In the past decade, there has been a large decline in female labour force participation from 34% to 27%. The male-female wage gap has been stagnant at 50% (a recent survey finds a 27% gender pay gap in white-collar jobs). Crimes against women show an upward trend, in particular brutal crimes such as rapes, dowry deaths, and honour killings. These trends are disturbing, as a natural prediction would be that, with optimal growth, come education and prosperity; and a possible decline in adherence to traditional institutions and socially prescribed gender roles that hold women back.
Recent Developments Gender Bias Caused High Death Rate
Gender Gap in Banking
Recent Challenges in Women Migration
Problem in Migration Trends
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Gender Equity is the process of allocating resources, programs, and decision making fairly to both males and females without any discrimination on the basis of sex; and addressing any imbalances in the benefits available to males and females.
In contrast to equity, gender equality is the process of allocating resources, programs and decision making so that males and females have the same (therefore females and males would each receive 50% of the resources, facilities, and each have access to the same programs, e.g. if there was a male program, there would also be a female program). While the goal of treating everyone the same may seem noble, the principle of equal treatment tends to ignore the fact that people differ in their capacities, interests, resources and experiences.
According to the 2011 census, women account for 586.47 million in absolute numbers and represent 48.46% of the total population of the country.
Indicators |
Female (% net) |
Male (% net) |
||
2000 |
2016 |
2000 |
2016 |
|
School enrollment (Primary) |
72.8 |
86.2 |
||
School enrollment (Tertiary) |
7.5 |
27.0 |
11.4 |
26.9 |
Life Expectancy at Birth |
63.4 |
70.2 |
61.8 |
67.1 |
Mortality Rate, under 5 |
96.6 |
87.0 |
||
Adolescent Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) |
66.8 |
24.5 |
||
Adolescent Fertility Rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) |
66.8 |
24.5 |
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Fertility Rate-total (births per woman) |
3.3 |
2.3 |
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Employment in Agriculture |
74.1 |
56.9 |
54.0 |
39.1 |
Unemployment |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
3.3 |
At present, according to UN report
Programme and Schematic Intervention
Global Gender Gap Report 2018 The Global Gender Gap Report is published by the World Economic Forum that is an index designed to measure gender equality. The Global Gender Gap Report benchmarks 144 countries on their progress towards gender parity across four thematic dimensions:
India Ranks 148th for Number of Women MPs
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Contemporary Statutory Measures for Women
Draft National Policy for Women, 2016 The Union Cabinet Minister for Women & Child Development Ministry has unveiled a draft of National Policy for Women, 2016 (yet to come in full force), which will replace the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women, 2001. Apart from the safety issues, the draft also seeks to address the emerging challenges confronting Indian women. Salient features of the National policy for women empowerment:
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Sexual Harassment at the Workplace
Sexual Harassment at workplace is an extension of violence in everyday life and is discriminatory and exploitative, as it affects women’s right to life and livelihood.
Me Too Campaign Tarana Burke, a social activist and community organizer, began using the phrase “Me Too” in 2006, on the Myspace social network as part of a campaign to promote “empowerment through empathy” among women of color who had experienced sexual abuse, particularly within underprivileged communities. Burke said, she was inspired to use the phrase after being unable to respond to a 13-year-old girl who confided to her that she had been sexually assaulted. Burke later wished she had simply told the girl, “me too”. |