Missing gender in gender equality and women empowerment

Pages: 744-745
D. P. Singh (Department of Social Work, Punjabi University Patiala, Punjab)

The discourse around gender equality has been largely approached by looking women as individuals in isolation without much realization on the gender-transformative approaches. This view eventually has resulted in a huge gap in the forward movement of achieving the desired impact in the optimum time. There is also a need to settle as to what gender means and what does equality mean. Equality is not about being same nor does gender means just about two sexes. Equality is about maintaining a balance, mutual respect and promotion of horizontal rather than vertical structures of power distribution. The whole idea is to break down those barriers that have historically been inimical to women in the patriarchal realms. The contemporary gender equality movements should include the missing gender in the equality perspective by doing away with gynocentricity and developing a realization that gender equality cannot be achieved without making it possible for both sexes to evolve and giving each other more but not absolute freedom of choices. Respecting and acknowledging the rights of others on the gender spectrum like the LGBTs has to be central theme in an inclusive discourse.