Page 2 - Gender Inequality

From books to uniforms: How Kerala schools are embracing gender neutrality

The Kerala government is updating school books and introducing gender-neutral uniforms to promote the idea of a gender-neutral society among young people

UN points to yawning gap of inequality in sexual, reproductive health

A new study says an African woman is roughly 130 times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications than a woman in Europe or North America, the UN population fund reported Wednesday as it decried widening inequality in sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide. UNFPA's latest State of World Population report also estimates that nearly 500 maternal deaths occur in countries with humanitarian crises or conflicts, and shows that women of African descent in the Americas are more likely to die giving birth than white women. Sweeping global gains in sexual and reproductive health and rights over the last thirty years are marred by an ugly truth millions of women and girls have not benefited because of who they are or where they were born, the fund said in a statement. UNFPA executive director Dr Natalia Kanem said the unintended pregnancy rate has declined by nearly one-fifth since 1990 and the maternal death rate has dropped by more than one-third since ..

Gender to education and income: India's political gap is narrowing

Right versus Left phenomenon appears to be playing out differently in India

Despite legislative progress, gender issues still on margins: Experts

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, the discourse surrounding women's issues has garnered renewed attention with the slogan of 'Nari Shakti' but several activists are apprehensive that the core concerns of women may again get subdued in the broader economic and political debates. There is a need for political parties to prioritise gender-sensitive policies, not merely as token gestures but as integral components of their core agendas, Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI) said, criticising the "marginalisation" of women's issues within the broader electoral discourse. "To truly empower women and address their unique concerns, it is imperative that political parties and leaders integrate gender-sensitive policies into their core agendas and manifestoes as a priority. "This includes not only increasing women's representation in political spaces but also ensuring that their voices are heard and acted upon in decision-making processes," she ..

Google celebrates International Women's Day 2024, depicting gender equality

Google Doodle is also celebrating International Women's Day 2024 commemorating women's economic, cultural, social and political achievements

Despite legislative progress, gender issues still on margins, say experts

In the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, the discourse surrounding women's issues has garnered renewed attention with the slogan of 'Nari Shakti' but several activists are apprehensive that the core concerns of women may again get subdued in the broader economic and political debates. There is a need for political parties to prioritise gender-sensitive policies, not merely as token gestures but as integral components of their core agendas, Poonam Muttreja, executive director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI) said, criticising the "marginalisation" of women's issues within the broader electoral discourse. "To truly empower women and address their unique concerns, it is imperative that political parties and leaders integrate gender-sensitive policies into their core agendas and manifestoes as a priority. "This includes not only increasing women's representation in political spaces but also ensuring that their voices are heard and acted upon in decision-making processes," she ..

International Women's Day 2024: Why do we celebrate this day?

International Women's Day 2024: The world celebrates this day to promote women's rights and equality. It is an opportunity to acknowledge women's equality and progress

Time to speak up, women

Ahead of the upcoming elections, political parties have started announcing incentives to benefit women, but what do women truly seek for genuine gender parity?

World Day of Social Justice 2024: History, theme, importance and more

World Day of Social Justice serves as a sign of the significance of promoting social rights and equality for all, no matter what their ethnicity, race, gender, religion, or socioeconomic status

Gender preference

Girl child continues to face discrimination

India climbs eight places to 127 in global gender index, says WEF report

India has ranked at 127 out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity -- an improvement of eight places from last year -- according to the World Economic Forum's annual Gender Gap Report, 2023. The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked India at 135 out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index in the report's 2022 edition. India has improved by 1.4 percentage points and eight positions since the last edition, marking a partial recovery towards its 2020 parity level, the report stated. The country has attained parity in enrolment across all levels of education, it said. India has closed 64.3 per cent of the overall gender gap, the report said. However, it underlined that India has reached only 36.7 per cent parity on economic participation and opportunity. The index ranked India's neighbours Pakistan at 142, Bangladesh at 59, China at 107, Nepal at 116, Sri Lanka at 115 and Bhutan at 103. Iceland is the most gender-equal country in the world for the 14th consecutive year and th

Grap-3 restrictions reimposed in Delhi-NCR as AQI dips to 'severe' category

The central government on Sunday ordered a ban on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR amid worsening air quality in the region. The Commission for Air Quality Management, a statutory body responsible for forming air pollution reduction strategies for the region and their implementation, noted a significant rise in Delhi's AQI (458 and 457 at 10 am and 11 am) due to unfavourable climatic conditions and local pollution sources. Anticipating a prolonged period of severe air quality, the committee decided to implement GRAP Stage-III curbs ('severe' air quality index (AQI) range) immediately to prevent further deterioration. The curbs include a ban on non-essential construction work and the plying of BS III petrol and BS IV deisel four-wheelers in the region. Construction work related to national security or defence, projects of national importance, healthcare, railways, metro rail, airports, inter-state bus terminals,

Gender budgeting in India: What does it mean and how it impacts policy

India adopted its first gender budget in 2005-06, marking a significant step towards addressing gender disparities in resource allocation

Meghalaya women's helpline gets over 36,000 calls since launch: Minister

The women's helpline number 181 in Meghalaya has received over 36,000 calls of which the majority were for seeking protection from abuse and violence, state Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh said on Wednesday. The women's helpline number 181 was launched in Meghalaya in February 2022. "We have received 36,362 calls on the number 181 as of date for which 477 cases have been registered, 158 cases are active and 304 are closed," Paul told PTI. He said the response has been not bad considering that in a state where we generally tend to hide things and don't go beyond the four walls of our house, women are making use of the number 181. "The fact that 36,000 calls were made since the service was activated shows that the response has been high," he added. The minister said the state government has decided to integrate the women's helpline 181 and child helpline 1098 to ensure round-the-clock service to attend to distress calls. Social Welfare Director Camelia Doreen Lyngwa said the .

'Toughen up', not 'man up': Govt releases gender-neutral language guide

In a bid to promote the use of gender-neutral language, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday released a guide which administrators and educational institutions will be encouraged to refer to. The Guide on Gender Inclusive Communication' has been compiled by the National Gender and Child Center, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UN Women. The guide highlights the importance of the gender spectrum, and also provides a lexicon on gender neutral language. The guide attempts to give a breakdown of gendered use of language and stresses on making a deliberate effort to become conscious of existing biases in commonly spoken language. The guide has over 60 words and phrases, and recommends the use of 'toughen up' instead of 'man up', 'owner' instead of 'landlord or landlady', 'humankind or humanity' instead of 'mankind', 'workforce or workers' for 'manpower', 'transgender .

Best of BS Opinion: Need for pragmatism, tackling urban poverty & more

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

India needs a gender strategy

It must adopt a holistic approach consisting of fiscal, administrative, and regulatory measures, combined with public messaging and mindset changes

Why there are so few women in banking

The most significant boost to achieving gender parity could come from a commitment from companies to provide flexible working

Unhealthy dynamics

Gender bias in cancer care reflects a larger health care crisis

Nine out of 10 people hold biases against women, says UNDP's report

The Gender Social Norms Index shows that 25% of the population in 80 countries thinks a husband beating his wife is justifiable