SEMINAR ON GENDER

SENSITIVE ISSUES AND WOMEN

EMPOWERMENT
PRESENTED BY:
MANASHREE CHAKRABORTY
M.sc.Nursing 1st Semester
Roll:03

INTRODUCTION
As

Psychologist and sociologists point out- gender ,roles and

expectations are assigned at birth. As soon as people put the
label on the child girl or boy they begin treating the child in
a stereotypical fashion . Though the Indian Constitution
prohibits any kind of discrimination on the ground of sex but
discrimination against girl child continues to be practiced in
various parts of our Country in areas such as distribution of
food in quality and amount,education ,skill
training,religion,employment etc.

GENDER STATISTICS

As per Census 2011, the population of India is 1210.19 million comprising 586.47
million (48.5%) females and 623.72 million (51.5%) males.

The sexratio (number of women per 1000 men) is 940 in 2011 which shows continued
improvement over the sex ratios of 927 in 1991 and 933 in 2001. Among the States, in
Census 2011, Kerala has the highest sexratio of 1084 and Haryana has the lowest of 877.

46% of women are not involved in any kind of decision making. It is found that 32.7%
illiterate women, 21.6% unemployed women are not involved in any decision making.

Cruelty by husband and relatives continues to occupy the highest share (43.4%) among the
crimes committed against women in 2011 followed by molestation (18.8%). 15.6% cases
are that of kidnapping, 10.6% of rape, 3.8% of dowry deaths and 3.7% of sexual
harassment.The highest conviction rate of 16.5% was observed for the crime importation
of girls and the lowest of 4.0% for indecent representation of women.

CONCEPT OF GENDER
SEX VS GENDER:

Sex refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men
and women. Whereas,

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behavior,activities,and

attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.

Thus while sex is permanent and universal ,gender construction varies from
one society to another.

To put in another way male and female are sex catagories while Masculine and
Feminine are gender catagories.

DEFINITION

The WHO noted: "The word gender is used to describe the characteristics,
roles and responsibilities of women and men, boys and girls, which are socially
constructed. Gender is related to how we are perceived and expected to think
and act as women and men because of the way society is organized, not
because of our biological differences."

Gender has been defined as: "The commonly shared expectations and norms
within a society about appropriate male and female behavior, characteristics
and roles. Gender can be considered a social and cultural construct that
differentiates females from males and thus defines the ways in which females
and males interact with each other. These roles and expectations are learned
and they can change over time as well as vary within and between cultures." -( GR GUPTA).

ROLE OF GENDER
Gender role determines how a male or females should
think.speak,dress,and interact within the context of society.

Women are expected to take care of the family and or domestic

duties and remain close to home. Mostly it is women who do the house
work like cooking,cleaning and washing etc. which are repetitive and
boring. Whereas-

All Men are expected to work and earn for the family.

Women have entire responsibility for child rearing

Women have to look after older and sick people of the family.

Women are always known by their father and husband name-they

have no individual identity.

All these work performed by a women is unpaid labour/work and it

has no economic value.

EXPLORING GENDER STEROTYPES

MEN
Adventurous
Brave
Strong
Hard tough
Manly
Intellegent,Handsome
Bread-winner
Hardworking
Independent
Angry

WOMEN
Patient
Tolerant
Forgiving
Motherly
Sacrificing
Beautiful,soft,loving
Caring
Adjusting,quiet
Sympathetic
Cries easily.

REASONS FOR GENDER

INEQUALITIES

The root cause of gender inequality in Indian society lies in its patriarchy
system. According to the famous sociologists Sylvia Walby, patriarchy is a
system of social structure and practices in which men dominate, oppress and
exploit women.

The unfortunate part of gender inequality in our society is that the women
too, continued socio-cultural conditioning, have accepted their subordinate
position to men. And they are also part and parcel of same patriarchal
system.

Extreme poverty and lack of education are also some of the reasons for
womens low status in society. This has become a major form of inequality
on the basis of gender.

Lack of punishment for perpetrators of violence.

Lack of safe spaces for women and girls, which can be physical or virtual
meeting spaces that allow free expression and communication; a place to
develop friendships and social networks, engage with mentors and seek
advice from a supportive environment.

GENDER SENSITIVE ISSUES

FEMALE

FOETICIDE AND
INFANTICIDE.

INEQUALITY IN HEALTH CARE

Women receive less healthcare facilities than men.

Women in developing countries face great health risks such

as maternal mortality, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
such as AIDS, and malnutrition. Women in developing
countries have an 80 to 60 percent higher death rate when
givingbirth than do women in developed countries. The
reasons include giving birth without knowledgeable help,
lack of emergency backup medical care, anaemia, and
malnutrition

 INEQUALITY IN

NUTRITION

INEQUALITY IN ACCESS

TO EDUCATION:

It has been seen that women receives less education than men.
Only 18 per cent of women between 15 and 24 years of age can
read. . Also a woman's perception of increased social status and
power is dependent on her education and occupation. Programs
which provide a meal for children who attend school lead to an
increase of girls attendance at school.

 INEQUALITY IN

RELIGION.

INEQUALITY IN

EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: Women work two-thirds of the worlds working hours, according to the United
nations Millennium Campaign to halve world poverty by the year 2015. The
overwhelming majority of the labor that sustains life growing food, cooking,
raising children, caring for the elderly maintaining a house, hauling water is
done by women. Universally this work is accorded low status and no pay.
Women earn only 10 percent of the worlds income. Lower income,
unregulated and insecure work and a lack of economic security makes women
more dependent and places them at greater risk of impoverishment and
violence. This is particularly true in developing countries, where economic
inequalities are often even more pronounced.

INEQUALITY IN RIGHT TO DIVORCE.

VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE:-NCRB records that the highest

percentage of crime against women is torture (37.7%) followed
by Moleslation (22.4%), Rape (11.8%), Kidnapping(8.8%) and
immoral traffic (3.7%).

WIFE-BEATING:

SEXUAL HARRASMENT:
Sexual harassment is another form of intimidation used against
women. Rape is also a common occurrence worldwide. Females are
kidnapped or lured to other countries by promises of good
employment and then are forced into prostitution Two million girls
between the ages of 5-15 are introduced into the commercial sex
market each year. Women are raped by their husbands because it is
believed a woman should submit to sex whenever the man wishes it.
Men harass women to show power. Women's careers are endangered
by harassment; if they refuse or report the harassment, they could
lose their jobs.

 DOWRY

INEQAULITY IN POLITICS

CLOTHING

INEQUALITY.

GENDER SENSITIVITY

Gender sensitivity is the awareness and insight into the state of

other sex with reference to historical roots of sexiest stero-typing,
discrimination and violence. Another definition would be the
awareness and acceptance of the roles and duties of each as
expected from them and from the people that they work with.
Gender sensitivity is an integral part of decision making in
industrialized countries where there is a growing number of
female headed households, especially in the urban setting.
However, Gender Sensitivity is not about pitting women against
men. An education that is gender sensitive benefits members of
both sexes.

PROMOTE GENDER SENSITIVE EDUCATION

Universal

Primary Education (UPE) was launched in

1997. The policy emphasises equal opportunity for both
boys and girls. It focuses on promoting gender parity in
enrolment, retention, and performance in primary education.
As a result of this, girls enrolment in primary schools has
increased from 46 % in 1997 to 48 % in 1999

The

National Strategy for Girls Education (NSGE)

was launched to foster gender parity in education.It acts as

a master plan for use by all stakeholders in girls education

 The

Promotion of Girls Education (PGE) scheme aims at improving

girls retention and performance at school.

The Equity in the Classroom (EIC) Programme aims

at facilitating equal participation of girls and boys in the
classroom. It is a USAID funded program that provides
Technical Assistance and Training workshops whose great
target is to increase girls classroom participation and
completion of primary school. It is in line with the MoES
mission to provide quality education to all. Teachers have
been sensitised to change any negative attitudes towards girls
education and adopt methods to promote equity in the
classroom.

WOMEN

EMPOWERMENT

 Wherever Women is respected, God resides there- Vedic verse.

For

centuries women were not treated equal to men in many ways.

They were not allowed to own property,they did not have a share in
the property of their parents, they had no freedom to choose their
work or job and so on. Now, we have to come out of these oppression
of women there is a need for strong movement to fight for the rights
of the women and to ensure that they get all the rights which men
have or in other words a movement for the empowerment of women.

RIGHTS OF WOMEN:
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

CODE 1973:- Under this a

legitimate wife can claim maintenance ,if her husband is
living with another women and he has neglected to maintain
her.

HINDU LAW:- Under Hindu law women have been given

right of marriage ,divorce, maintenance,adoption rightswhich were denied to her earlier and right in the ancestral
property and fathers self acquired property.

 DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT (1961)

:- Under this
Act, women have been given special rights.If any
unnatural death takes place of bride within 7 years of a
marriage,it is presumed to be dowry death unless proved
other wise. The punishment is imprisonment of not less
than 7 years and it Can get extended to the remaining
period of life.

FACTORIES ACT (1948)

:- To protect women
labourers ,it is the protection given to women labourers
that they should not be employed near hazardous
machines.

MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT (1961) :- As per this

Act women can have a maternity leave of 12 weeks which
she can take before or after delivery. In 2016 Maternity
Ammendment Bill was passed which increased the
maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. While there is
already a provision of 26-week or 6-month maternity leave
for the government employees, most private sector firms
offer maximum three months of such leave.

DEFINITIONS:
The

manisfestation of redistribution of power that

challenges patriarchal ideology and male dominance
Chandra (1997)

Empowerment is an active process of enabling

women to realize their identity,potentiality and power in
all spheres of their lives.---- Sharma (1992)

Women empowerment is the process by which

women strengthens their
capacity,individuality,and collectively to identify
,understand and overcome gender discrimination
thus taking control of their lives Arrow
(1995

Historical Background of Women

Empowerment in India
THE VEDIC AGE

MUGHAL PERIOD/BRITISH RULE

AFTER INDEPENDENCE

REASONS FOR CHOICE OF WOMEN FOR

EMPOWERMENT:
Willingness

to be empowered by the

women.

Interested to lead a meaning ful life with

productivity.

Need of stronger position to support others

and to make substantial contribution to
society

PRE-REQUISITES OF EMPOWERMENT

Active

participation in social
economic and political spheres.
Desired Self-respect.
Social dignity.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN DIFFERENT

ASPECT

DECISION MAKING :

In terms of decision-making NFHS II had reported in the rural areas women

take 71%decisions regarding "what items to cook" 26% decisions regarding
obtaining health care for herself 10% in purchasing jewellery or other major
household items. 12% decisions weretaken by women with reference to
staying with their parents or siblings and 37% about how to spend money,
which they had earned. In the urban areas these figures were 71%, 35%,13%,
18% and 57% respectively. Women between ages 15 to 19 nearly 24% are not
involved in any kind of decision-making. only. 14% do not ask permission to
go to the market.In rural sector 10% are involved with any decision-making
and 74% need permission for going to the market. In urban sector however
only 7% are not involved with any decision making and 53% need permission
for going to the market

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF
WOMEN: UNDP advances

womens economic empowerment by:

Advocating

for increased recognition, reduction and

redistribution of womens unpaid care work

Supporting

womens entrepreneurship through training

in production skills and techniques, business
management and functional literacy;

Supporting

property.

efforts to strengthen womens legal rights to

EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT:
Education

is a powerful tool of social transformation.

Hence,education for women has to be paid special attention

Universalisation

of education eradicate illiteracy,also improve

vocational, technical skills

For

educational development Central Government is providing

financial assistance under planned schemes to establish schools
and colleges exclusively for girls in backward states

HEALTH

And NUTRITION

MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL- 3 (PROMOTE

GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN )
Three

indicators of assessment:
Eliminate gender disparities in education;
Increase womens economic independence and
access to economic resources;
Increase womens participation in and influence on
political decision-making

NATIONAL POLICIES FOR

EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN:

FIFTH FIVE YEAR PLAN (1974-78) has marked a shift in the approach to
women issues from welfare to development .In recent years the empowerment
of women has been recognized as the central issue in determining the status of
women.The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) of the constitution of India has
provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and
Municipalities for women.

Seventh Five-Year Plan emphasised provision of gainful employment to

women and youth.

NINTH & TENTH FIVE YEAR PLAN gave special attention to the
empowerment of women as the agent of social change and development .

The Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY):This Yojana has been

conceived as a comprehensive programme of self employment, through
organisation of the rural poor into self-help groups and their capacity building.
Govt. is providing several opportunities to women led SHGS and Swarojagar
is to market their products without any middleman to urban consumers. Thus
helps in improving their professional skills, promoting marketing technology
and developing entrepreneurship amongst the rural entrepreneurs

The Indira Awas Yojana (IAY):- Its aims at providing assistance for
construction of houses for people below the poverty lines in rural areas. Under
this scheme, priority is extended to widows and unmarried women. It is
stipulated that IAY houses are to be allotted in the name of women members of
the household or alternatively, in the joint names of husband and wife.

Rashtriya Mahilakosh (RMK):It was constituted in 1993, by the Govt. to

facilitate credit support or microfinance to poor women for income generating
activities. RMK offers support to develop and stabilize Self Help Groups
(SHGs) and to conduct awareness programmes

Training for Rural Youth and Self Employment (TRYSEM) :- Under this
programme action is being taken to provide technical skills and upgrades the
traditional skills of rural youth and finances are given for self-employment. The
Ninth plan (1997-2002) specifically stipulated identifying Women component
plans for which at least 30% of funds should flow to women development
schemes

All India Womens Education Fund Association: Its aim is to promote education
of women and girls in India while the federation of university women wants to
stimulate the interest of university women in academic, cultural and civic life.

BALIKA SAMRIDDHI YOJANA :- Started on 1997 target is BPL girls

National commission for Women:- This Act was set-up in 1990 to sage-guard the
rights and legal entitlements of Women.

NGOS IN WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

AWAKE (Association of women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka) 1983- Aim to

promote entrepreunership among and there by empower them economically and
improving social status.

SEWA ( Self employed Women Association)- 1972- It is an organization of poor ,self

employed women worker who earn diving through their own labour or small business.

OXFAM (Oxford committee for family relief ) 1951- Its area of concern is
poverty,economic justice,gender injustice etc.

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