequalities. To challenge gender inequality, women must gain influence through a process of women’s empowerment. Empowerment has the capacity to challenge societal inequities such as gender inequality.

Inequality is a critical issue that affects more women than male counterparts in many spheres. Gender inequality is a form of legal discrimination towards women’s rights. In order to progress and grow as a community and society, gender equality needs to be acknowledged. By balancing the scales of equality, women and men will have an equal chance to contribute both at home and the workplace, thereby enhancing  individual well-being, and that of society.

Mphatso Kampeni
For feedback:  anneanachanza@gmail.com


Throughout the years and years that society has lived out today, men have undoubtedly been glorified and held in high esteem for their accomplishments, character, and influence. Man has become a symbol of power, with masculinity, associated with positive attributes such as strength, intelligence, and control. Femininity however, has been regarded as weak, superficial, and vacuous. Such an outlook on gender roles

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: