- Prelims: Women reservation, Parliament, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Census, delimitation, Urimai Thogai scheme etc
- Mains GS Paper I & II: Social empowerment, development and management of social sectors/services related to Education and women empowerment etc
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021 says that the gender global gap has widened (instead of shrinking).
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Gender Equality:
- It refers to equal rights, and opportunities for everyone, regardless of their gender.
- It is a recognition that every being is equal and deserves equal respect.
- Gender parity is a statistical measure that provides a numerical value of female-to-male or girl-to-boy ratio for indicators such as income or education.
Menstruation:
- Complete physical, mental, and social welfare regarding the menstrual cycle is referred to as menstrual health.
- The demand for paid leave for menstruation works to undermine it.
Global gender gap:
● It would take the world 135.6 years to achieve gender equality.
● Workforce level, a woman earns 84 cents for every dollar that a man makes.
● The participation of women in the labor force is significantly lower than that of men, and even fewer women hold leadership positions.
Issues with mandatory leave for Periods:
● It would end up further dissuading companies from hiring women.
● It validates the social stigma around menstruation.
● It would exacerbate period shaming in a country where large swathes of people (both men and women) consider menstruation to be ‘impure’.
- It will claim that granting special status to menstruation would aim to create subject awareness.
- But this would only magnify it.
- It will widen the gender gap.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report:
- 50% of women between the ages of 15 to 24 in India continue to rely on the use of cloth for menstrual protection.
- Reusing cloth can increase the risk of contracting multiple infections
- This practice is an attribute of a combination of insufficient awareness and societal taboo around menstruation.
- Girls are often compelled to leave school or face social exclusion during their menstrual cycles.
The case of Japan:
● Japan provides leave for painful menstruation- but it is mostly unpaid, and unused.
● Data show(s) that a mere 0.9% of women in the workforce avail menstrual leave days in Japan.
● As per the World Economic Forum’s ranking in 2019, Japan ranked 121 out of 153 in terms of gender equality.
● It has slipped to the 125th position in 2023.
● Young women in Japan have higher education levels than men, it is in the workforce that disparities creep in.
● Women in Japan are less likely to be employed (even with the same credentials) than men, and are often paid less.
Initiatives to reduce Gender Gap in Social, Economic and Political Life:
● Economic Participation and Health and Survival:
○ Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: It ensures the protection, survival and education of the girl child.
○ Mahila Shakti Kendra: Aims to empower rural women with opportunities for skill development and employment.
○ Mahila Police Volunteers: It envisages engagement of Mahila Police Volunteers in States/UTs who act as a link between police and community and facilitates women in distress.
○ Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: It is an apex microfinance organization that provides micro-credit at concessional terms to poor women for various livelihood and income generating activities.
○ Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna: Under this scheme girls have been economically empowered by opening their bank accounts.
○ Female Entrepreneurship: To promote female entrepreneurship, the Government has initiated Programmes like Stand-Up India and Mahila e-Haat (online marketing platform to support women entrepreneurs/ SHGs/NGOs), Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Programme (ESSDP).
○ Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: They have been opened in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs).
● Political Reservation: Government has reserved 33% of the seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions for women.
○ Capacity Building of Elected Women Representatives: It is conducted with a view to empowering women to participate effectively in the governance processes.
Way Forward
- The Supreme Court of India urged the government to enable equal evaluation of women, and to have them undergo the same standards of testing as men.
- Women in corporate organizations are fighting for pay that is the equivalent to that drawn by their male counterparts.
- Recognising the diverse nature of menstrual experiences is essential.
- Tailoring support and being accommodative on a case-by-case basis promotes inclusivity
- Address the individual needs of those navigating their (difficult) periods.
- It is an opportunity to learn and develop solutions with the global community consisting of industry, think tanks and investors to advance our commitment to increased engagement and leadership of women within the economy
- Through increased access to health care, education opportunities and economic opportunities.
- Given India’s abiding commitment to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and its continued efforts towards Sabka Saath, Sabka Prayas, Sabka Vikaas, this Alliance for Global Good – Gender Equity and Equality is poised to be a force to reckon with on all gender-related issues.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
What are the continued challenges for women in India against time and space?(UPSC 2019) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India.(UPSC 2015) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
