Women

If one is to compare women’s position in 21st century with respect to previous centuries, we will find that we have moved miles ahead in our journey towards filling the gender gap. While women were struggling to be included within adult suffrage in the early 20th century, today both men and women have equal political rights. While women were confined within the domestic sphere with the coming of capitalism, as in words of Talcott Parsons, catering to the needs of family, today women are seen actively participating in the economic sphere too. However, the picture isn’t as rosy as it may seem.

Economic and Political Spheres
Though women have equal political, economic and social rights under the democratic rule of law but there are undertones of discrimination, barriers and social exclusion of women which are at play. In India, out of the total women work force, only 28% of the women are employed. The political presence of women is also a quarter. World-over too women leadership as CEOs and state heads is still minuscule in number. Global Gender Gap Report by World Economic Forum undertake four dimensional considerations of education, economic, political and health to assess women empowerment. While education and health dimensions have improved over years because women have better access and equality in terms of educational attainment and healthcare, they still trail back in economic and political sphere. Further, gender pay gap is a real menace.

Domestic Sphere

Though women are getting access to public sphere and are not confined to mere domestic sphere. The division of labour within household is still unequal where women tend to do more household works in comparison to men. Hochschild’s second shift concept highlight the dual burden of working outside and inside the house for the women.

Crime against Women

Further, while women empowerment through freedom of job and access is on a rise so is rising crime against women. Though public sphere is more open to women it’s still not safe for them. Instances of rape cases, Eve teasing, sexual abuse are on a rise. NCRB report claims that India records 51 cases of crime against women every hour.

Conclusion

Women today have better access and greater freedom than compare to any preceding century. However, assuming gender equality in 21st century will be an overstatement. According to Gender Gap Report till will take around 134 years to fill the gender gap in the world. The modern state and democratic setup give immense empowerment to women and that’s why we see women entrepreneurs, women judges, women leaders worldover but their share in the total number further needs significant improvement to make 21st century a century of gender equality.