By Tarun Agarwal and Pooja Arora
In the dazzling spotlight of the G20 summit 2023 held in New Delhi, India
The central theme that resonated throughout this gathering was ‘Women-Led Inclusive Development at the Cusp of Inter-Generational Transformation.’ It highlighted the potential of women in shaping a sustainable future. In the wake of the G20 summit’s resounding success, India notched another historic milestone when both houses of Parliament rallied together for the passage of the long-anticipated women’s reservation bill, a demonstration of India’s commitment to women’s empowerment at the highest level.
These momentous occurrences underscore the pivotal role women play in shaping a sustainable future amid a cacophony of global crises. Yet, as emphasized in the W20 Ministerial communique, significant hurdles persist on the path to gender equality. Recognising the existing barriers is the first step towards breaking them down. These formidable barriers encompass gender discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence, inadequate policy support, ingrained societal prejudices, detrimental social norms, inequitable laws, or their effective enforcement thereof, and the glaring underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.
However, before delving into India’s commitments, it’s essential to trace back to the 2014 summit in Brisbane, where G20 leaders first set a crucial milestone for gender equality.” G20 leaders made a commitment to reducing the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 percent before the year 2025—a commitment coined as the ’25×25 target’. The Bali Declaration of 2022 reiterated ‘G20 Roadmap Towards and Beyond the Brisbane Target’ that set the stage for further efforts towards gender equality.
Public sector initiatives in India such as Ujjwala, the National Rural Livelihood Mission, Mahila E-Haat, and innovative financial instruments like Sukanya Samriddhi Bonds, have also charted a commendable course utilizing the idea of ‘nudging’ towards empowerment. The government’s steadfast commitment to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) also aims to place women at the centre of policy formulation. The concept of ‘labarthi’ voters, spotlights women, marking an important step towards inclusion. But true empowerment cannot occur without a stark transformation in social attitudes towards women.
It is important to acknowledge that women’s experiences vary, influenced by factors like socio-economic status, regional origin, caste, and socialisation. While welfare measures serve as a credible stepping stone for women’s empowerment, the W20 communique rightfully underscores that women still grapple with substantial barriers hindering their ascent to leadership roles and active participation in the workforce.
These challenges stem from social constructs, workplace dynamics, and familial structures. They are deeply interconnected, affecting women’s lives at multiple levels. Domestic violence, transcending physical violence, includes emotional and psychological violence, which destroys a woman’s image of the ‘self.’ The domestic sphere is where social expectations are in constant conflict with women’s ambitions. While gender roles of the yesteryears expected a woman to bear children and manage the household, today she is expected to perform the same duties alongside being ‘exceptional’ at the workplace while contributing to the family income.
Beyond the domestic sphere, stereotypes questioning women’s ‘competence’ persist. The corrosive impact of such stereotypical humour often goes unnoticed. While it is widely acknowledged that women often exit the workforce due to childcare responsibilities, another significant contributing factor is the dearth of growth opportunities. Women experience stagnation in their careers stemming from a lack of ‘network’ or credible networking opportunities to shatter the glass ceiling. Gender equality in the workplace is a multifaceted challenge. If phrases like ‘difficult women’ persist in the lexicon, the journey towards women’s empowerment within the workplace will remain ‘difficult.’ Language matters, and addressing stereotypes begins with changing our lexicon.
Gender bias persists in the realm of ‘knowledge economy
It is noteworthy that the recent G20 Leaders’ Final Declaration has addressed other critical aspects of women’s empowerment. This includes encouraging investments in inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture and food systems, with a specific focus on supporting accessible, affordable, safe, and nutritious food. The G20 aims to promote innovation in agri-value chains and systems, particularly those led by and for women farmers. The G20 acknowledges the significance of gender-responsive and age-sensitive interventions. These commitments reflect a comprehensive approach to empower women across various facets of their lives, including ensuring access to proper nutrition and food security.
In a country where a historic bill reserving 33% of parliamentary seats for women has been enacted, and 33% of seats designated for women leaders at the grassroots already exist, there is no room for anachronistic biases. Women in India have etched their indomitable spirit across every conceivable domain. Gender sensitization programs are indispensable at every social tier to ensure that women are duly recognized as ‘professionals.’ Recognising and celebrating women’s achievements is vital for fostering a more equitable society.
A sobering 2018 study revealed that India accounted for a staggering 37% of global female suicides. This tragic statistic underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges women face. The pressure to conform to social expectations, particularly within the context of marriage, weighs heavily. Today’s economic realities with rising inflation and unemployment, coupled with the cognitive dissonances spurred by the influence of social media, add to the mounting stress faced by women. Narratives surrounding women’s empowerment should be woven into the fabric of mass culture, extending beyond academic and policy discourses. Empowering women is not just a policy; it is a cultural shift.
To transcend the bounds of state-sponsored welfare in the domain of women empowerment, we must actively engineer a society that empowers women through design and social transformation. In this journey, India stands at crossroads, poised to lead the charge in breaking the shackles of gender inequality and unleashing the boundless potential of its women.
The authors are Doctoral Scholars at Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University. They work on International Negotiations and Security Issues.
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