The 5 Es to break the bias and promote women empowerment – Times of India

We are living with a misconception that women are born to be homemakers, to manage the family, take care of their children. But, we ignore the other side of the women that they too have skills, knowledge and passion to work and grow ahead in life. This International Womens day 2022, we celebrated with the tagline Break the Bias and we are celebrating the ideas, concepts, believes, practices which encourage equal, equitable participation of women like men. But practically, things are not that easy to follow. Because, in all the parts of the world, the women are still neglected, ignored, underpaid, abused and what not. In this patriarchal society women needs are undermined as if they are not equal to their male counterparts. The empowerment and autonomy of women as well as the improvement of their economic, social, political status is highly important as it is essential for the achievement of the sustainable development. To break the bias its necessary to open avenues for women education, awareness, economic independence as women empowerment is possible through achieving the above goals.

In different parts of the world women are threatened and faced challenges on the grounds of health and their well-being as a result of being overburdened with work along with their lack of involvement, decision making power, influence and lack of power. In many cases, a woman in spite of doing a job is bound to execute all the household chores while a man being in job enjoys some freedom, space as there is no extra burden of work on him like on a woman. Many educated wives are forced to put an end to their careers, many are mentally and physically tortured for not giving birth to a male child, and many are physically abused. If nobody is there to stand for her, the time has come that she must come forward for herself. It has been observed that in most of the cases if a woman is earning then her husband and other family members give her importance while in majority of cases housewives are vulnerable to all types of abuses and exploitations. Many real stories of exploitations are buried under the social pressure when a woman has to live digesting all the ugly things that happens with her. Those who raise their voices, fight are sometimes opposed by many and supported by less.International womens day is gaining momentum, but despite a great deal of progress, women and girls continue to face discrimination and violence. Women are underrepresented in power and decision making roles, in education they dont receive full advantages, of health they dont get all the benefits, receive unequal pay for equal work. If we treat women like this, our country wont develop, our future generation will not get a suitable atmosphere to grow, our countrys economy will stumble and our social development will be obstructed. Before everything gets upside down we can foster gender equality through 5Es.

Education is must for girl child. The parents must save money not for the marriage of the daughters, but for the education and career growth of the daughters. It should be the first priority. If girls are educated, nothing can stop them to compete with men and education will open avenues for their careers. It will make them more aware and sensitized of their rights, they will be able to understand the legal benefits available for them, and education will help them to pursue bright careers ahead. If something wrong happens with them, they will gather courage to fight back, to take actions against crimes and to raise their voices against injustice. It will make them more powerful. Hence, girl child education must be promoted, encouraged and all the parents must understand its importance.

Economic independence is another weapon which can make women more empowered, and every girl must be oriented to follow her dream job or to follow some sort of income generating/entrepreneurial activities which can make her economically independent. If women are economically independent, they can be assets for self, for own family as well as can contribute towards nation building. It can enhance the quality of living among women, they wont have to depend upon their spouses and ask for money for their small needs which often creates dispute among husbands and wives which leads to domestic violence cases. Being economically independent a woman can lead a better and healthy life, can take better care of her children.

Enable women through knowledge, information, skill enhancement, leadership and capacity building to make them competent enough to follow their dreams, to take decisions for their betterment, growth and development. If the women are equipped with all the skills those are required for their growth, for being fearless, daring, to be independent then nothing can beat them.

Encourage women participation be it politics, decision making, policy formation for women, be it government programmes meant for their benefits, just let them participate through different channels, platforms and forums. Encourage maximum participation of women, let them speak; let them take decision for their own benefits. I must say, government should come forward with ideas, programmes that can lead to maximum women participation. They should be encouraged to join in various government and private jobs, positions that can give them new identity; their knowledge, skills can be utilized in various ways which can ensure some income for them, women who are new mothers or who have small kids must be given opportunities to work from home. Our government, CSR units, NGOs, private companies must come together to make our country a better place for women.

Emphasize the roles played by women, consider the hard work done by them, praise them, and appreciate them for the roles they play both at personal and professional spheres. Because, most of the time they are underrated, underestimated and often misunderstood. If we dont highlight, emphasize all the values they add to our family, society then we are blocking their paths. Its the responsibility of all the stakeholders those who are partners in the process of development to think about equal and equitable participation of women in all the spheres.

If the girls, the women of our country are educated, economically independent; knowledge and skill wise equipped, aware and sensitized then it will be easy to break all the barriers, bias and even easier it will be to imagine a better place for women by making them more powerful, by increasing leadership among them and by making them economically empowered.

Views expressed above are the author's own.

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The 5 Es to break the bias and promote women empowerment - Times of India