Empowered Voices Pioneering Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in the 21st Century
Abstract – We celebrate Women’s Day, yet gender equality continues to persist. Needless to say, education is identified as a crucial tool for breaking the cycle of gender inequality. This paper explores women’s rights in the 21st century, focusing on three aspects: Empowering women through education, reproductive rights and health for all women and women’s representation in politics, challenges women face every day and referencing remarkable women representatives in politics. How can progress be achieved where there is no equality?
Keywords – Women’s Day, Inequality, Reproductive rights, Education, Empowerment.
Introduction – In India, where women are considered a personification of Goddess, they often face numerous struggles in society and within their families. It feels like they are born to endure these struggles. They have to confront various issues such as concerns about dowry, marriages, family ties etc. The man whom she gives birth to later becomes oppressive and dominant in society for women.
In India, the chronicles of women’s history are divided into three distinct phases: The first wave began in the mid-19th century when liberal leaders of that time such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune advocated for women’s rights and made reforms in the education and customs sector involving women. The second Phase began in 1915, when the nation’s father Mahatma Gandhi, incorporated to unify women’s struggle into the Quit India Movement and began to emerge as a self-governing women’s group. Eventually, the third phase began post-independence, which immensely focused on women’s rights after marriage, fair treatment at work, the right of women to own property, the right to adoption, and the right to equal representation in politics, etc.1
Women are also human beings, and every human has rights. Why is there a discussion about giving rights to women when women already have rights as humans? However, our constitution highlighted the fundamental rights of its citizens. Why is there bias between males and females? Savitri Bai Phule was the first woman who raised her voice against inequality against women and contributed her life to promoting girls’ education and Women’s emancipation.
“Women empowered means mother India empowered” – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Empowering Women through education in India: A path to Equality
Education is already an important tool that empowers a nation, and it is not just important for men but also for a woman which means basically for the citizens. If a nation wants to achieve development in every aspect, it must give utmost importance to women’s education. A famous saying is, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual; but if you educate a woman, you educate a whole family.” The literacy rate gap between males and females is not found in rural areas but is still prevalent in urban areas. Presently, the male literacy rate is 83.45% and the female literacy rate is 69%2. Educated women are not just educated family rather able to contribute to nation-building. Education makes women self-sufficient in every aspect. It gives power to face any hurdle and teaches her about wrong and right, without being dependent on her father, husband, son or brother. She can defend herself against the crime in society which usually happens with many uneducated women such as sexual harassment, marital women, mental stress etc.3
If a woman is educated and faces any challenges after her marriage, she can independently navigate her life and support her children with dignity in society. We always talk about equality but equality between whom we never speak.
Importance of education for women:
It must not be mentioned that financial help leads to a happy family. If a woman is educated, she can earn income and support their husband who can fulfil their family’s financial needs, which can improve their children’s quality of life and better education. To fight back for the exploitation that happens against her and to protect her honour and dignity she must be educated because it is seen that uneducated women cannot speak for themselves and are thus oppressed by society. Education alone can make women self-reliant. If women are educated, only then will they understand the importance of education and be able to send their children to school, guide them well, keep them on the right path, and provide a good environment.4 It is ironic that in Indian society, men are given an education so that they can develop the country. Still, women are given the education to protect them from the corruption and various injustices they face.
The Right to Choose: Ensuring Reproductive Rights and Health for All Women The World Health Organization (WHO) defines reproductive health as the state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and its functions.5 When we are talking about human rights, it also talks about women’s sexual and reproductive health which include the right to life, the right to be free from torture, the right to health, the right to privacy, the right to education, and the prohibition of discrimination. To protect these rights of women, the state must have obligations to respect and provide facilities for women’s sexual and reproductive health.6 In India, early marriages are still arranged in rural areas, which constitutes a violation of women’s reproductive rights. These practices often force young girls into motherhood before they are physically and emotionally ready, impacting their health, education and future opportunities which undermines their rights and upholds gender inequality.
Measures taken by the Indian Government to improve Women’s Health:7
Throughout the country, the government of India implements various initiatives for healthcare more efficient including for women such as Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres, National Mobile Medical Units etc. However, the Government has also implemented a few schemes, especially for pregnant women to secure reproductive rights and health for all women:
- Surakshit Matriva Aashwaasan: This scheme provides dignified, respectful, and quality health care at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn baby.
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram: This scheme provides every pregnant woman with free delivery along with free transport, medicines, blood, diets and others.
- LaQshya: This scheme is provided to improve the quality of care in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres to ensure that pregnant women receive respectful and quality care during delivery.
There are also some other schemes provided to women. Despite, extensive efforts to reduce the problem of reproductive health, still many women lack access to maternal and reproductive health. In Conclusion, A woman should have the right over her own body and autonomy to decide when she wants to give birth in her reproductive life.
Women’s Representation in Politics:
Women’s Representation in politics highlights the overall development in the nation, which boosts her self-confidence, self-image, decision-making skills, analytical skills etc. Eminent Scholars noted that there is always consistent structural inequality between men and women. Panchayati Raj at a base level has increased women’s participation in decision-making. Mostly, women were kept away from various political leadership positions. However, representing women in social issues and human rights activities has gained more attention in public. Despite knowing, that women leaders can carry out government projects efficiently, still, women still face stereotypes, hurdles, violence, and gender-based violence (GBV) that leads to the under-representation of women in the political arena. Women representative faces sexual harassment, abuse and the unnecessary dissemination of their images via social media. Not only that, representatives and their families also suffer criticism and abuse.8
Some Pioneering Women who changed India’s political landscape:
Indira Gandhi – She was the first female and only Prime Minister of India to date. Her remarkable contribution to national and international politics towering the figures in Indian Politics.
J Jayalalithaa – She was a prominent leader in the state of Tamil Nadu and the first female Chief Minister of the state. She is referred to as the “Amma” of Tamil Nadu. She left an unforgettable mark on Tamil Nadu’s Political landscape.
Sushma Swaraj – The woman who was known for her eloquence, grace and compassion and stalwart of Indian politics. She was the first female chief minister under the BJP, also commanding the post of Union Cabinet minister, General Secretary, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs etc.
Smriti Irani – She is known for her remarkable speeches and advocacy for women’s empowerment cemented her strong place in Politics.
Draupadi Murmu – The first person from the tribal community who faced poverty in her childhood, became the 15th President of India after Pratibha Patil (1st woman to hold the office of president).
Conclusion:
To achieve a progressive society in the 21st Century, Gender Equality must be prioritised. It can only be done through education, which is a fundamental step, necessary skills, autonomy in women’s reproductive rights, representation in politics and others. The commitment to these goals will not only benefit women but strengthen the whole society. This is a fact a society that marginalizes women, progress in the country can never be achieved. True progress is upheld only there, where there is a focus on gender equality and equal opportunities in every aspect.
- Karishma Sen, History of Women’s Rights in India: Evolution of Women’s Rights in India, Her Circle ( August 09, 2021 ), History Of Women’s Rights In India: Evolution Of Women’s Rights In India (hercircle.in).
↩︎ - Aaron O Neil, ‘Literacy rate in India 1981- 2022, by gender’, Statista (January 24, 2024), India: Literacy rate 1981-2022 | Statista . ↩︎
- Aaysha Parvin, ‘Role of Education in Women Empowerment – A study on Indian Context’, 25 IOSR-JHSS 10.9790/0837-2511050711 (2020).
↩︎ - Importance of Education for Women for Students, Sri Chaitanya Educational Institution, (Importance of women education) article for students – Infinity Learn ( last visited May 28, 2024).
↩︎ - World Health Organisation (WHO), Sexual and reproductive health and rights, (April 15, 2024), Sexual and reproductive health and rights (who. int).
↩︎ - United Nations Human Rights, ‘OHCHR and women’s human rights and gender equality’, Sexual and reproductive health and rights | OHCHR, (accessed May 30, 2024).
↩︎ - Press Information Bureau (PIB), ‘GOI Measures for Safety, Security and Empowerment of Women’, GOI Measures for Safety, Security and Empowerment of Women (pib.gov.in), ( August,5 2022).
↩︎ - Titty Varghese, ‘Women’s Political Participation and Leadership in India: Examining the challenges’ (2020), Vol.19 Public Policy and Administration, 112,115.
↩︎