Women Empowerment: Key To Economic Growth
INTRODUCTION
Gender inequality is one of the most widely addressed issues by institutions, activists, feminists, and leaders. The need to include women in all areas of work, provide them with equal pay and rights as men, and empower them is frequently highlighted in public speeches. However, gender inequality and the inability of the masses to view women as equals are deep-rooted, and expecting these dangerous yet socially crafted beliefs to change easily is difficult. To this date, women are victims of the majority of violence; they are subject to atrocities during times of global conflicts and wars. Many countries (a notable example is Afghanistan) suffer economically and politically due to the poor representation of women. Empowering women starts with providing them equal rights, opportunities, and fair pay.
LACK OF WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
Recent studies have highlighted the global economic impact of insufficient representation of women in the workplace and leadership roles. A report by the McKinsey Global Institute indicates that achieving gender parity could add $28 trillion to the global GDP, equivalent to a 26% increase in the global economy. Although no country has achieved complete gender parity, those approaching it see significant organizational benefits and improved results. Top gender parity countries, including Iceland, Norway, and the UAE, are prime examples of better governance, enhanced GDPs, and more inclusive innovation. Rwanda sets a notable example with its constitutional quotas established in 2003; women now occupy over 60% of parliamentary seats, the highest proportion globally. These statistics are significant as they prove that fighting for equal rights for women is an urgent issue for global sustainability. It is a social reform as well as an economic revolution.
GENDER INEQUALITY THROUGH A PSYCHOLOGICAL LENS
Gender inequality stems from the traditional and age-old perceptions of gender roles. Women are associated with communal roles (nurturing), and men are related to agentic roles (leadership). When women step forward, breaking through these conventional rules, they trigger the man’s ego, leading to backlash and violence. A powerful woman threatens the deep-rooted societal expectations of how she should act and perform. They are expected to conform to traditional feminine norms. Any woman who even slightly deviates from femininity is deemed “too aggressive” or “too bossy”. The prevalence of such social roles can be effectively explained by various psychological theories. The Social Role Theory and the Role Congruity Theory collectively suggest that the expectations or masculinity and femininity bias evaluations. Therefore, women in leadership roles are often ridiculed, criticised, and not taken seriously by the masses as they challenge their expected feminine roles. Moreover, society has created this division of roles for the sake of convenience. This results in the formation of Gender Schemas, which are mental frameworks that unconsciously and automatically assign appropriate roles to men and women. At organisational levels, Gender Schemas affect hiring, promotion, and recognition. Psychology behind gender roles points to the fact that social roles and stereotypes are so deeply ingrained in our society that it would take a collective effort to make a shift, not only in courtrooms, streets, or parliaments.
WHAT CAN BE DONE
Studying the urgency of women's empowerment reveals its psychological depth beyond economic and political factors. It is not just a “women’s issue” or a feminist struggle; it is an issue concerning humanity’s progress. Companies and organisations can solve the issue by focusing on the development of women’s skills and capabilities through vocational training and promoting gender parity through the organisation’s reputation. They can announce vacancies for women through digital platforms and help women connect with emergency services as and when required. Women’s empowerment can swiftly begin in the workplace. As a result, any nation’s economy can grow, and democracy will stabilise.
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