Oped»
They gotta change
AUG 17 -
As we experience gender in different ways, the term is immense and also very difficult to define. Webster defines gender as “the state of being male or female (typically used with reference to social and cultural differences rather than biological ones)”. Gender differentiates who we are, what we want and how we get along. Gender is perceived differently in various cultures. In a society where patriarchy is so entrenched in daily life, gender has a clear meaning of issues concerning
both men and women. But in developed societies, the perception and the real practice is different. In societies where gender equality has a strong influence, there is equal distribution of tasks and responsibilities.
Gender equality concerns both men and women; and to achieve it, there has to be changes in attitudes, behaviours, roles and responsibilities at home, in the workplace, in the community and at national and international levels. Achieving gender equality requires changes in institutional practices and social relations through which disparities are reinforced and sustained. Overall, when the existing mindset
of inferiority of women changes, the matter of gender equality will prevail.
So far, the focus of gender equality has been confined to urban areas while in rural areas we still have to focus on empowerment of women, capacity building and awareness campaigns for which knowledge and awareness are the most suitable tools.
Without women’s active involvement, social institutions of democracy become weak; and the state and civil society cannot bear the responsibilities. Involving women in all areas brings different perspectives of life and also a very different experience since the life experiences of women and men are very different. With the change of time, society and its citizens have to accept that women do not want to limit themselves to private life but want to enter into the public arena where opinions and policies are shaped and implemented. Women’s search for freedom and equality does not signal the downfall of our society,
rather it marks the erosion of those irrationalities of our society that are contrary to democratic impulses. Social institutions should not violate the human rights of either men or women, but give them an independent identity for a peaceful and prosperous society. This would make everyone’s life easier with the sharing of burdens.
How do we uplift the status of women both in private and public life without affecting positive aspects of our cultural, religious and other customary values and norms related to national identity? How do we deal with the violence committed against women in private situations (domestic violence) and in the public sphere at large (including the state)? This creates some fundamental questions which need to be answered. For example, how do we resolve what is personal and what is private and decide whether the state should regulate the private affairs of the individual. In fact, the state has entered some personal and private issues such as domestic violence, beating children and suicide. But does that mean that separation of the public and the private is essential for social order, or has personal become political?
The UN conferences in Mexico in 1975, Copenhagen in 1980, Nairobi in 1985 and Beijing in 1995 have highlighted integration and full participation of women in development and also stressed full gender equality and elimination of gender discrimination. Approving the changing narratives and resolutions of various women’s conferences, Nepal has gradually modified
its laws, practices and institutions as well as increased the representation
of women in the institutions of governance and augmented their participation at all levels of society and their roles in education and peace.
The Beijing conference stressed gender-balanced participation in conflict resolution, peace, security and decision-making at national and international levels through structural change of the public realm. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security provides multi-track involvements of women in sustainable peace building. It supports local women’s efforts based on fair distribution of social, economic and political power between men and women.
Traditional practices and taboos like the “chhaupadi” system (the practice of menstrual untouchability) in the Far West are still challenging the health rights of women. In spite of a lot of efforts from the government and non-government sectors, this kind of inhuman behaviour still exists. Places like Dadeldhura, Achham, Baitadi, Bajura and Bajhang are examples in the Far West where women are adversely affected by this taboo. Every year, the Far West has been facing numerous cases of domestic and social violence, polygamy, girl trafficking, witchcraft, child marriage, dowry violence and rape. There is always darkness underneath the candle. This phrase perfectly depicts the realities of women living in Dharmasthali which is very close to Kathmandu but very far in terms of access and other facilities, just like the Far West.
How do we change social conditions to make them equally favourable to women? People want change, but the “politics” that we are practicing is blocking real change from taking place. For instance, there has been a phenomenal growth of women’s organisations in Nepal after the 1990s, but the status of women has not improved correspondingly. There are women who are still struggling in rural mountainous areas and fighting for mere survival. So the real question is: do we want change or more of the same again and again? If we want change, changing gender relations and increasing women’s engagement in constructive initiatives is a must.
The notion of power has to be redefined and detached from violence and attached to public interest. All knowledge is beached in power relations, including that knowledge which shapes social life, institutionalises patriarchy, and legitimises cultural formation.
The other is mutual understanding of their roles of both male and female members of society. How power springs up and to whom it belongs depends very much on how its balance is altered. And empowerment is related to various measures of capacity building. In other words, capacity building means providing critical resources for development to those who need them the most. Gender clearly comes into the agenda of this critical debate.
(The author is associated with Friedrich Ebert Foundation, which works in areas of democracy, trade union, media and gender)
Posted on: 2010-08-18 08:13
Headlines
Advertisements
