By: Asim Nawaz Abbassi
One can depict the nature of a nations progress through looking down at the nations participation in the economy. The economy runs when people run for it and besides running for it, they starve to make it better day by day. Nations rise when the participation rises and boosts up to fulfil the prerequisites of economy and to strengthen the economy as well. But economies never work when they collide with the cultures set aside. The cultures, generally, are never witnessed to be in sync with the rules set forth for the economy to run. The best example of the aforementioned scenario is that the economy always needs everyone to participate in it, regardless of the gender a human possess. On the contrary, the men in the society, are generally visioned to take the seats while being the boss not only professionally but for their families as well. They step forward to work prohibiting women in their families to step outside their homes. The men are very well coordinated with societies norms which do not allow women to breathe out of the space they are not designated with. They, the men, have found to be always the influencers with dominant positions and most influencing personalities allowing women to be limited to the household chores only.
The concept of men working to earn is obviously for years now and sustained for decades making it the only reason that this stereotype behaviour takes years to end. Discussing the importance of the women participation, we shall highlight how important it is to reduce gender gaps. Gender gaps and biases have fled to another level now. The gender differences create wage differences too. Women with same capabilities and same potential are led down. They are not paid equally as men which is also one of the reasons why they try not to step out for work. The partial yet unjust environment makes them suffer too.
One of the biggest advantages of reducing these gaps is that the women’s participation would flourish the economy. The participationf enhances the chances of productivity as well. One of the main and best advantages of women participation in workforce is the key to realising their rights. Due to illiteracy, society’s assigned roles to women have been so much constant that women have been suffering since then. The rights and the duties which they actually should ask for and perform are not visible to them. The realisation to so many women, regardless of being literate or illiterate, about this concept is least .Hence, they tend to discourage the concept of other women working. The scope of improvement in this perspective is so minute that we barely feel any change in the environment. Literacy has been a huge factor to collide with the scenario bringing the mentality to suburbs only. And to the other proportion of women, who look up for their rights to work, they are JUDGED, BASHED and HUMILIATED to just BE A WOMEN and thing else. So many of the men religiously brainwash the women in their houses to discourage working and prohibit them to work too. The reason for men restraining for sending their women to work is that they feel like the work place is not secure of the women in their families. According to them, men can easily manipulate women and can pin down and controversies against women. The women, according to them can feel more secure at their homes rather to be in an insecure place. So, in a nutshell, a women can be objectified but can not be permitted to work.
As much as the concept of women participation is ambiguous, the concept of women being on the top designations i.e being the CEO’s and being the entrepreneurs is ambiguous. It is assumed not to be certain. While the fact remains same that they are restrained to not go for leadership positions/ designations.
This concept of women participation also highlights the subject to equal opportunities in the job/ market sector. Those chances are also not availed by women as men are prioritized by so many jobs and in the market sectors. Because of the world wide movements on gender equality and awareness about the importance of women rights, the trends have been witnessed changing. The concept of glass ceiling is witnessed in majority of the institutes where better and equal opportunities are not disseminated to both the genders but men are prioritised as the strongest candidates to take the hold for those positions.
The participation of women escalates the efficiency and effectiveness of a company but the coworkers (both the genders) religiously work for the company without any conflicts and disputes. The environment calls out for reducing any biases and gender gaps to attain success in the economy growth.
A working man is a necessity to the family whilst a working women may or may not be considered one. I, being the participant of Women Deliver 2019 feel confident seeing so many things happening around the globe to empower women of the world. For the very reason, often at times we see women creating change while breaking stereotypes to the limits they can. Ending the debate with the last and foremost advantage that participation of women in working force has is the empowerment it creates for women. They can step out, work and earn for themselves. They can keep themselves upgraded, know about all the technologies, can acquire knowledge about anything in the work place or even out side from that, skill themselves to be better in profession and avail any opportunity making them more strong, confident and better women for todays world.
The writer is Editor at The Dayspring, advocate of girls rights and participant of Women Deliver 2019.