Causes of gender discrimination

25/06/24

Blog

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What Is Gender Inequality?

Gender discrimination is the unequal or disadvantageous treatment inflicted on someone because they belong to a specific gender. It is usually the girl child or woman who have to face such a discrimination.

Education and learning opportunities: gender-wise literacy rates in India showcase the wide gap between men and women. As per 2011 census data, effective literacy rates (age 7 and above) were 82.14% for men and 65.46% for women. Parents are unwilling to spend on girls’ education because educating women is of no value as they will only serve their husbands and the in-laws in the future.

The Indian constitution provides equal rights and privileges for both men and women, but most women across India don’t enjoy these rights and opportunities guaranteed to them. This is because of a number of reasons.

Examples of Gender Inequality?

• Unequal pay: In many industries, women earn less than men for the same work or role, highlighting persistent gender discrimination that limits women’s financial independence.
• Unpaid labour: Women shoulder a disproportionate share of household chores, cooking, and child-rearing—work that is essential but often unrecognized or undervalued compared to paid economic activities.
• Deformed sex ratio: Cultural son preference has led in many cases to female foeticide, drastically reducing the female population and denying the girl child her most fundamental right—the right to life.
• Limited autonomy: Traditional roles restrict women’s decision-making in areas such as finance, mobility, and reproductive health, reinforcing dependence and hindering personal growth.

What are the major causes of gender inequality?

Significant challenges persist in the face of gender inequality and women’s empowerment, despite the various initiatives and policies implemented by the Government of India to address these issues. Even today, women are typically confined to household chores, child-rearing, and family care, regardless of their educational qualifications or professional achievements. In the workplace, women encounter limited job opportunities and are often paid less than their male counterparts for the same work.

Causes of Gender Inequality in India

Poverty – Poverty is one of the causes of gender inequality in India. It is the root cause of gender discrimination in the patriarchal Indian society, as the economic dependence on the male counterpart is itself a cause of gender disparity. A total of 30% of people live below the poverty line, and out of this 70% are women.

Illiteracy – This has led to educational backwardness for girls. It’s a sad reality that despite educational reforms in the country, girls in India are still denied a chance at learning. The mindset needs to be changed, and people need to understand the benefits of educating girls. An educated, well-read woman ensures that other members, especially the children of the house, get quality education.

Patriarchal setup in our Indian society – Men dominate societal and family life in India. This has been the case in the past ages and continues to be practised in the majority of households. Though this mindset is changing with urbanization and education, there is still a long way to permanently change the scenario.

Social Customs, Beliefs and Practices – To date, a lot of families have a preference for a male child and disfavor towards the daughter. Sons, especially in the business communities, are considered economic, political, and ritual assets where daughters are considered liabilities.

Lack of Awareness Among Women – Most of the women are unaware of their fundamental rights and capabilities. They lack a basic understanding of how the socio-economic and political forces affect them. They accept all discriminatory practices that persist in families from generation in the name of tradition and societal norms primarily due to their ignorance and unawareness.

Gender-based discrimination across India can only be checked when girls are not denied their chance to learn and grow in life. Girls like boys should get a great start in life in terms of educational opportunities. This will help them attain economic independence and help them be rightly equipped to contribute towards their upliftment and that of the society they are part of.

Bal Raksha Bharat are acting as catalysts to implement various government initiatives to uplift the status of the girl child in society by running programmes across India. If you want to bring hope to the lives of thousands of girls in India by ensuring they have the right environment and opportunities, you can support Bal Raksha Bharat, and help in making a lasting impact!

Gender Issues in India Today

As of now, gender issues exist in India, but interests have never been so optimistic towards changing them. The problems still faced by most girl children involve abuse in terms of protective provisions, nutrition, and education. Yet, increased movement is steadily building up to challenge these barriers. Public consciousness realizes more that restricting women’s capacity constrains national development. Thus, in conformity with government efforts and societal awareness, we could turn these challenges into opportunities whereby every woman and child enjoys dignity, equality, and freedom from discrimination.

Gender Inequality vs. Gender Discrimination

Gender inequality and gender discrimination are different ideas. Gender inequality means the gap between men and women in matters of status and opportunity, such as differences in literacy rates or presence in leadership. Gender discrimination, on the other hand, refers to the treatment of or action against a person based solely on his or her gender. Discrimination is what you do, and inequality is what you create as a result. We are involved in working for both ideas diligently so that every child may have the opportunity to grow in a society that upholds fairness and equal opportunity.

Solutions To Avoid Gender Inequality in India

Gender imbalance in India should be checked by ensuring that society sends its female child to school until her graduation. It is important to orient communities in killings that protect patriarchal norms and grant equal rights instead. Vocational training would give financial independence to women and would thus reduce their dependency. Along with this, implementation of stringent laws against dowry and violence will go a long way to enforcing government schemes. As long as there is an atmosphere of respect and security, we will all be walking towards a day when all children can prosper equally.

How Bal Raksha Bharat in India is Working To Bring Changes?

Bal Raksha Bharat has been on the journey of transformation since the year 2004. At present, there are more than 60 different programmes being implemented across the fields of education, health, and protection within the country. Our work is aligned with government policies so that all children can be provided with services necessary for survival and well-being. Our holistic model empowers communities to come out of the bondage of poverty and build a future where every girl child and boy child is safe, and educated. So far, we have reached more than 10 million children as an effort to create an inclusively existing society for all and not leaving any child behind. Our disaster relief and emergency preparedness initiatives ensure protection and safety for vulnerable families during times of crisis.

FAQ’s

What are the causes of gender discrimination?

Traditionally the boy is valued more than the girl based on some stereotyped patriarchal values. Poverty, ignorance, and rigid cultural traditions play their part. These lead to the viewing of the girl child as a liability and treating her unequally concerning nutrition, healthcare, and education.

How does gender inequality affect Indian society?

National prosperity is impaired by gender inequalities that block half of the population from realizing its potential. Economic growth, health outcomes for families, and levels of social stability are affected; and with the exclusion of women from opportunities, the world misses out on their leadership resulting in delayed development and prosperity for all children.

How can we reduce causes of gender discrimination?

Education for every girl child would help to limit discrimination, and it should be coupled with making sure she completes her education. Cultural changes would further require awareness creation. Crimes against women would be reduced by strictly enforcing laws that safeguard women’s rights. His policies bring to the table a richer pool of resources in efforts meant to create a safe environment in which equal opportunities are nourished.

What are the root causes of gender inequality in India?

The root cause lies in historically established patriarchal systems that enforce rigid gender roles. Economically dependent on men and the social norms that discriminate against daughters over sons further cause this divide. Furthermore, unawareness regarding women’s rights leads to the maintenance of unequal practices across generations affecting the girl child.

What is the role of NGOs in reducing gender inequality?

NGO work is at the grassroots level, they help in bringing about attitudinal changes and generate empowerment among the communities. Bal Raksha Bharat is one such example, which works in conjunction with the government for the provision of education and protection. It acts as a bridge between the most vulnerable women, children and the resources.

Gaurav Sharma

Content Reviewer

“I am an editor and technical specialist at Bal Raksha Bharat, responsible for publishing articles and posts. My role involves evaluating content for consistency, and ensuring a positive user experience across the website."