Gender Equality: Issues & Challenges

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles and responsibilities of women and men in a given culture or location. These roles are influenced by perceptions and expectations arising from culture, political, environmental, economic, social and religious factors, as well as custom, law, class, ethnicity and individual or institutional bias. Gender equality means treating both the genders male/female in an equal manner. It is essential to bring gender equality in society by erasing gender inequality that exists. The need of the hour is to effectively combat gender disparity to promote gender equality by sufficiently empowering women. Our first duty is to love and respect all beings on this earth. If we do so, there will be gender equality. Therefore an attempt is being made to integrate gender issues in all programmes in terms of using a gender perspective to identify gender issues. The public role of women should be supported. Women's participation in the development process should be increased at all levels Gender sensitization programmes should be developed and implemented.