By Mool Raj
Every Child Deserves to Fulfill Their Potential, Yet Gender Inequalities Persist Throughout Lives
Gender discrimination, commencing in childhood, perpetuates an unfortunate cycle that restricts children’s development and prospects, with girls being disproportionately affected worldwide. This imbalance denies girls their rights, thwarts their educational opportunities, compels early marriages, and subjects them to violence, often silencing their voices. This not only hampers individual growth but also impedes societal progress by depriving nations of vital talents. Collaboratively, we hold the power to instigate a more equitable world right from the outset.
Understanding Gender Discrimination
Gender discrimination involves unequal or prejudiced treatment of individuals or groups based on their gender. A grave manifestation of this is sexual harassment, which is both illegal and reprehensible.
The Reality of Gender Inequality
Gender inequality, a societal phenomenon, stems from the unequal treatment of men and women. These disparities can arise from biological, psychological, or cultural differences prevalent in society. Some of these distinctions are grounded in empirical evidence, while others are socially constructed. Research underscores diverse gender experiences across domains like education, life expectancy, interests, family dynamics, careers, and political affiliations. Notably, gender inequality varies across cultures and significantly impacts non-binary individuals.
Root Causes of Gender Inequality
Gender bias and consequent discrimination find their roots in childhood. Right from birth, girls and boys encounter divergent gender norms that affect their access to resources and opportunities, ultimately shaping their lives at home, in school, and within communities. For instance, boys are often encouraged to pursue education and prepare for careers, while girls shoulder disproportionate household responsibilities, hindering their education and increasing the likelihood of child marriage and early pregnancies.
Impact of Gender Inequality
Gender inequity is a direct consequence of sexism, encompassing prejudice or discrimination based on sex or gender. It predominantly affects women and girls, leaving a lasting imprint that begins in infancy.
Tangible ways in which gender inequity impacts women globally, as compared to men, include lower educational and employment rates, unequal pay for equivalent work, elevated stress levels, greater unpaid caregiving responsibilities, heightened vulnerability to sexual assault and gender-based violence, and inadequate representation in governmental bodies. Sexism’s pervasive effects also surface in everyday life through sexist remarks, workplace discrimination, and sexual harassment.
Psychological Ramifications of Gender Inequality
Gender inequality’s far-reaching ramifications extend to mental health on a global scale. Women and marginalized genders experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Affecting Everyone: The Ubiquity of Gender Inequality Gender inequality casts a wide net, influencing all members of society, including men. Early gender stereotypes evolve into lifelong constructs that impact behavior and self-perception. The challenges intensify for those facing intersecting forms of discrimination. Across various segments of society:
1. Children: Gender stereotypes influence self-perception from a young age. Boys receive disproportionately more attention in classrooms, and girls receive less pocket money. Job roles and activities often become gender-specific for children.
2. Young People: Gender stereotypes sway behavior, career choices, aspirations, and attitudes toward relationships. Organized sports and advanced mathematics suffer gender disparities.
3. Adults: Women earn significantly less than their male counterparts. Despite more women pursuing higher education, their salaries upon graduation remain lower. Maternal discrimination during pregnancy, parental leave, and reentry into the workforce remains prevalent.
4. Older Individuals: Women retire with half the retirement savings of men, impacting financial security and well-being. Older women, particularly Aboriginal women, face compounded challenges due to historical injustices.
5. Men: Traditional male stereotypes pose challenges, pressuring men to embody unrealistic ideals. Men’s mental health often suffers in silence, and they’re more prone to unhealthy behaviors and suicide.
6. Rural and Regional Women: Limited access to public services heightens health risks and vulnerability to family violence for women outside metropolitan areas.
7. Women with Disabilities: Women with disabilities confront higher risks of violence and unemployment.
Examples of Gender Inequality
1. Education: Less than 40% of countries offer equal access to education for both genders, hindering poverty reduction. Gender-based violence in schools further impedes education.
2. Illiteracy: Women constitute two-thirds of the 774 million illiterate adults globally. Illiteracy affects women and their offspring.
3. Child Marriage: Around 750 million women married before 18, leading to early pregnancies, social isolation, and domestic violence.
Strategies for Achieving Gender Equality
1. Amplifying Women’s Voices: Inclusion of women and girls in decision-making is essential for gender equality.
2. Enabling Technological Access: Ensuring girls have access to basic technology, like mobile phones, promotes equality.
3. Combating Child Marriage and Harassment: Eradicating child marriage and addressing harassment are crucial for enabling girls to complete education.
4. Gender-Sensitive Education: Enhancing the gender sensitivity of education systems, including promoting positive stereotypes in textbooks, is paramount.
5. Empowering Aspirations: Providing diverse role models to girls expands their aspirations.
6. Empowering Mothers: Educated and empowered mothers foster education for their daughters.
7. Recognizing Unpaid Labor: Acknowledging women’s unpaid labor is vital for economic progress.
8. Women in Leadership: Empowering women in legislative roles is key to overcoming systemic barriers.
In Conclusion Every individual, regardless of gender, deserves an equal opportunity to thrive. Gender equality is a multifaceted goal that demands comprehensive efforts, collaboration, and societal transformation.
(The author is an Environmental Science Lecturer at Govt Higher Secondary School Khellani and hails from Village Bhagota Distt & Teh Doda. The views expressed are personal.)
