What is 'Women Empowerment'?
With the advent of 'women empowerment' in the Indian sub-continent, women issues are being taken seriously. By 'seriously' I mean that they are seriously talked about and debated upon. They are being accepted and rejected. We must understand that women empowerment doesn't mean 'not to rape a lonely woman on street', it doesn't mean 'letting them have time for themselves', it doesn't mean 'helping them picking up the luggage', it doesn't mean 'not to remark them on their dressing sense', it doesn't mean 'not asking for dowry in marriage'. People who come across this word for the first time often confuse women rights, women protection and gentlemanly behaviour with women empowerment. Before debating upon this topic, one must know the actual meaning of women empowerment. People had been writing books on it, which in turn are being read by other writers only! Then the question arises that who and where are the real readers? Has any common man or woman gone to the shop and asked for a book on women empowerment or has any common person ordered it online? Actually, this word must be understood by the common people and there must be an awareness programme for spreading the better understanding of this particular topic.
The word has hit the minds of the people and the term has become the 'in' thing with the elite and a 'fancied' subject among the intellectuals. Empowerment means increasing the social, political, economic and spiritual strength of the individuals or the community. Now, when we are connecting this word to women, it is evident that we are aiming at social, political, economic and spiritual growth of women. Not only in India, but all over the world, you will find very less women who are operating on a power post or position. If they are then they can be counted on fingers. So the word 'women empowerment' is more relevant to western countries. I am saying this because there women are free and respected for their individuality, not subject to any kind of double standards, not confined to gender specific roles; most of all, they feel more protected and more responsible towards their state in the society, they are not deemed as possessions and property unlike many places in India. These conditions are the pre-requisites to enrol women for further empowerment, one can say this.
In India, these pre-requisites have to be worked upon. Female infanticide must be considered a planned murder and the culprits must be punished accordingly. Girl children must be given equal freedom and rights along with a good education. Women must not be expected to sit at home and look after family only, they must also contribute to the growth of the nation and society and put their education to some substantial use either from home or outside home. Along with all this, they must not be considered a burden and all the lavish weddings must be banned. There must be a simple standard of marriage for everyone (in terms of expenditure) so that the money isn't wasted on marriages and can be put aside for better prospects. A wedding must be done in presence of a wedding inspector to keep a watch on dowry related practices. Security of women is a serious issue and this can be taken care of only and only with prompt execution of legal punishments and pro-active action against the related offence. But all these are only 'musts' which are faraway from even 'shoulds' in our society.
Only after fulfilling these prerequisites, can we move ahead in the direction of women empowerment where women will be elected, employed, educated and selected in equality with other genders, without reservation, on the basis of their performance and capability for the respective job or educational field? Women don't need a different treatment, but they of course need support in realising their aspirations and dreams, which is almost the same what they give to their families. I am keeping aside the case of sick, pregnant, differently-abled and old women, who clearly need more care and support than normal people.
With the advent of 'women empowerment' in the Indian sub-continent, women issues are being taken seriously. By 'seriously' I mean that they are seriously talked about and debated upon. They are being accepted and rejected. We must understand that women empowerment doesn't mean 'not to rape a lonely woman on street', it doesn't mean 'letting them have time for themselves', it doesn't mean 'helping them picking up the luggage', it doesn't mean 'not to remark them on their dressing sense', it doesn't mean 'not asking for dowry in marriage'. People who come across this word for the first time often confuse women rights, women protection and gentlemanly behaviour with women empowerment. Before debating upon this topic, one must know the actual meaning of women empowerment. People had been writing books on it, which in turn are being read by other writers only! Then the question arises that who and where are the real readers? Has any common man or woman gone to the shop and asked for a book on women empowerment or has any common person ordered it online? Actually, this word must be understood by the common people and there must be an awareness programme for spreading the better understanding of this particular topic.
The word has hit the minds of the people and the term has become the 'in' thing with the elite and a 'fancied' subject among the intellectuals. Empowerment means increasing the social, political, economic and spiritual strength of the individuals or the community. Now, when we are connecting this word to women, it is evident that we are aiming at social, political, economic and spiritual growth of women. Not only in India, but all over the world, you will find very less women who are operating on a power post or position. If they are then they can be counted on fingers. So the word 'women empowerment' is more relevant to western countries. I am saying this because there women are free and respected for their individuality, not subject to any kind of double standards, not confined to gender specific roles; most of all, they feel more protected and more responsible towards their state in the society, they are not deemed as possessions and property unlike many places in India. These conditions are the pre-requisites to enrol women for further empowerment, one can say this.
In India, these pre-requisites have to be worked upon. Female infanticide must be considered a planned murder and the culprits must be punished accordingly. Girl children must be given equal freedom and rights along with a good education. Women must not be expected to sit at home and look after family only, they must also contribute to the growth of the nation and society and put their education to some substantial use either from home or outside home. Along with all this, they must not be considered a burden and all the lavish weddings must be banned. There must be a simple standard of marriage for everyone (in terms of expenditure) so that the money isn't wasted on marriages and can be put aside for better prospects. A wedding must be done in presence of a wedding inspector to keep a watch on dowry related practices. Security of women is a serious issue and this can be taken care of only and only with prompt execution of legal punishments and pro-active action against the related offence. But all these are only 'musts' which are faraway from even 'shoulds' in our society.
Only after fulfilling these prerequisites, can we move ahead in the direction of women empowerment where women will be elected, employed, educated and selected in equality with other genders, without reservation, on the basis of their performance and capability for the respective job or educational field? Women don't need a different treatment, but they of course need support in realising their aspirations and dreams, which is almost the same what they give to their families. I am keeping aside the case of sick, pregnant, differently-abled and old women, who clearly need more care and support than normal people.
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