Difference between gender equality and women's empowerment
Answers
Gender is a socially constructed category which is created by the culture to denote the concepts of man and woman. By gender we mean not only the qualities that characterize men or women, but also the models of behavior, thinking, and action that society and culture establish for men and women. As noted by Wharton, gender is a kind of central organizing principle of social life in every culture.
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Gender relations determine how equally men and women use, have access to, and control resources. We encounter a lot of cases of inequality and discrimination that are caused by models of behavior and expectations established according to gender roles. Division and differentiation between people by gender that leads to gender inequality are characteristic of almost every society. The World Bank report of 2003 says that issues of gender inequality that manifest themselves in unequal participation of men and women, for example, in the areas of education, health care, and politics, affect the development of the world.
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"Gender equality requires equal enjoyment by women and men of socially-
valued goods, opportunities, resources and rewards.”
In other words, gender equality refers to equal access to social goods, services and resources and equal opportunities in all spheres of life for both men and women. When there is gender inequality, it is women that are more likely to be disadvantaged and marginalized, but we should not ignore the negative impact that gender inequality can have on men as well. For example, societal norms regarding the appropriate behavior for men tend to put them under pressure as regards the need to provide materially for their family, and also deny them opportunities of being more nurturing towards their children and wife. Therefore gender equality is the concern of all and changes must be brought about for both men and women. However, this is not to say that men and women are equally affected by gender inequality. It remains true that women have the greater share of disadvantages. Gender equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities across all sectors of society, including economic participation and decision-making, and when the different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are equally valued and favored. Gender equality is measured by looking at the representation of men and of women in a range of roles. A number of international comparative gender equality indices have
been prepared and these offer a way to compare Ireland’s achievements with those of other countries