Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF GENDER EQUALITY
gender equality in our society
sustainable developmeny eassy
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF GENDER EQUALITY
It is a known fact that gender equality is critical to economic and sustainable development in Africa. The quest for gender equality has evolved from advocacy, negotiation and consensus building, awareness rising on the importance of gender equality, to a point where gender considerations are an obligation in development programming and implementation. This essay sets out to discuss the dictum that Gender equality is incontestable; what is debatable are determined efforts to universalise it. The essay will start by defining key terms namely Gender , gender equality and incontestable and moves on to look at gender equality strategies in selected countries.
Definition of terms
According to The World Development Report (2012), gender refers to the social, behavioral, and cultural attributes, expectations, and norms associated with being a woman or a man and gender equality refers to how these aspects determine how women and men relate to each other and to the resulting differences in power between them. Macmillan Dictionary 2009 defines incontestable as fact that is clearly true or certain, and therefore impossible to disagree with
…show more content…
Greater gender equality can enhance productivity, improve development outcomes for the next generation, and make institutions more representative. It is widely recognized that gender equality is both a development goal in itself and a pre-condition for the achievement of other development outcomes. Gender equality is universally agreed in the Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) in particular reference with goal number four which focuses on the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. According to Nyoni (2012), gender equality, women empowerment and sustainable development are inextricably linked. Ago (2007) states that women empowerment facilitates the nation’s development
What would you say if I asked you to tell me what you think is causing the death of so many people in the horn of Africa? AIDS? Starvation? War? Would it surprise you if I told you that it all boils down to the women of Africa? Kofi Annan attempts to do just this in his essay “In Africa, Aids Has a Woman's Face.” Annan uses his work to tell us that women make up the “economic foundation of rural Africa” and the greatest way for Africa to thrive is through the women of Africa's freedom, power, and knowledge.
For centuries now, males and females have never been viewed as equals. Males receive better wages, more opportunities, and greater praise compared to women. Equality is a goal throughout society, yet we are very far from achieving it. It is evident throughout society that women are not yet equal to men, when women are constantly objectified by people in our society. Gender inequality refers to unequal treatment and perceptions of individuals based on their gender (Trevino). The state of the problem plays a large role in how women are treated throughout our society. It is seen throughout countries all over the world. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) report, the 2013 Global Gender Gap Report measured the disparities between men and
The perception the public has had on the role of men and women is outdated and has been for some time, but public attitudes change slowly even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Gender plays a big part in life, it is supposed to give a purpose in life, but why? Explaining the severity of knowing why men and women are equal is one step to rebuilding society and the future. The second step is to actually make these changes happen. Gender Equality is something that every human being should strive for, as well understanding gender roles and how these two really affect our developed and developing countries. Each gender has the power to make a change for oneself and their rights, but coming together we can make an effective change for future
As a result of this norm, more feminists who recognize the “systematic disadvantage” (Cahill 206) that women face daily in other countries is the reason why many feminists believe governments should oppose typical gender roles and gender stereotypes by protecting the rights of women. However, culture is always subject to change thus, leading developing countries who have neglected the rights of women to improve due to the global influence of other countries who have gender equality. This, in turn, leads countries to be “forced” to accept feminist agendas who “hold[ing] these patterns… to change them, and thus to change the realities that they produce” (Cahill 208). Not only does gender affect social issues but it also has progressed onto the economic sector for business as well, making gender a multifaceted topic for any
...ntries women are restricted in where they can and cannot work. Most commonly, they seem to be restricted from jobs in which physically taxing tasks are the norm. This is no doubt due to the stereotype that women are fragile and weak and must be protected (a stereotype that can hold true, but that is not always true). This also seems to be consistent across culture. However, despite the fact that these restrictions were enacted to protect women, they place heavy limitations on women’s opportunities. Furthermore, these are not the only injustices many women across the world face. However, the only way to fight these injustices is to increase women’s participation in politics, as discussed in the UN report from 2008. It is absolutely vital that women be able to actively participate in politics without letting gender discrimination and stereotypes get in the way.
Gender inequality refers to the inequality between men and women, or the unequal treatment or perception of a person based on his or her gender. Gender inequality is almost always prominent towards a female, rather than towards a male. Women are seen as inferior to men in every country in the world. This form of society is called patriarchal and is one of the biggest issues in American society today. Patriarchy means that the country has a primarily male-dominated society.
Hafkin, Nancy. Women in Africa: Studies in Social and Economic Change (1976). California: Stanford University Press, 1976.
Education helps girls and women to know their rights and to gain confidence to claim them. However, women’s literacy rates are significantly lower than men’s in most developing countries. UNICEF recognizes the opportunities provided through girls’ education and it supports governments in the reduction of gender discrimination through interventions at national, local and community levels aimed to empower girls. As we look towards 2015 and beyond, UNICEF continues to take a more transformative approach to girls’ educ... ... middle of paper ... ...
Throughout the international community, women have been a primary focus of the United Nations due to their importance to the economic and social balance in a country. The advancement of women is a vital issue concerning the world as the new millenium begins. Although the international community views women with high regard and of the utmost respect, ancient traditions, one sided beliefs, and false stereotypical propaganda, which demean and belittle women are existent in the world today. Historically, women have been victims of inequality and abusive practices, and due to this, many women never reach their full potential in the economic world. First, the primary root that hinders the progress of women is the inferiority complex at an early age.
Gender inequality is the unequal treatment of perception of an individual based on their gender. Gender inequality occurs when gender roles created by society are challenged. This often takes place in the work environment, education system, politics, and domestic duties. For men, gender inequality is common in custody battles. Even the fittest of fathers has a hard time gaining custody of his children against the children’s mother. “83% of mothers receive custody of their children in divorces. (N. 2014.)” The lack of custody equality goes back to a time when women were the homemakers and men were the breadwinners. 30 plus years later, society still has a hard time shaking this mindset. For women, gender inequality
The inequality of genders is a factor to the issue of poverty. Many nations are trying their best to fix the issue of gender inequality. Gender inequality is very visible in the primary and secondary levels of education in Ghana. The amount of boys always tends to outnumber the girls. Due to the fact that many women do not have any educational background, they either end up trading or get engaged in agriculture activity. In sub-Saharan Africa, women are barely recognized in issues that are non-agriculture. About 64% of women are mainly employed in the agriculture sector. The low employment level of women makes poverty a stronghold in the household of women. Women tend to not get enough income to support themselves and their families, especially when they are single parents or the man is unemployed. Women also tend to face low employment rates, and those with a good education, who have the chance of being employed, rarely get the opportunity. The women who are lucky enough to get employed are rarely promoted due to their
Discussions of Nigeria gender equality in recent times have focused on steps taken towards putting women in their proper prospects. In the past, each gender had clearly defined roles and the issue of gender conflict never arose. The extent of gender inequality had been hidden for so long that its seriousness in the present time of Nigeria is now attracting international attention. The 2012 Gender in Nigeria Report recently shows that gender inequality not only exists in the country, but at highly worrying levels. There is a lack of gender balance in the economy, education, politics, health, access to justice and almost all areas of human development.
In the contemporary society, education is a foundational human right. It is essentially an enabling right that creates various avenues for the exercise of other basic human rights. Once it is guaranteed, it facilitates the fulfillment of other freedoms and rights more particularly attached to children. Equally, lack of education provision endangers all fundamental rights associate with the welfare of human beings. Consequently, the role of education and in particular girl child education as a promoter of nation states welfare cannot be overemphasized. As various scholars asserts, the challenges and problems faced by the African girl child, to enjoy her right to education are multifaceted. Such difficulties include sexual abuse, child labor, discrimination, early pregnancies, violence and poverty, culture and religious practices (Julia 219). Across the developing world, millions of young girls lack proper access to basic education. In the contemporary society, this crisis, which is particularly critical in remote and poor region of sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia have fascinated increased public attention. However, almost all global nation states have assured their commitment in addressing various girl child challenges and allowed a declaration to enable each young girl and boy receive education by the year 2015 (Herz and Sperling 17). This target was firmly established and approved in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. However, this study will focus on girls’ education in Africa and its impacts to their livelihood.
It is true of Africa that women constitute a treasure that remains largely hidden. (Moleketi 10) African women grow 90% of all African produce, and contribute about 70% of Africa’s agricultural labor every year. (Salmon 16) Both the labor and food that are provided by African women go towards the increase in Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). (Moleketi 10) Although African women are feeding the majority of Africa’s inhabitants, the constricting ropes of gender inequality are still holding them back from being appreciated and living up to their full potential. Outstandingly, women such as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, of Liberia, have gladly accepted the challenge of breaking free of these ropes. The history of women’s rights in Africa, the glass ceiling, and the modern aspects of women’s rights, all play prominent roles in the overall condition of women’s rights in Africa. Until the day arrives that these discriminatory injustices are corrected, individuals in African nations will continue to struggle.
World Bank. Gender and Development Group. Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals. 4 April 2003