Globally, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and security risks, and less political representation.
Ensuring women’s rights and giving them access to their full potential is essential not only to achieving gender equality, but also to meet many international development goals. Supported women and girls contribute to the health and productivity of their families, communities and countries, creating a positive outcome that benefits everyone.
The term gender refers to the roles that have been created in society and the social obligations that it deems appropriate for men and women. Gender equality means that men and women have equal power and equal opportunities for financial freedom, education, and personal development. Empowerment of women is a critical factor in achieving gender equality. It includes developing a sense of femininity, her ability to make decisions, her access to opportunities and resources, her ability to control her life inside and outside the home, and her ability to make changes. But gender issues focus not only on women, but on relationships between men and women in society. The actions and attitudes of men and boys play an important role in achieving gender equality.
Education is an important area in which to focus. Although the world is making progress in achieving gender equality in education, girls still make up a higher percentage of out-of-school children than boys. About a quarter of girls in the developing world do not go to school. Often, families with limited means who cannot afford expenses such as school fees, uniforms and the provision of all their children will prioritize the education of their sons. Families may rely on girls’ chores to do household chores, fetch water, and take care of children, leaving limited time for schooling. But prioritizing girls’ education prioritizes one major investment benefit in developing countries. An educated girl is likely to postpone marriage, raise a small family, have healthy children, and send her children to school. He has more opportunities to earn money and participate in political activities, and he is less likely to become infected with HIV.
Women’s health and safety is another important area. HIV and AIDS have become a growing problem for women. This is not related to women with fewer health education opportunities, unequal power in sexual intercourse, or as a result of gender-based violence. Women’s health is also a major concern. In many countries, women have limited access to antenatal care, and they are more likely to have problems during pregnancy and childbirth. This is a big problem in countries where girls get married and have children before they are ready; often before the age of 18. Quality maternal health care can provide an important access point for information and services that equips mothers as informed decision makers about their own health and the health of their children.
A key focus on achieving gender equality is women’s economic and political empowerment. Although women make up more than 50 percent of the world’s population, they have 1% of the world’s wealth. All over the world, women and girls do many hours of unpaid homework. In some areas, women continue to enjoy land or property rights, access to credit, earn money, or relocate to work, without discrimination at work. At all levels, including at home and in public forums, women are highly represented as decision-makers. In the legislatures around the world, women outnumber 4 to 1, however, women’s participation in politics is essential to achieving gender equality and true democracy.
Eduindex News 