Women Empowerment

Women empowerment refers to making women powerful to make them capable of deciding for themselves. Women have suffered a lot through the years at the hands of men. In earlier centuries, they were treated as almost non-existent. As if all the rights belonged to men even something as basic as voting. As the times evolved, women realized their power. There on began the revolution for women empowerment.

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As women were not allowed to make decisions for them, women empowerment came in like a breath of fresh air. It made them aware of their rights and how they must make their own place in society rather than depending on a man. It recognized the fact that things cannot simply work in someone’s favor because of their gender. However, we still have a long way to go when we talk about the reasons why we need it.

Need for Women Empowerment

Almost every country, no matter how progressive has a history of ill-treating women. In other words, women from all over the world have been rebellious to reach the status they have today. While the western countries are still making progress, third world countries like India still lack behind in Women Empowerment.

In India, women empowerment is needed more than ever. India is amongst the countries which are not safe for women. There are various reasons for this. Firstly, women in India are in danger of honor killings. Their family thinks its right to take their lives if they bring shame to the reputation of their legacy.

Moreover, the education and freedom scenario is very regressive here. Women are not allowed to pursue higher education, they are married off early. The men are still dominating women in some regions like it’s the woman’s duty to work for him endlessly. They do not let them go out or have freedom of any kind.In addition, domestic violence is a major problem in India. The men beat up their wife and abuse them as they think women are their property. More so, because women are afraid to speak up.

Similarly, the women who do actually work get paid less than their male counterparts. It is downright unfair and sexist to pay someone less for the same work because of their gender. Thus, we see how women empowerment is the need of the hour. We need to empower these women to speak up for themselves and never be a victim of injustice.How to Empower Women?There are various ways in how one can empower women. The individuals and government must both come together to make it happen.

Education for girls must be made compulsory so that women can become illiterate to make a life for themselves.Women must be given equal opportunities in every field, irrespective of gender. Moreover, they must also be given equal pay. We can empower women by abolishing child marriage. Various programs must be held where they can be taught skills to fend for themselves in case they face financial crisis.Most importantly, the shame of divorce and abuse must be thrown out of the window. Many women stay in abusive relationships because of the fear of society. Parents must teach their daughters it is okay to come home divorced rather than in a coffin.

Acid Attacks : The women in danger

Acid Attacks …why??? The person you love if doesn’t love you back you will do the shameless act!!!!! Why People are mute .. why they don’t talk about this ruthless act…… The Perpetrators of these attacks throw corrosive liquids at their victims, usually at their faces, burning them, and damaging skin tissue , often exposing and sometimes dissolving the bones. Acid attacks can often lead to permanent blindness.

IN INDIA

In India, acid attacks are at an all-time high and increasing every year, with 250–300 reported incidents every year, while the “actual number could exceed 1,000, according to Acid Survivors’ Trust International”.

THE MOTIVES OF PERPETRATORS

Some of the most common motivations of perpetrators include:

Personal conflict regarding intimate relationships and sexual rejection
Sexual-related jealousy and lust
Revenge for refusal of sexual advances, proposals of marriage, and demands for dowry
Racial motivations
Social, political, and religious motivations
Gang violence and rivalry
Anti-minority discrimination
Conflicts over land ownership, farm animals, housing, and property

ARE WOMEN SAFE

Are women safe?????? I question again are women safe in our motherland. Every day each and every women wears a shroud of fear , staying alert and trying to fight all the odds of attacks. Maybe it’s molestation,attacks, rape , why!!!men why ?? Why do we forget we all came from the womb of some woman who fought for 9months just to give birth to someone who will make another woman’s life hell.. NO NO NO… We all have to fight against the odds of the men where our mother our sister our lover becomes a part of a ruthless act killing them mentally, Physically, emotionally and most importantly the way in which society see her changes …let’s us all come together to fight the demons and kill the devil’s threating our goddesses…I am taking vow of fighting the Maoists and I request all of you to be together to create a better place to live….

A single touch amounts to sexual harrassmet ? POSH 2013 ( in brief )

What did this POSH Act refer to ? So it commonly referred to, an Indian law enactment with the objective of making workplaces safer for women by preventing, prohibiting and redressing acts of sexual harassment against them in the workplace.

Why this act was needed ?The need for such legislation was observed first time by the Supreme Court, in Vishaka v State of Rajasthan. Sexual harassment at a workplace is considered violation of women’s right to equality( article 14 and 15) , life ( article 21) and liberty ( article 19(1)g) . It creates an insecure and hostile work environment, which discourage women’s participation in work, thereby adversely affecting their social and economic empowerment and the goal of inclusive growth. So there was much need for legislation against this sexual harassment at working place.

What is the objective behind POSH 2013 ? The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 (“the Act”) was enacted with the objective to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto , that was mentioned under section 2(o) of the act .

What is sexual harrassment? Section 2(n) discribe a sexual harassment as unwelcome acts or behavior (whether directly or by implication) namely, physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favors, making sexually colored remarks, showing pornography, any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature .

Can a touch to women amount to sexual harrament ?

a women can commit sexual harrassment on another women ?

So both the question were answered in Shanta Kumar vs CSIR , where Delhi high court held that “undoubtedly, physical contact or advances would constitute sexual harassment provided such physical contact is a part of the sexually determined behaviour. a physical contact which has no undertone of a sexual nature and is not occasioned by the gender of the complainant may not necessarily amount to sexual harassment.

What are the offensive circumstances in which sexual harassment is done ?

The Act also provides the circumstances under which an act may amount to sexual harassment under section 6(2) . These are:

(i) implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in her employment; or

(ii) implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in her employment ; or

(iii) implied or explicit threat about her present or future employment status; or environment for her; or

(iv) interference with her work or creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work

(v) humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety.

Where the problem would be redressed under POSH : so section 4 provides for setting up of Internal Complaints Committee at every office of the organisation or institution, having more than 10 employees, to hear and redress complaints pertaining to sexual harassment. Section 11 reads that , The committee has to complete the inquiry within a period of 90 days. As per section 12, The committee can give certain interim reliefs to the aggrieved woman during the pendency of the inquiry.

What if the complaint by said victim is Mala fide ? case of filing of false or malicious complaint or false evidence the committee may recommend to the employer or District Officer to take action in accordance with the provisions of service rules or where no such service rules exist, in such manner as prescribed in Rule 10 of the Rules

Is identity of a women victim disclose ? No according to section 16 of posh 2013 , There is a prohibition on publication of identity of the aggrieved woman, respondent, witnesses, contents of the complaint, inquiry proceedings or recommendations of the committee, except information regarding the justice secured to any victim of sexual harassment.

In last what would be the punishment for accused ? When the employer fails to constitute an Internal Committee or breaches provisions of this Act or any rules made thereunder, they shall be punishable with fine of fifty thousand rupees (INR 50,000).

Women Empowerment

The concept of women empowerment has become a very significant topic of discussion in development and economies. Women empowerment is empowering women to take their own decisions for personal as well as social development. Empowering women is to make them independent in all aspects and to set them free from all social and family limitations.
Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. It implies a society in which women and men enjoy the same opportunities, outcomes, rights and obligations in all spheres of life. Equality between men and women exists when both of them are able to share equal distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities financially through work and through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and opportunity to fulfill personal ambitions. Yet there is discrimination against women and girls – including gender based violence, economic discrimination, sexual coercion, reproductive health inequalities, and harmful traditional practices. Women usually have less access than men to training and employment, medical care, property ownership, etc. They are less likely than men to be politically active and more likely to be victims of domestic violence. The ability of women to control their own fertility is absolutely fundamental. And when these reproductive rights – including the right to decide the number, timing and spacing of her children are free of discrimination, coercion and violence, she would have the freedom to participate more fully and equally in the society because when she would be healthy, she would be more productive. The roles of men and women are not biologically determined – they are socially determined and changeable.
India is a country where all the women are been honoured as goddesses since ancient times. However, when it approaches to providing them with correspondent rights the same people abandon its major importance and swallow that the main purpose of women is to take care of the family and kids firstly. Whereas, there have been various organizations and institutions advocating for women, supporting various projects that provides women basic education and health care requirements. Apart from these there are many welfare schemes for women – Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujwalla, ICDS, Kishori Shakti Yojana, etc. implemented by the Indian government. According to me every women should be given equal opportunities to education and employment without any gender bias. Now, we know that women empowerment is a minute key to economic growth and social transformation. And there’s an African proverb,
“If you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a women, you educate a nation”