Gender inequality refers to the gender based inequality against women. Women are often denied their social, cultural, economic, and political rights leading to a decline in the condition of women.
Gender inequality is when people of all gender do not get equal privileges. It refers to the unequal treatment of people belonging to various genders.
It refers to an unjust situation when women are devoid of their right to be treated equally with their male counterpart.
Gender inequality refers to a situation:
- when men and women are not treated equally, or
- where men enjoys certain privileges over women, or
- where men misuses their dominant position to establish control over women, or
- when the voices of women are discouraged, or
- when women do not enjoy equal right for education, or
- when the good performance of women is unjustly ignored
During the last 50 years, there is a change in perception towards women. Constitutionally, the women of today enjoy similar opportunities with men.
The participation of women in the mainstream workforce is continuously increasing. They are largely employed in banking, hospitality, health care, and other server sector industries.
However, they have minimal presence in manufacturing and engineering industries. In comparison to women, the top managerial posts are generally held by men. This may be due to the fact that men who are already at high position prefer to appoint men at higher positions.
Jobs that require physical strength are also mainly dominated by men. In general, men are believed to be physically stronger then women.
Gender inequality is most commonly found at workplaces. Very often they are denied of fair pay or equal pay. Even in corporate environment women have to face various challenges. The Glass ceiling effect is also believed a reason for inequality against women. Glass ceiling effect refer to the invisible barrier that obstruct a women to rise to higher position in spite of having merits on the basis of education, ability and part tract records.
Even women who work outside home and earn a good income are expected to spend time with children and complete the household works.
The feminization of poverty also reflects the indifferent treatment that women face throughout the world. It is unfortunate that women constitutes a greater proportion of world’s poor.
Women Empowerment is now considered a human rights issue. Gender inequality cannot be fully eliminated merely by the legal and administrative measures. The educated people should develop a national consciousness of the positive impact of gender equality. There is a need for changes in perception towards women. The human society would be most advantaged only if women are treated equally and are not deprived of their rights. Let us hope for a society where women are not discriminated because of their gender.
Equality should be for all, regardless of gender, age, race or nationality. Everyone should command the same respect, and enjoy the same opportunities. That means respecting women without qualification and never thinking or treating them in a disrespectful way.