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BACKGROUND
There is a widespread realisation across the world that the basic objective of human development should be to increase peopleâs choices. It calls for a system which enhances equality of opportunity and empowers people to participate in and benefit from the development process (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 1995). Despite this realisation, inequalities continue to persist due to a number of traditional, religious, social, economic and political factors. The causes and consequences of these inequalities have been the subject of a large body of scholarship worldwide. It is evident that any society which does not value every individual and provide enabling conditions for them to realise their full potential cannot progress sustainably. It should be viewed as a matter of not only human rights but also economics.
One of the major groups which requires special attention in this context is women â constituting half the worldâs population. It is widely recognised that gender equality is a major prerequisite for the sustainability of the world economy. The matter has come to the forefront of international development with the advent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of United Nations (UN, nd).
While speaking on the occasion of United Nations Association of New York Humanitarian Awards Dinner, in New York on 29 October 2014, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonâs message, emphasised as follows (2014a):
We cannot fulfil 100 per cent of the worldâs potential by excluding 50 per cent of the worldâs people. The evidence is clear: equality for women means progress for all.
Several studies have amply demonstrated that empowering women, be it in the market place, office or household, increases overall efficiency, well-being and the quality of decision making. However, the condition of women in most societies is far from satisfactory; they are often not involved in most of the decision-making process within the household or community at large. This is largely because of the comparatively lower status ascribed to women in most societies. Despite several research-based findings â and despite the measures taken by the world community to address this challenge â much remains to be done on issues pertaining to gender inequality. We still have several countries where governmental policies restrict womenâs participation in entrepreneurial and employment activities. The World Bankâs study Women, Business and the Law 2016 (World Bank, 2015), covering 173 economies, demonstrates that in most parts of the world womenâs productive capacity and participation is still restricted, and they continue to suffer from discrimination (Box 1).
GENDER EQUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
The contribution of womenâs labor â in and outside the home â which is absolutely vital for the well-being of the society, continues to remain undervalued and mostly invisible (Action Aid, 2015, p. 2). Furthermore, their roles in society have been largely stereotyped, thereby undermining their true potential to contribute to society. It has been estimated that the underutilisation of womenâs true potential leads to significant loss for the global economy. The World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva highlights the connection between earning gaps between men and women and the consequent economic loss for the global economy as follows (World Bank, 2018b):
The world is essentially leaving $160 trillion on the table when we neglect inequality in earnings over the lifetime between men and women.
Socio-cultural constraints, access to resources and educational levels have pushed women to a level where it is difficult for them to escape from poverty traps. Women are considered and treated as subordinates to men; this is a practice which is prevalent in several parts of the worlds. As a result of this subordination, women are often subjected to various types of discrimination, humiliation, oppression, control, exploitation and various forms of violence (Bhasin, 1993). Gender inequality manifests itself differently across education, employment opportunities, healthcare facilities, life expectancy, family life and political participation. Widespread gender discrimination, the cost it inflicts and the magnitude of injustice it represents is the defining challenge of our times. These issues have significantly attracted the attention of global community (Box 2).
As the global community grapples with the challenges of sustainable development, there is an increasing realisation that the underlying drivers of unsustainability and the phenomenon of gender inequality are deeply interlocked and interdependent. This has not only serious consequences for women, but also incurs major costs for all, including businesses and the wider economy. The study carried out by Action Aid (2015, p. 3) underscores the importance of womenâs work and emphasises its role in sustainable development as follows:
⌠the vast amount of womenâs work, which is either rewarded poorly or not rewarded at all, is being used to subsidise the world economy and fuel unequal and unsustainable growth.
The need to achieve gender equality is clearly stated in the outcome document of United Nation Conference on Sustainable Development (General Assembly resolution 66/288, annex, paras 31 and 45; Box 3). The resolution contains clear and practical measures for implementing sustainable development through focussed interventions for gender equality. Achieving equality between women and men is therefore a major developmental imperative of our times.
SDGS â DO WOMEN HOLD THE KEY?
The SDGs as mandated by the United Nations are guidelines that help national governments globally plan and implement programmes and activities for development. The SDGs emerged from the realisation that development processes in various countries, besides putting a strain on already depleting resources across the globe and degrading the environment, were far from inclusive and equitable. Depriving women and girls of equal participation, choice and opportunities have several implications not only for their lives, but also for the future of the planet as a whole. It is beyond doubt that promoting inclusive development and making efforts to combat climate change are closely linked. Urgent action is required to control the damage caused to natural systems by uncontrolled growth. The phenomenon of climate change and unsustainable patterns of development could reverse the gains of recent times. Every country in the world has a major responsibility to ensure a stable world for coming generations.
Women, apart from being the main caregivers of the family, carry out most household chores. They are also responsible for the provision of water, fuel wood and food for their families. Women are also the most vulnerable section of society; they are adversely impacted by the effects of unsustainable practices and climate change. This is largely due to their economic dependence and lack of land rights. The disruption of usual sources of food, water and fuel wood forces women to travel large distances and spend more time working for less return. Scarce or limited resources also result in making difficult choices; often women and girls are the ones who have to make sacrifices in favour of their male counterparts.
In many homes around the developing world, women are at the heart of the householdâs nexus of water, food and energy; thus they often know firsthand about the challenges and potential solutions in these areas. While emphasising the capabilities of wom...