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Equity: The Key to True Equality

“I was born a girl.” While many people in previous ages would have lamented this fact, the present day demonstrates a dramatic shift in attitude. This once-perceived misfortune is now regarded as a superpower disguised. Though progress has been made, with statistics indicating a decrease in the denial of opportunities to women, the most remote corners of our country continue to hold the antiquated belief that women are the weaker sex, confined to the four walls of the kitchen and destined to bear sons who will become society’s pillars. If a foetus is discovered to be female, she is frequently doomed to the same limited fate as her mother.

Despite these hurdles, India is making enormous progress in empowering its women. Women are flourishing, expressing their views and demanding their rights. They understand that nothing in this vast globe can prohibit them from realising their aspirations. Women nowadays can aim to be whatever they want, with their choices acknowledged and unquestioned. However, is this the world we really want? 

As a 25-year-old one, I see India, and indeed the world, differently. While it may seem like a pipe dream to change the globe, we may begin by changing our own country, or even our own homes. As a forward-thinking young person, my vision is beyond women’s advancement and includes the larger view of equity. While empowering women is critical, it is equally necessary to guarantee that men and people with other gender identities are not denied opportunities. The umbrella would be bigger and there should be enough opportunities for every gender.

Gender equity, rather than gender equality, represents the road to a truly inclusive society. Gender equity recognises that different people confront various challenges and so require diverse resources to achieve equitable results. This strategy guarantees that everyone receives the support they require to succeed, resulting in a balanced and equitable society. Empowered women demonstrate our progress, but true progress requires us to move beyond equality and strive for equity.

Gender equality is frequently associated with treating everyone equally, yet this ignores the particular obstacles that various genders confront. For example, offering equal resources to both men and women in a job when women bear additional societal demands and duties does not address the underlying cause of inequality. Gender equity, on the other hand, entails recognising these distinctions and offering targeted assistance to overcome them. This might include providing flexible work hours for women who balance professions and families, as well as mentorship programs for men entering traditionally female-dominated fields. 

Empowered women are critical to cultural growth. Their empowerment improves decision-making at all levels, from homes to corporate boards, and helps to the economic and social growth of countries. However, focussing primarily on women’s empowerment without understanding the big picture might have unexpected repercussions, such as reverse discrimination or neglect of other marginalised groups. Having said that, all the studies do point towards men having the larger share of the pie in decision-making positions across the world, and especially in India.

The goal of gender equity requires a holistic strategy. It entails recognising the specific needs of all persons, regardless of gender and ensuring that everyone has access to the opportunities and resources they require for success. This approach acknowledges the importance of intersectionality, recognising that race, socioeconomic class and sexual orientation intersect with gender, resulting in multiple layers of disadvantage that must be addressed holistically.

As a supporter of gender parity, I think that genuine development stems from a balanced approach that empowers everyone. By focussing on equity, we ensure that no one is left behind and that people of different gender identities receive the assistance they require. This inclusive approach creates a society in which everyone may thrive, free of obsolete gender norms and prejudices.

Gender equity requires numerous critical initiatives. To begin, extensive education and awareness initiatives that challenge established gender conventions and promote equity must be implemented. Second, legislative measures must be implemented to overcome structural impediments and give targeted assistance to those in most need. Third, it entails fostering inclusive settings in businesses, educational institutions and communities where different perspectives are heard and appreciated.

Empowered women like the Swabhiman initiative women of Smile Foundation play an important part in this endeavour. Their success stories inspire others and illustrate the power of good transformation. They should also push for the inclusion of males and people with other gender identities in the discourse about equity. This allows them to contribute to the formation of a coalition that works together to achieve a common objective. But care should be taken to look for allies instead of men who start off as allies with the intention to usurp important conversations. Maintaining power balance between genders is tricky and should be navigated with great tact and sensitivity.

Finally, gender equity outperforms gender equality in terms of effectiveness and holistic manner. While equality seeks to provide equal chances for everyone, equity recognises that different people confront various problems and hence require varying amounts of support. By aiming for equality, we create a more equitable and inclusive society in which empowered women, men and people of all gender identities may reach their full potential. This strategy benefits all people while also strengthening our nation’s fabric.

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Women Empowerment

The Progress From Gender Equality To Gender Equity

Gender equality is still a desired state. It has been well over a century since the first feminist wave and yet it remains a desired state. 

Conclusions are drawn from the Global Gender Gap Index (2022) that it will take about 150 years for gender parity to be achieved in societies across the world. We must understand that gender equity is highly crucial in order to bridge the gaps in gender equality. 

Difference Between Gender Equality And Gender Equity

Simply put, gender equality is the provision of equal opportunity to all genders and gender equity is the process in order to achieve equality. 

Gender equality, while providing everyone with equal opportunities, does not necessarily take into consideration everyone’s starting points. Women have fought a long battle to merely have their voices heard. They have fought years of oppression in order to be where they presently are. Merely providing equal resources invalidates their struggle. This is where gender equity comes in. 

A cis-gendered man and a transgendered woman will not have the same needs. Gender equity takes into consideration the needs of an individual and provides suitable amenities. Because logically speaking, if everyone is to be provided the same opportunities, they all must begin from the same level. 

Predefined Gender Roles And Expectations

“Help out? What is it with you and ‘helping out?’ You’re going to ‘help out’ with chores. ‘Help out’ with raising our baby. ‘Help out’ with finding me a new job. Isn’t this your house, too? Your home? Your child? And if I work, don’t you spend my pay, too? Why do you keep saying ‘help out’ like you’re volunteering to pitch in on someone else’s work?”- an excerpt from the book ‘Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982.

The world has progressed from the traditional ideologies about the man being the sole breadwinner and the woman not being allowed to earn – in fact, the current global labour force participation of women is 47%. But at the same time, it has also been reported that during lockdown it was women who took care of household chores more in addition to managing their work in comparison to men. And why is it so that after the birth of a child it is the woman who mostly has to take a career break? A break that sometimes results in their permanent absence from the workforce.

The idea of women taking care of domestic work and men being in the professional field has still not gone away entirely. The truth of the matter is that these roles are not defined to any gender, they never were. These are merely ideas that have been normalized over time and need to stop. 

This is not only limited to women. Men are three to four times more likely to die from suicides than women even though it is said that women are more prone to mental illnesses. The reason? Men are more likely to bottle up their feelings and not ask for help. They are raised with the mindset that emotional vulnerability threatens their masculinity. Men also have the burden to start earning early in order to provide financially for their families. 

These expectations are completely illogical. Achieving gender equality will bridge every one of these gaps – toxic masculinity, identification of non-binary people, gender diverse people, pre-defined gender roles, etc. 

Gender Equality in India

India has made considerable efforts and progress in terms of gender equality. The country has seen initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Awas Yojna, DAY-NULM, PMEGP, National Portal for Transgender Persons, and many more. But these are simply not enough. 

According to the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), India is 135th out of 146 countries in terms of gender equality. 

The country has seen an increase in literacy rates among women – 77%, but at the same time, India has also seen a decline in women in the workforce. Over two decades the percentage of women working dropped from 32% (2005) to 19% (2021). Mostly this tends to happen due to the woman’s family’s needs

Even in urban areas, there tends to be discrimination among the genders at the workplace, educational institutions, etc., and a lot of it arises through a single word – reservation. The concept of equity again comes into play here.

As stated previously, the provision of equal opportunities should be there for people who are at the same level, and that is the role of gender equity. 

In India, women are expected to keep their families a priority and their work a secondary factor. These expectations still exist as a major reason for the country having difficulties in attaining gender equality.

At the same time, it increases the pressure on a man to keep a job. It is frowned upon for a man to sit at home and help with the domestic work. A man is expected to provide financial support for his wife and child even after a divorce. 

Ways To Improve Gender Equality and Gender Equity

Most importantly we have to create awareness. Gender differentiates the way we identify and term ourselves, it does not define or limit what we can or cannot do; it does not tell us how we should or should not feel. These unrealistic and illogical expectations need to go away in order for us to move forward. 

The idea of “gender roles” needs to be nullified and we should normalize men working in domestic situations and women in workplaces. And we should start at the very roots. Children should not grow up with the idea of “ghar-ghar” as a game where the girl always cooks and the boy always reads a newspaper or leaves for work. 

More schemes should be implemented by the governments and the pre-existing ones should be communicated effectively to each and every person. Measures to normalize men’s mental health illnesses, equal wages for all genders, adequate maternity leave for women, etc. should be focused on. 

But most importantly, we must delve into gender equity. Gender equity is not something that is talked about often. It is the road to gender equality and people need to be made understood that equality cannot be achieved without this. Steps should be taken to identify and validate this. 

Reaching A Truly Equal World

People should not have to fight for the basic right to education, equal wages, and paycheques just because they are biologically different. Neither should people be begging for money simply because transgender is considered “taboo”, nor should people have to beg for understanding simply because they identify as non-binary.

We have to understand that the differences we believe exist solely on the basis of gender are merely created by us. Working together to bridge these gaps is the only way we can achieve what we ought to. 

Smile Foundation and Women Equity

Women empowerment is one of our major intervention areas. Through our Swabhiman campaign, focused on behavioral change, financial learning and entrepreneurship, women and adolescent girls are encouraged to seek menstrual hygiene practices, pre and post-natal care, healthy eating habits and turning their skills into a self-owned entity, the programme is designed to cater to the needs of the modern Indian women located both in urban and rural spaces.

You can consider helping us reach more women and adolescent girls in our efforts to make everything of value more accessible to them. You can make a difference that will change their lives forever. Please make a small donation here if you feel like impacting lives.

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