Women Empowerment Impact on Socioeconomic Development - Research Paper Example

Impacts of women empowerment on socioeconomic development Task Introduction History plays a major role in side lining women in development. This is through theories and social set up. Theorists carry out unjustified research to show that women are less intelligent than men thus have minimal ability to progress. This is because of brain sizes and sexual differences between women and men (Shields, 1975). Society also believes in women taking the second position after men. A fact they document in holy books such as the bible and display in theatre plays where women are considered evil people as well as antidevelopment (Maitlin, 2011). However, time shows otherwise about women. Over years, women struggle to prove their position in the society. This is clear in Canadian history, where women have a chance to express their intelligence in a male dominated society. The rise of feminists in our societies also helps us acknowledge women as important factors in socioeconomic development. Women model the society, for they are the primary care takers of both female and male children. They work twice as hard as men to have an equal societal view as their male counterparts. As such, women have significant impacts on socioeconomic development. Literature review Weisstein, N (1993). Psychology Constructs the Female; or the Fantasy Life of a Male Psychologist (with some Attention to the Fantasies of his Friends, the Male Biologists and the Male Anthropologist). Feminism and Psychology, 3:194. DOI: 10.1177/0959353593032005 History embraces the role of psychology in defining the position of women in the society. Women are continuously associated with softness, motherhood and homecare. This makes them less competent than their male counterparts. In addition, business and media also encourage such societal view of women. They portray women in relation to traditionally accepted responsibilities through their goods production as well as advertisements. However, psychology is wrong in defining women, as it denies them an opportunity to establish self-identity. Psychology assumes the personality of females and defines them based on genitalia. Women are thus labelled with reference to societal expectations but not their self-drive. In addition, psychology mostly relies on male dominance to make conclusions about women and their roles in the society. This makes it difficult for women to embrace themselves and understand their ability to compete just as men do. However, the rise of feminists makes it clear that societal set up is important in ensuring that women succeed in their desires. This enables them realize their potentials as well as identify their capabilities and constraints in achieving self-identification. Through self-identification, women have gotten a platform to express their needs and air their demands to the world. This enables them go through education system as well as gain almost similar employment opportunities as men. Shields, A. S. (1975). Functionalism, Darwinism and the Psychology of Women: A study in social myth. American Psychologist. Psychology generalizes women and men in their experimental findings which mostly appreciate men. This is through consideration of males as the symbol of continuity in human race. This is because, men are seen to be innovative and intelligent thus able to ensure development of the society. In addition, women’s bid to gain education s questioned as the society assumes that their concentration on male dominated education system would make them lose their roles of child rearing in the society. However, women have a high intrinsic ability and are good managers thus are trusted to restore the community by both men and women in the ancient and modern society. As such women are developers, they ensure moral upbringing of every generation. Thus their need to get equivalent education as men is not only a way of improving societal wellbeing but also enhancing people’s livelihood. Intelligence tests on both men and women show otherwise from belief in biological difference. Women perform just as good as their male counterparts in these tests. However, women show more concentration, patience, appreciation to subtle details and rapid intuition. This makes women outstand their male counterparts who fail to appreciate details. As such women consider themselves better managers due to their intuitive nature and ability to understand people within their environment. As a result of these factors, women are approachable and also able to solve societal problems. This eliminates the old societal mentality towards women as they are able to encourage young females to pursue education and make decisions that enable them compete like men. Women have a maternal instinct that seems to embrace people around them, this gives them to appreciate people’s efforts and nature them accordingly. As a result of their primary roles, women have been able to shape the destiny of great men in the society. Their stand n social development is a clear indication of their ability to ensure economic development both n homes and countries at large. Given the chance to choose maternity and careers or both, women have the chance to prove their worth in economic development. Sex differences in males and females are still an open question in the contemporary society. However, women are just as intelligent as their male counterparts and can equally contribute to economic development despite their primary social roles. As such, brain differences and maternal instincts should not form the basis of secluding women from positions requiring intellectual abilities. Townsend et al. (2010). I’m no Jezebel; I am Young, Gifted and Black: Identity, Sexuality and Black Girls. Psychology of women Quarterly, Vol 34, pages 273-285. Though colour discrimination is an issue hindering development of black race in the United States. Stereotyping of women happens in different parts of the world. This makes women be considered less competitive as they are mostly associated with ensuring satisfaction of sexual pleasures for their male counterparts. Women are required to stay attractive to men in the corporate societies. However, men consider them unable to compete in similar employment opportunities. As a result, media as well as the society encourage women to continue focusing on their perceived strong points. That is beauty and domestic duties; where white women are portrayed as sexually attractive, while women of colour are intimidated and considered as home keepers. Though such notions render women not important in economic development, their portrayal as home keepers make them important in our social set up. This is because the society is incomplete without women who model homes which make men people happy and give them a sense of belonging. Stereotyping of women makes them fight for survival in male dominated societies so as to ensure academic achievements and sexual identity. Women acknowledge their position in the society and accept the fact that they have to struggle twice as men in order to attain similar achievements. Women embrace education in order to save themselves from the stigma that deters their development in the society. Their improved performances through education give them opportunity to acquire chances in the corporate world and be role models to each other. This is shown by Oprah Winfrey and Mitchell Obama who show benefits of the black girl struggle to survive in an ethnic sensitive society. Positive academic self-concept and strong self-identity improves attitudes on women in the contemporary society. This has seen women rise to head some of the fortune five hundred companies in the world and participate in male dominated positions such as sport anchors. Malveaux, J. (2013). Still Slipping: African American Women in the Economy and in Society. Rev Black Polit Econ. Vol 40 pages 13-21. Despite women still slipping in the cracks of developments, there are more women than men who have gone through justifiable degree level programs. Women occupy more employment opportunities than men. This happens despite them being supressed at the lower paying positions. Because of their numbers in employment opportunities, women greatly contribute to government revenues through taxes. In the face of accelerating levels of divorce in the society, women take initiative to take their children through school and ensure their good upbringing. Women are intimidated despite their levels of education as they are given lesser salaries than under qualified males within similar positions. Their progress levels in jobs are also questionable as they rarely get promotions. However, women struggle every day to ensure economic development both in the political and corporate world. Despite struggles to survive traditionally male dominated opportunities, women have ensured economic developments of different societies and will always be celebrated just like Margaret Thatcher. Duflo, E. (2012). Women Empowerment and Economic Development. Journal of economic literature. 50(4). Pages 1051-1079. Gender inequality which is the main killer of women empowerment renders them as missing in action. This is due to their inability to contribute towards economic development through ensuring appropriate nutrition levels and girl child empowerment. In the developing countries, women are the backbone of the economy as they ensure agricultural development in the rural areas. This ensures that the agricultural dependent economies thrive. Women spend more time than men building the economy as they are either doing housework, caring for children or are part of micro economies in market places. They for sure drive our economies. As such development can hinder women empowerment through their discrimination in employments and human rights such as access to and ownership of property. However, it is clear that women are the backbone of our social and economic thrive thus should be given chances to fully explore their potential. Methodology This study is directed towards justifying the research question: Does women empowerment impact on socioeconomic development of our society? In order to answer the question and understand the topic, the study shall mainly focus on male and female students either pursuing a bachelor’s degree or diploma in any course. This is because they have an understanding of our societal set up and are likely to base their arguments on modern undertakings. The study shall purely be qualitative and will involve interpretation of information obtained from the field study. Data obtained from the field will be represented in written form. During data collection, focus group discussion will be implemented to enable the researcher reach many subjects of study at the same time. In addition, use of focus group will also enable the researcher to get diversified views of different people as currently learning institutions host students from different walks of life. The participants in the study will involve all any student willing to participate in the study. There will be a prior informed consent on students before they make the decision to participate. This will be done a week before the actual data collection day. The one week duration gives students time to withdraw from the study if they do not want to participate. Those interested will have to reconfirm their will to participate in the study. The entre study will ensure confidentiality which participants must also consent to bestow. Since the study will involve use of at least six focus groups which include students from different ethnic groups and parts of the world, all participants shall have to express themselves verbally. Each focus group will have at least five students where one third of the students should be female. This makes them free and eases interaction among participants. Interview guidelines will be used to give direction in the focus group discussion. The guidelines will involve points addressing factors about the study that the researcher would like to address. Information collected from the study will solely be used for academic purposes and participants of the study shall have to verify that data collected are true. Some of the points of interest in the study will include the number of participants who come from female headed households, be it a nuclear family or a children’s home. The study will also collect information on the number of participants who have working mothers or female guardians. They will be encouraged to give a general view on their family’s economic status since they have working mothers or female guardians. The study shall also collect information on the students’ views in relation to women empowerment and socioeconomic development. Conclusion The study if conducted would provide information showing that most students come from families with working mothers or female guardians. A slightly higher percentage of the participants will be coming from female headed households. A higher percentage of students will agree that women empowerment has positive impacts on economic development while its impacts on social development need attention. For further, research, there is need to concentrate on realigning women empowerment and social development. This is because our society is breaking up through divorce and children abandonment. References Duflo, E. (2012). Women Empowerment and Economic Development. Journal of economic literature. 50(4). Pages 1051-1079. Matlin, M. (2011). The Psychology of Women (7th Ed.). California: Cengage Learning. Malveaux, J. (2013). Still Slipping: African American Women in the Economy and in Society. Rev Black Polit Econ. Vol 40 pages 13-21. Shields, A. S. (1975). Functionalism, Darwinism and the Psychology of Women: A study in social myth. American Psychologist. Townsend et al. (2010). I’m no Jezebel; I am Young, Gifted and Black: Identity, Sexuality and Black Girls. Psychology of women Quarterly, Vol 34, pages 273-285. Weisstein, N (1993). Psychology Constructs the Female; or the Fantasy Life of a Male Psychologist (with some Attention to the Fantasies of his Friends, the Male Biologists and the Male Anthropologist). Feminism and Psychology, 3:194. DOI: 10.1177/0959353593032005 Read More