The importance of women's empowerment in today's world, starting with your local community!
The phrase “women support women” has become one of the most popular terms to show support among women.
Indeed, implementing women’s empowerment brings numerous benefits to women as they tackle traditional stereotypes.
In this modern era, everyone deserves an equal opportunity to strive for their best, regardless of whether they are women or men, right?
Women, as individuals who are free to make their own choices, should have self-worth, confidence, and equal opportunities to learn and acquire skills.
This approach not only helps in overcoming outdated societal norms but also fosters a more inclusive and supportive community. Empowering women leads to stronger economies, healthier societies, and a more balanced world.
Let's first understand the concept of women empowerment
Women empowerment refers to the process of enabling women to take control of their lives, make their own decisions, and access opportunities equal to those of men.
It involves improving their status through education, awareness, literacy, and training. The goal is to increase women’s real power over their own lives, both within and outside of their homes.
Empowering women allows them to pursue personal development, achieve economic independence, and participate fully in community decisions.
Women empowerment, or female empowerment, means granting women rights regardless of their gender. This includes equal rights in participation in the sectors of education, society, economy, and politics, because women have the right to make their own choices.
This concept also encompasses self-love, as it enables a woman to prioritize herself and her needs in order to live life as she desires. Essentially, you can understand this concept as an effort to equalize the value of women, thus ensuring they hold the same position as men in the world.
Gender equality is a fundamental human right and is crucial for creating a peaceful and prosperous world. Yet, despite this understanding, women and girls continue to encounter significant obstacles globally.
Women are often underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles across various sectors. They face wage disparities, earning less than men for the same work, and encounter numerous legal and societal barriers that hinder their career opportunities.
In many parts of the developing world, girls and women are viewed as less valuable than boys. Rather than receiving an education, they are frequently expected to perform domestic chores or are married off in exchange for dowries before reaching adulthood. Alarmingly, up to 12 million underage girls are married each year.
Although there are areas where progress has been noted, much work remains to address and rectify the deep-seated issues of gender inequality. The global community must intensify its efforts to ensure that all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to society.
Women’s empowerment has five components
- Women’s sense of self-worth
- Women’s right to have and to determine choices.
- Women’sright to have access to opportunities and resources.
- Women’s right to have power to control their own lives, both within and outside the home.
- Women’s ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order, nationally and internationally.
Why is empowering girls and women so important?
1. Prevents Unemployment
Despite women making up about 50% of the global population, they face significant employment gaps. Empowering women can gradually reduce this disparity.
2. Reduces Domestic Violence
Domestic violence often occurs when one party feels superior. Equalizing roles within households can help decrease such incidents, promoting partnerships based on mutual respect and equality.
3. Community Development Through Gender Equality
Many jobs are dominated by one gender due to perceived role suitability. Women’s empowerment promotes equal job opportunities for all genders, fostering overall community development.
4. Recognizes Women’s Potential
Research shows children often inherit intelligence from their mothers, highlighting the significant role women play in nurturing future generations.
Recognizing and optimizing women’s potential can enhance societal development.
5. Builds Women’s Economic Independence Traditionally, men have been seen as family breadwinners. However, as society embraces women’s empowerment, women are increasingly able to build their own economic foundations, reducing financial dependence on men.
6. Eradicates Poverty
Empowering educated women can lead to smarter future generations, which is crucial in eradicating poverty. When women are financially independent, they can contribute to family income, improving living standards.