Empowering women
By: Ayana Shaan Salroo
Women empowerment refers to making women powerful and 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 time evolved, women realized their power. Thus began the revolution for women empowerment. Since women were not allowed to make decisions for themselves, 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 men. 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 women empowerment.
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 Western countries are still making progress, third-world countries like India still lag behind in women empowerment.
In India, women empowerment is needed more than ever. India is among 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 families think it is 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, and they are married off early. Men are still dominating women in some regions, as if it’s the woman’s duty to work for them endlessly. They do not let them go out or have freedom of any kind.
In addition, domestic violence is a major problem in India. Men beat up their wives 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. 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 to empower women. Both individuals and the government must come together to make it happen. Education for girls must be made compulsory so that women can become literate and 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 a financial crisis.
Most importantly, the shame of divorce and abuse must be thrown out of the window. It’s time to normalize the idea that divorce and cruelty are not a reflection of a woman’s worth but rather a sign of her strength and resilience. Let’s create a culture that supports women in leaving toxic partnerships rather than judging them for doing so.
(The author is a student at the Model Institute of Education, Akura)
