SEMINAR ON ISSUES IN HEALTH & GENDER

MODERATOR:
Mrs.Bhupinder kaur Assoc. Proff. UCON,Faridkot

PRESENTED BY:
Poonampreet kaur Msc(N) 1st year

ISSUES IN HEALTH AND GENDER

INTRODUCTION: As psychologists and sociologists point out, gender roles and expectations are assigned at birth. As soon as people put the label on the child girl or boy, they begin treating the child in a stereotypical fashion. This stereotyping follows the child throughout his or her life. It is reinforced by socialisation, the process of acquiring cultural values and norms through the major socialising agents of family, school, religion, and the mass media. GENDER (CONCEPT): Sociologically the word gender refers to the socio-cultural definition of man and woman, the way societies distinguish men and women and assign them social roles. GENDER EQUALITY: Refers to equal enjoyment by women and men of socially valued goods, opportunities, resource or rewards. It does not mean sameness. Men and women are different both physiologically and psychologically.

PLACE OF WOMEN IN INDIAN SOCIETY: A (cultural) historical perspective The Goddess (Devi) The mother The sister The tawaif

GENDER INEQUALITY: Current Demographic profile of IndiaTotal Indian Population: 1,210,193,422 Males: 623,724,248

Females: 586,469,174 Gap: 37,255,074 Current Sex Ratio of India Current Sex Ratio of India is 940 females for every 1,000 males Kerala with 1058 females per 1000 males has the highest sex ratio. Haryana's Jhajjar (774 females) and Mahendragarh (778 females) districts have the lowest sex ratio. Sex ratio of Punjab is 874 females for every 1,000 males. Bathinda, the Badals' territory and parliamentary constituency of Dy. CM's wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal has the lowest sex ratio of 865

HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY: In most cultures women and men are expected to develop distinctive characteristics. These sex roles are norms assigned on the basis of gender. Some examples are that females are supposed to be gentle, kind, sensitive, and serve the psychological and physical needs in the home while males are to be dominant, active, achieving, control money and power and are busy outside the home. There has been debate in psychology and sociology as to whether these attributes are biological or environmental- nature vs. nurture. Obviously there are biological differences between the sexes. Adult males are generally larger and have greater upper body strength than females; women can bear and suckle children. But biology alone cannot wholly account for how sex roles or the division of labour between men and women have evolved. The Social Learning Theory hypothesises that gender roles are learned. Children observe and imitate the behaviour of adult role models with boys tending to imitate males and girls, females. Also these roles are reinforced through rewards and punishments. For example, boys are called sissies if they cry while girls are admonished if they exhibit aggression or competitiveness. Psychological studies have revealed that females have lower self-esteem than males. This may be due to most cultures valuing male gender roles more highly. Males are seen as more competent than women are. In school, boys are encouraged more than girls are toward achieving in mathematics and science. Males from a young age learn to believe their actions count and that they have control in their lives. This leads to greater feelings of confidence and competency. Male activities are defined as more important than females. The division of labour gives power and prestige to men, who are in the public sphere while many women are in the home or low wage and prestige employment. Issues of gender affect all structures and institutions. There are gender biases and stereotypes in how organizations are structured and administered. Gender issues are involve several matter are Religion, Health, Education, Employment, Violence, Media, Marriage and Family, Development and Economics, Politics and the Environment. GENDER SENSITIVE ISSUES: Inequality in health care Inequality in nutrition inequality in access to education inequality in religion inequality in employment inequality in right to divorce inequality in right to travel forbidden from driving clothing requirements victims of violence female infanticide prenatal diagnostic technique act media inequality in politics development and economics

INEQUALITY IN HEALTH CARE: Women receive less healthcare facilities than men.A primary way that parents discriminate against their girl children is through neglect during illness. As an adult they tend to be less likely to admit that they are sick and may wait until their sickness has progressed far before they seek help or help is sought for them. Access to and affordability of medical care is worldwide concerns. Women in developing countries face great health risks such as maternal mortality, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as AIDS, and malnutrition. Women in developing countries have an 80 to 60 percent higher death rate when giving birth than do women in developed countries. The reasons include giving birth without knowledgeable help, lack of emergency backup medical care, anaemia, and endemic malnutrition. Risk of death during childbirth increases if the woman is very young or middle-aged or has already had many children. Women in developing countries have extremely heavy and tiring workloads. They tend to eat less to ensure the rest of the family is fed. Overwork and lack of nutrition adversely affects women's health. Worldwide women suffer from iron deficiency. With no time to rest, women tend not to receive medical help until they are gravely ill. INEQUALITY IN NUTRITION: Gender disparities in nutrition are evident from infancy to adulthood. In fact, gender has been the most statistically significant determinant of malnutrition among young children and malnutrition is a frequent, direct or underlying, cause of death among girls below age 5. Girls are breast-fed less frequently and for a shorter duration in infancy. In childhood and adulthood, males are fed first and better. Adult women consume approximately 1,000 fewer calories per day than men according to one estimateNutritional deprivation has two major consequences for women: they never reach their full growth potential, and suffer from anemia, which are risk factors in pregnancy. This condition complicates childbearing and results in women and infant deaths, and low birth weight infants. The tradition also requires that women eat last and least throughout their lives even when pregnant and lactating. Malnourished women give birth to malnourished children, perpetuating the cycle. INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO EDUCATION: In many areas of Afghanistan, girls are often taken out of school when they hit puberty. The enormous lack of female teachers, who are fundamental in a country where girls cannot be taught by a man after a certain age, is having a negative impact on girls education. Literacy rates among young Afghan women are disturbingly low: only 18 per cent of women between 15 and 24 years of age can read. While the total number of children enrolled in primary schools is increasing tremendously, the percentage of female students is not.In developing countries only a small percentage of children are able to attend school. However, boys generally have more opportunity than girls do. Also a woman's perception of increased social status and power is dependent on her education and occupation. Programs which provide a meal for children who attend school lead to an increase of girls attendance at school. INEQUALITY IN RELIGION: Many customs, beliefs and laws that discriminate against women have been perpetrated by religion. Even in religion there has been a sexual division of labour. Men do the thinking; therefore they engage in scholarship, scripture study and interpretation. Women do the feeling; their job is to mourn the dead and celebrate life. Many examples are there for discrimination for females in religions: In Jewish tradition, men are seen as normative and women as "other". The male is dominant and the woman is subservient. In fact, every day male Jews pray in thanksgiving that they are not female:

"Blessed are Thou, O Lord, for not making me a woman". Women are seen as a source of evil. Her sexuality is a threat and temptation to men. In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), God is seen as male and males are supreme. Women in these scriptures are therefore the property of men. In Christianity women have been blamed for sin in the world and humanity being removed from the Garden of Eden. Because of these beliefs, women are seen as weak and sinful. Jesus treated women with compassion and acceptance. Jesus also took away the double standard of divorce, giving men the same rules to follow as had applied to women. Even though Christ himself did not discriminate against women, Christian church structures do not support women's development or full participation. In the Muslim religion, the two most important sources of tradition are the Koran and Hadith (sayings), which until recently have only been studies and interpreted by men. Because literacy rates for rural Muslim women are the lowest in the world, few women have read the literature or been involved in scholarship. Women in Islam are submissive to men. There are three theological assumptions: 1) God's primary creation is man- woman is secondary. 2) Woman was the primary agent of expulsion from the Garden of Eden. 3) Women were created for man. However, according to Riffat Hassan, a Muslim woman scholar, there is no statement in the Koran which could be interpreted that man was created prior to women or that woman was made from man. INEQUALITY IN EMPLOYMENT: Consider the following: Women work two-thirds of the worlds working hours, according to the United Nations Millennium Campaign to halve world poverty by the year 2015. The erwhelming majority of the labor that sustains life growing food, cooking, raising children, caring for the elderly, maintaining a house, hauling water is done by women. Universally this work is accorded low status and no pay. Women earn only 10 percent of the worlds income. Where women work for money, they may be limited to a set of jobs deemed suitable for women invariably low-pay, low-status position. INEQUALITY IN RIGHT TO DIVORCE: In many countries, while husbands can divorce their spouses easily , wives access to divorce is often extremely limited, and they frequently confront legal and financial obstacles. In Lebanon, battered women cannot file for divorce on the basis of abuse without the testimony of an eyewitness. In Israel, a man must grant his wife a get, a Jewish divorce writ that can only be given by a man to his wife never the other way around. INEQUALITY IN RIGHT TO TRAVEL: Husbands in Egypt and Bahrain can file an official complaint at the airport to forbid their wives from leaving the country for any reason.In Syria, a husband can prevent his wife from leaving the country.In Iraq, Libya, Jordan, Morocco, Oman and Yemen, married women must have their husbands written permission to travel abroad, and they may be prevented from doing so for any reason. In Saudi Arabia, women must obtain written permission from their closest male relative to leave the country or travel on public transportation between different parts of the kingdom.

FORBIDDEN FROM DRIVING: In Saudi Arabia, women arent allowed to drive, or even ride bikes, and men arent allowed to drive women theyre not closely related to. The kingdom is currently dealing with the dilemma of how to get 367,000 girls to school on buses that can only be driven by men.

CLOTHING REQUIREMENTS: In 2001 a militant group called Lashkar-e-Jabar demanded that Muslim women in Kashmir wear burqas, head to toe garments that cover their clothes, or risk being attacked. Men threw acid in the faces of two women for not covering up in public. VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE: Violence based on gender is universal. Gender violence can be defined as acts of force or cruelty directed at an individual woman and which perpetrates female subordination. Some explanations for the occurrence of gender violence include cultural and societal norms about owning, using and hurting women, power relations and beliefs. Patterns of abuse and violence are learned at an early age and are difficult to change. 1. Acceptance of Wife Beating: Wife beating and battering has been accepted in the past in many societies and is still accepted in many others today. Beating wives is based on the presumption that a wife is the property of her husband and that what goes on inside the home is private. Women who are beaten are usually in social isolation. 2. Conditions for Violence: Spouse abuse stems from rigid ideas of roles and responsibilities. A husband may erupt into violence when his wife goes out without asking his permission, does not have a meal ready on time or questions him about money or his girlfriends. Women are raped by their husbands because it is believed a woman should submit to sex whenever the man wishes it. In India there have been many incidences of dowry deaths. The bride's family pays a high dowry to the groom's family. If the wife does not have sons, is not pleasing, or the full dowry is delayed, the husband kills his wife and remarries to obtain a new dowry. Also widows have no standing in Indian society. They are expected to throw themselves on their husband's funeral pyre and burn to death (sati). 3. Women as Objects: Rape is also a common occurrence worldwide.Most rapes are perpetrated by someone the victim knows. On college campuses, date rape is prevalent. The sex tourism trade also abuses women and girls. Females are kidnapped or lured to other countries by promises of good employment and then are forced into prostitution. Agencies offer men in developed countries tours to make use of women's and girl's services. Two million girls between the ages of 5-15 are introduced into the commercial sex market each year. 4. Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is another form of intimidation used against women. Sexual harassment can be defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature".Men's and women's perspectives about harassment differ in that men believe they are flattering the women (or are flattered if harassed by women), whereas women are insulted or angered by such behaviour. Men harass women to show power. Women's careers are endangered by harassment; if they refuse or report the harassment, they could lose their jobs (Brannon, 1999). FEMALE INFANTICIDE: Chinas one child policy has heightened the disdain for female infants; abortion, neglect, abandonment, and infanticide have been known to occur to female infants. The result of such family planning has been the disparate ratio of 114 males for every 100 females among babies from birth through children four years of age. Similarly, the number of girls born and surviving in India is significantly less compared with the number of boys, due to the disproportionate numbers of female fetuses being aborted and baby girls deliberately neglected and left to die. PRENATAL DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE ACT: The passing of Pre-natal Diagnostic Tech Act in 1994 also is a step in removing gender discrimination. This Act seeks to end sex-determination tests and female foeticide and prohibits doctors from conducting such procedures for the specific purpose of determining the sex of the fetus.But the doctors

who campaign in favour of the legal ban and against the misuse of prenatal diagnostic technique, themselves use the technique to identity the gender and abort the female foeticide in their own nursing homes. This is done with the approval of and financial support by the family without being disclosed to the public. Their clinics are well protected by powerful lobby in association with influential persons. MEDIA: In the last 30 years there have been some changes in attitudes. Women are now a major part of the workforce and economy. Media stories are written about women in business, the arts and sports. In addition, there are more women journalists. Women are also under-represented in the media in decisionmaking roles. Using Media to Highlight Problems: The medias role is to inform and educate the public. It is to enable people to understand and reflect on the world. Because of this, the media plays a crucial role in shaping public consciousness and public policy. What journalists cover (or do not cover) can affect cultural perceptions. For example, media coverage of child labour, AIDS, or domestic violence can lead to public protest to enact laws or research that affects these issues. Also the media can help men and women realise the impact of changing gender roles so they can adapt better to these changes. INEQUALITY IN POLITICS: Throughout the world, women are becoming more involved in government and politics. In most countries women now have the right to vote. The first country to give women the right to vote was New Zealand in 1893. Even though women have been elected to legislative bodies and have served as presidents, prime ministers and cabinet members, only 24 women have been elected head of state or government in the last century. Traditional practices and attitudes toward women have been carried over into the public forum, making it hard for women to achieve equality.Legally, in most countries, women still have few rights, or even if laws are on the books, they may not be enforced. Women are banding together to change policies or give their input on issues. Women are especially interested in being a part of the peace process. Women are greatly affected by war and want to have their rights protected. Equality Now, a womens rights organization based in the United States, petitioned the Security Council to make sure women were involved as participants in the reorganization. Political inequality comprises of: Social and cultural barriers, including issues like restrictions on womens mobility that affect their access to information and resources.Politics is considered as male domain in the public view. There is a lack of a societal acceptance of womens political role.Women are hindered to participate as voters and as candidates by the local power brokers. Male domination in power politics.Lack of interest of political parties to orientate themselves toward the political participation of women;Lack of government will to create enabling environment for womens political participation and representation.Lack of representation of women in the decision making bodies of political parties;Masculine model of politics and decision making; Inadequate political training of women;Lack of capacities and know-how of the political system.Lack of education and awareness of women of their political rights;High level of illiteracy among women.Lack of confidence and trust among women;Lack of political skills .Lack of financial resources and social capital.Lack of experience in playing a decision-making role.

EMPOWERMENT Empowerment is a term widely used in the context of development, particularly, womens development. It is an active, multi-dimensional process which should enable women to realize their full identity and powers in all spheres of life. Empowerment in a nutshell , is a way of defining, challenging and overcoming barriers in ones life through which the individual increases her ability to shape her life and environment. An empowered woman has a positive self image and takes an active part in decision making related to herself, her family and the community. Greater accesss to knowledge and resources, greater autonomy in decision making and greater ability to overcome retrictions and constraints imposed by customs, beliefs and practices. Self confidence and understanding of the importance of human values and rights conducive for a more dignified and satisfactory way of life.

NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN INTRODUCTION The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women, but also empowers the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. Within the framework of our laws, development policies, Plans and programmes have aimed at womens advancement in different spheres. From the Fifth Five Year Plan (1974-78) onwards has been a marked shift in the approach to womens issues from welfare to development. In recent years, the empowerment of women has been recognized as the central issue in determining the status of women. The National Commission for Women was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, . Goal and Objectives The goal of this Policy is to bring about the advancement, development and empowerment of women. The Policy will be widely disseminated so as to encourage active participation of all stakeholders for achieving its goals. Specifically, the objectives of this Policy include 1. Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for full development of women to enable them to realize their full potential. 2. The de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women on equal basis with men in all spheres political, economic, social, cultural and Civil. 3. Equal access to participation and decision making of women in social, political and economic life of the nation. 4. Equal access to women to health care, quality education at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment, equal remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and public office etc. 5. Strengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. 6. Changing societal attitudes and community pr Ministry of Human Resource Development Department of Women and Child Development participation and involvement of both men and women. 7. Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process. 8. Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl child

 At the initiative of and with the full participation of all stakeholders including community and religious leaders, the Policy would aim to encourage changes in personal laws such as those related to marriage, divorce, maintenance and guardianship so as to eliminate discrimination against women.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN DIFERRENT ASPECT Decision making Mainstreaming a gender Economic empowerment of women Economy Globalization Women and agriculture Industry Social skill Health Nutrition

Decision Making Womens equality in power sharing and active participation in decision making, including decision making in political process at all levels will be ensured for the achievement of the goals of empowerment. All measures will be taken to guarantee women equal access to and full participation in decision making bodies at every level, including the legislative, executive, judicial, corporate, statutory bodies, as also the advisory Commissions, Committees, Boards, Mainstreaming a Gender Policies, programmes and systems will be established to ensure catalysts, participants and recipients. Wherever there are gaps in policies and programmes, women specific interventions would be undertaken to bridge these. Coordinating and monitoring mechanisms will also be devised to assess from time to time the progress of such mainstreaming mechanisms. Economic Empowerment of women Since women comprise the majority of the population below the poverty line and are very often in situations of extreme poverty, given the harsh realities of intra -household and social discrimination, policies and poverty eradication programmes will specifically address the needs and problems of such women. There will be improved implementation of programmes which are already women oriented with special targets for women. Steps will be taken for mobilization of poor women and convergence of services, by offering them a range of economic and social options, along with necessary support measures to enhance their capabilities. Women and Economy Womens perspectives will be included in designing and implementing macro-economic and social policies by institutionalizing their participation in such processes. Their contrproducers and workers will be recognized in the formal and informal sectors (including home based workers) and appropriate policies relating to employment and to her working conditions will be drawn up.

 Globalization Globalization has presented new challenges for the realization of womens equality, the gender impact of which has not bee systematically evaluated fully. However, from the micro-level studies that were commissioned by the Department of Women & Child Development Women and Agriculture Programme for training of women in social conservation, social forestry, dairy development, livestock including small animal husbandary, poultry, fisheries. Women And Industry The important role played by women in electronics, information technology and food processing and agro industry and textiles has been crucial to the development of these sectors. They would be given comprehensive support in terms of labour legislation, social security and other support services. Social Skill EDUCATION: Equal assess to education for women and girls will be ensured. Universlisation of education, eradicate illitracy. Increasing enrollment and and retention in school. Focus on poor, schedule tribe and backward classes. Also improve vocational , technical skills. Health Holistic approach to women health which include both nutrition and health services will be given to women and girls at all stages. The reduction of MMR, IMR , Uder five. Control of communicable diseases.Effectively meet problems of infants, MMR and early marriage. Statistical recod, population stablization Nutrition Malnutrition and diseases faced by women in different stages focussed attention to meet nutrtional needs. Eliminate discrimination by appropriate strategies. Gender Sensitization Training of personnel of executive, legislative and judicial wings of the State, with a special focus on policy and programme framers, implementation and development agencies, law enforcement machinery and the judiciary, as well as non-governmental organizations will be undertaken.

OTHER SCHEMES FOR WOMEN ARE Each Five year plan add different programme added for welfare of women. Like in Ninth five year was took up empowering, women these scheme are : Centrally sponsored scheme (css) :it is for the Education of the girl child and adolescent girls. In 10th five year plan to reduce gender gaps in literacy by at least 50% in 2007 for this fund provided by state govt. 222.51 billion. For SSA Rs 50.6 billion in 2007. Scheme for Education of girls and Women of Ministry of Human Resources Development: It is also called Umbrella Scheme, scheme for girl benefit. SSA primary level education by 2007 and at elementary level 2010.

Mahila Samakhya programme (MS): it comes into force 1988. it include to provide formal and informal education, education to girls, vocational training, adult education Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidhalya: It comes into force in 2004. This scheme for minority classes girl and 25% reserve for BPL. Mid Day Meal Planning(MDM): Presence of mid day meals in village increased the probability that girls child would be enrolled in school by15%. It also reduces caste biases. Balika Samiridhi Yojna: Stared on1997 target is BPL girls and daughter of rag pickers, vegetable and fish seller. Those who wish to avail benefit from this scheme must apply to Anganwadi worker, ANM; Midwives in this scheme state deposit 500 Rs in name of girl. When girl of 18 year old can take this. It is also called as Balika Bima Yojna Mother or Guardian also takes money. ICDS: In 10th five year plan. Kishori Shakti Yojna: It is under ICDS scheme. To improve nutrional status of girl child between 11 to 18 year. CONCLUSION: According Indias constitution, women are legal citizens of the country and have equal rights with men (Indian Parliament). Because of lack of acceptance from the male dominant society, Indian women suffer immensely. Although the countrys constitution says women have equal status to men, women are powerless and are mistreated inside and outside the home. But now the scene is changing as the Government is taking efforts and making strategies to empower women in all aspests of life. The picture is far better from the past and hopefully it will be the best in the coming years in India as well as in other countries of the world.

REFERENCES: K B Powar, Education and Womens Empowerment, 3rd Edition, Published by Jaypee Brothers. Satinder Singh, Women Empowerment, 2nd Edition, Published by Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi 1999. University News, A weekly Journal published by Association of Indian Universities. www.google.com www.findarticles.com http://ecopackindia.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/indian-population-state-wise-sex-ratio-density http://women empowerment\Girls and Gender Discrimination http://women empowerment\Growing Gender Inequality in India Global Envision F:\women empowerment\Indian Politics and The Womens Reservation Bill.mht F:\women empowerment\MANY FACES OF GENDER INEQUALITY.mht http://www.globalissues.org/issue/587