Causes and Cost of Women Economic Marginalization in Third World Countries - Pakistan and India - Essay Example

? Advocacy Briefing Causes and Cost of women economic marginalization in third world countries Special focus on Pakistan and India “Women often timesare unheralded in the work that they do for the economies of their families, communities and even their nations. Despite the significant progress, there is still a wealth of untapped potential in women.” Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke Despite all development phenomenon that have taken driving seats in developed, emerging and developed countries; world is lagging far behind in understanding and giving the key role that women owe to society. As a matter of fact, women in general are kept at lower than secondary level and in most of the societies despite her services mainly to families that are also unpaid. In all, women has been given less privileges on social, political, and economic power than they deserve as compare to men with one and only reason of being Woman. Moreover the prejudice has strengthened itself and women, in many parts of the world especially developing countries, are growingly deprived of the fundamental rights as human being. Economic marginalization of women refers to the disadvantage and deprivation that woman is accounted for against man on the economic fronts. Economic marginalization include all aspects such as poverty, deprivation from decision making rights and positions with respect to economic matters and more importantly access to economic resources. The menace of oppressing human being with gender inequality, in general and economic oppression in specific, also didn’t allow more advanced sections of the nations that claim to be leaders in development. For instance, only 12 companies from fortune 500 are led by women; down from the count of 15 than previous year (CNN, 2011). Countries that are taking leading positions of growth as emerging nations i.e. China with an average growth rate of above 8% in global financial crises time; vulnerability and marginalization of women has increased with increase in migration from rural to urban areas for their economic growth. These women, though, got freedom from low wage paid job at farm but faces in cities more difficult situation of inequality such as harassment and other city- version of marginalization including job discrimination, salary gap and opportunity inequalities etc (Tam, 2006). Evidences from developed and emerging nations when hold such situations it then gets self explanatory the condition prevailing in developing nations such as India and Pakistan. The two countries being the cultural hub of the South East Asia hold more tightly those old ignorant values that favored the dominance of men even in most educated sections of society; depriving women of social, cultural, public and economic earning as well decision making (Nelasco, 2012). Recently in two conferences, women have asserted despite trade liberalization and globalization, women are growing becoming the victim of unemployment, underemployment, migration for livelihood to urban and overseas etc. All these have put multiplied impact on women inequality with deteriorating food insecurity; labor intensive industries taking advantage of cheap labor with influx of large number of women mainly with their families for jobs and hence, posing high insecurity reasoning the huge labor pool. Given below are some statistics that presents start realities of discrimination against women (Nelasco, 2012) Importance of the women empowerment “When we empower women, we empower communities, nations and the entire human family.” —UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon (UN Women, 2011) For effort related to reduce this inequality social sciences has presented immense literature; however, the affectivity has only gained success to the point that UN sections realized the importance of fact that world shall now develop awareness regarding women empowerment and year 2011 UN marked inaugural of formal efforts for women empowerment (UN Women, 2011). CEO of UN-Women (Women Empowerment section of UN) has vision of this section to have future where everyone still has to develop sense of gender equality as a foundation of justice, development and democracy (UN Women, 2011). More on pace with which the gender equality is being accepted and is expected to be accepted by the people; it is considered big success that unlike previous century where only two countries provided its women to vote while this century witnessed every country accepting women’s right to vote. Moreover, at-least laws have been passed to end violence against women in two third of the world countries (UN Women, 2011). Empowered women mean progress of the women which actually means progress of the world as they almost constitute half of population. In addition, empowering women is actually empowering multiple classes in the society apart from family that includes communities, nations and entire human family (UN Women, 2011). Policy makers are now to realize the women are the fasted growing economies, every faster than China (Voigt, 2009) and World Bank has remarked investment in women as “Smart Economic”. Causes of women economic marginalization To curb the menace, it is important to identify the root cause. Therefore, alike, among many factors that form the ground of economic marginalization of women is the fact that people who plan the world economic development were all men. Hence, in planning development roles assigned to women carried no innovation or any position other than the traditional roles that form basis of human relations such as mothers supporting and taking care of family; daughters, sisters, and wives for facilitating men of the house in either role of fathers, sons, brothers, and husbands etc. Since roles of women didn’t receive any modification such man sharing house related work with house-lady (in any role) despite woman shared earning livelihood job, man maintained their only responsibility to earn and benefitted from increased support services from house lady. Thereby resultantly increasing oppression of women and calling for increased efforts to integrating model that has equality than economic marginalization of women. In addition to above major factors, causing economic marginalization of women and oppression as compare to economic justice available to men; several other factors have been identified by various researches which are as follows: Drastic change in the setup and structure of families For instance, in most of the countries including India - ranking 107 and Pakistan ranking -106 among the most populous countries; man are far more than women. There is dearth of women for marriages. In addition, segment’s dominance is youth class that vanishes early and higher life expectancy of woman has changed the structure totally. Furthermore, preference for baby boy over girls leading to abortion by early detection all has disturbed the natural cycle and balance and hence, causing problems (UN, 2010). Consistently increasing economic variable parity between the two genders For instance, women are offered low wage rate or income than men. Women workforce has increased steadily in the past years and only in youth both genders managed to reduce some parity. Further, main reason of difference in the earnings of two are the fact that women in India and Pakistan are mainly associated with the elementary school education as profession while these being less paid ones and percentages decline with increase in the level of technicality and technical qualification requisites. For instance, women are least represented in research, science and technology related field (UN, 2010). Safety Net devised for the welfare protection has been constantly detrimental over the past years Cultural as well as the religious obligations that require women to move with any of their related man have also been misinterpreted and abused to an extent making safety net prison binding for women. In many parts of Pakistan and India women do not leave home even in case of emergency unless are accompanied by another family member (elder lady) or man. However, to mention, individually any of the factor did not had the capacity to have so detrimental impact on the economic marginalization of women. However, the consistently increasing marginalization of women is attributable to the collective and interconnected impact from all these factors (Heimer, 2000). Factors which should be addressed in order to avoid women economic marginalization To cure these, mass level awareness is required to be integrated in the system where the parity between the two genders will also making way in form of parity within genders segregation of rich women and poor etc. Hence, economic marginalization of women has to be cured before it further strengthens its footings. In addition, changing these are necessary but much easier said than done as these factors are not only psychological adoption but also have been adopted as the main elements of culture and in some cases association with religion. For the purpose if following main factors are addressed there will be move of betterment at-least initiated: Pay equity Balancing the equal payment to the equal work between the two genders is known as pay equity. India claims to pay men and women in lowest parity among BRIC countries; though accepting that parity exist (Nagrajan, 2011). Moreover, daily wage rate that female gets from working in agricultural land is 70% of what male gets by doing equal work on similar land in India. But this wage rate varies across the states (Mahajan, 2012). While in Pakistan gender pay gap is approximately 33% and female workers by doing earns for similar work 66% of what male makes from it (Pay Check, 2012). Behind these gaps are though multi-folded exists but mainly it accounts for individual factors such as market experience, qualification etc (Yasin, Fani, and Yaseen, 2010).Mention worthy is the fact the socio-cultural aspects of both societies are also very dominant where work done by women is valued less then quantitatively less work done by man; famous for being male dominated societies. Glass ceiling This has been regarded as the most impenetrable factor round the world even in nations that claim to have developed their lifestyle and call themselves civilized. In Pakistan in year 2000 powers were transferred to lower levels reserved seats for women 33% of total of all sub-national levels. Pakistan ranks on leading position of empowering women than other S. Asian countries but at the same time growing print media has male domination on the policy making decision; hence there lacks some balance in the overall sectors about the penetrable environment for women (Saeed, 2010). Supreme court judges in Pakistan and India are all men and no women has representation in the apex courts of the two countries. Moreover, the situation mainly in the private sector is not appreciable with higher level of glass ceiling in play there resilient to provide women position even if one deserves and still following the stereotype that female shall be at-least a step behind main in every decision making positions or leadership (Swoboda, 1995). Balancing work and family As noted earlier, women has been considered mainly in roles initial set by the society and are being rigidly followed by the humans (especially man psychology).Therefore, women even working outside has to take up the entire world load of managing family such as taking care of children etc. Women in the countries under study receive least support by the man in home matters. For instance, in Pakistan women usually spends four to five hour with children a day in contrast with one to two hours that females of other countries spent (UN, 2010). Dependency on women for domestic matters is much that man in these land do not even spent one fifth of the time at domestic work than woman (UN, 2010). This main segment of unpaid work that is assumed implied responsibility of woman leads her to work almost double than man. However, this is dilemma is characterized in the entire continent of Asia (UN, 2010) and women are always stuck in challenging job to manage the paid and extensive unpaid jobs (domestic work). Poverty Poverty has many dimensions and women poverty is usually measured with the level of control female actually enjoys over household resources, property, income mainly in cash and spending related decision making (UN, 2010). Though women are presumed to have high control over house related decisions but reality is entirely reverse of the assumption. About 70% of world’s poor population is constituted by female. Upon stating this fact there remains no point to explore as women contributes maximum of domestic work but remains the poor. This can indeed be the biggest fact of economic marginalization of women. Women in India (of age 15-49) employed and earned cash income in the last year is not more than 25% whereas men of similar category earns above 85% (UN, 2010). Further poverty is more in case one belongs to poor household as in Pakistan poverty cost girl’s education even for food. Hence, overall women remains poverty driven in aspects considered for poverty measure mainly for the cultural factors that support economic marginalization of women. Cost of women economic marginalization: The role of women is important for families as well as for the economic development of the country. The government officials have ignored women and it is hurting the economic growth. The ignorance of women by these policy makers have resulted in increasing the problems of women economic marginalization. The concept of women economic marginalization has resulted in serious implications, problems as well as it has resulted in increasing the cost for the society. These problems can be categories into two types with the aim to better recognize how women economic marginalization has impact. One of these categories is the impact on the women as well as their families. The other category that has been influenced by women economic marginalization is the economy (Caragata, 2003). Since women have not been given equal rights and opportunities, therefore it has been perceived that the ratio of females have increased in the crime rate in the society. Participation of women have increased in the criminal activities in the society (Reckdenwald, & Parker, 2008). and the reason for this has been believed to be women economic marginalization. The economy can grow at a better pace if women are also given the opportunities like men and this can result the economy to grow. This loss of not capitalizing on the knowledge and expertise of women is one of the major costs that the society or economy has to bear. As these third world countries are not able to capitalize from the women, therefore these economies have not been able to grow and they have to bear this cost. Further implications: Stated facts call for the immediate actions that develop some mechanism to reduce the economic marginalization of women. Efforts such as UN conducted to establish camp separate for ladies in Pakistan during flood crises ensured access to the food; that is also among the economic marginalization of women. In addition like Pakistan gained leading position of ladies in public office of its houses. Similarly, like India has managed to reduce the pay gap to minimum among BRIC countries. However, in comparison to the costs women are paying these efforts are minimal. Hence, worldwide consolidated efforts to pay half of the world’s population to their due right that will multiply the progress of world; is need of the hour. List of References Caragata, L. (2003). ‘Neoconservative realities: the social and economic marginalization of Canadian Women.’ International Sociology, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 559-580 CNN. (2011). Women CEOs. Available from http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/womenceos/ [Accessed 11 December, 2012 Heimer, K. (2000). ‘Changes in the Gender Gap in Crime and Women’s Economic Marginalization’. Criminal Justice, Available from https://www.ncjrs.gov/criminal_justice2000/vol_1/02i.pdf [Accessed 11 December, 2012 Mahajan, K. (2012). Caste, Female Labor Supply and the Gender Wage Gap in India. Available from http://www.iza.org/conference_files/worldb2012/mahajan_k8185.pdf [Accessed 11 December, 2012] Nagrajan, R. (2011). ‘Unequal pay for equal work dogs working women in India: Study’. Times of India, Available from http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-09/india/28671960_1_gender-parity-equal-remuneration-act-wage-discrimination [Accessed 11 December, 2012] Nelasco, S. (2012). ‘A Study on Women Empowerment in South-Asian Countries: A Contemporary Analysis’. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 3, no. 16, pp. 37 – 45. Pay Check. (2012). Gender Pay Gap in Pakistan. Available from http://www.paycheck.pk/main/salary/gender-pay-gap/gender-pay-gap-in-pakistan-1 [Accessed 11 December, 2012] Reckdenwald, A., & Parker, K. (2008). ‘The influence of gender inequality and marginalization on types of female offending.’ Homicide Studies, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 208-226. Saeed, M. (2010). ‘Pakistan: breaking the glass ceiling’. UNDP, Available from http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2010/june/pakistan-breaking-the-glass-ceiling-one-crack-at-a-time.en [Accessed 11 December, 2012] Swoboda, F. (1995). ‘Law, education failing to break glass ceiling’. The Washington Post, pp. C1, C2. Tam, M. (2006). ‘Marginalization or Empowennent? Rural Migrant Chinese Women in China's Changing Political Economy’. Open Access Dissertations and Theses, Available from http://digitalcommons.mcmaster.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6668&context=opendissertations [Accessed 11 December, 2012] UN Women. (2011). Annual Report. Available from http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/UNwomen_AnnualReport_2010-2011_en.pdf [Accessed 11 December, 2012] UN. (2010). The World's Women 2010: Trends and Statistics. Available from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/Worldswomen/WW_full%20report_color.pdf [Accessed 11 December, 2012] Voigt, K. (2009). ‘Women: Saviors of the world economy?’. CNN. Available from http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/intl.women.global.economy/ [Accessed 11 December, 2012] Yasin, G., Fani, M., and Yaseen, A. (2010). ‘Determinants of Gender Based Wage Discrimination in Pakistan: A Confirmatory Factor Analysis Approach’. International Research Journal of Finance and Economics, no. 55, pp. 177- 196. Read More