Distinction Between Gender Equality, Gender Equity, and Women’s Empowerment
| Gender Equality | Gender Equity | Women’s Empowerment |
|---|---|---|
| Equal rights, opportunities, and responsibilities for all genders. | Recognizes historical disadvantages and ensures fairness through targeted support. | Enhancing women’s agency, autonomy, and decision-making power. |
| Focus on eliminating discrimination. | Focus on justice and systemic corrections. | Focus on self-reliance and participation in social change. |
| Example: Equal pay for equal work. | Example: 33% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj. | Example: SEWA (Self-Employed Women’s Association) in Gujarat. |
Importance of Gender Considerations in Program Design & Implementation
- Addressing Inequality: Ensures fair access to resources (e.g., PM Awas Yojana registers houses in women’s names).
- Ensuring Inclusivity: Programs should cater to all genders (e.g., NRLM empowers women via SHGs).
- Better Outcomes: Leads to improved education, health, and economic growth (e.g., Kudumbashree in Kerala).
- Avoiding Gender Stereotypes: Prevents policies from reinforcing biases.
- Sustainability & Social Cohesion: Promotes long-term balanced growth (e.g., Mission Shakti in Odisha).
Conclusion: Gender mainstreaming in policies is crucial for achieving SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and inclusive development.
