Daily Times

Women comprise nearly half of the world’s over seven billion population. Despite that, gender equality remains an elusive dream.

This regressive trend cannot be associated with third-world countries alone. Rather, it is a problem prevalent even in developed countries. Indeed, this problem is deeply embedded in the social structures, which hinders in the provision of an equality status to women across the world. Simultaneously, there is no denying the fact that the situation has improved in the last many decades, albeit not up to a satisfactory level.

No holistic efforts have been made to ensure gender equality. This disparity needs to be changed for a balanced, progressive and peaceful world.

Despite championing the cause of gender equality, the US has ironically never been led by any female president since its birth in 1776. Paradoxically, third-world countries are often lectured by the US on gender equality. To put into perspective, former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, despite winning most delegates than any previous female candidate, lost the Democrat’s nomination to former President of the United States (POTUS) Barack Obama in 2008 electoral cycle.

Clinton once again tried in 2016 for the presidential elections. This time, she won the primary elections and was nominated as Democrat’s presidential candidate. Unfortunately, the deeply embedded structural problem that still treats women inferior to men prevented her from becoming the president of the sole superpower.

Resultantly, Trump got elected POTUS. The man, in turn, has created more troubles for the world than solving them.

For instance, the world is at the verge of another great annihilation as a small miscalculation in Iranian stalemate may lead towards the much-dreaded World War III. To further substantiate my viewpoint, Afghanistan was far less powerful than Iran yet US invasion of Afghanistan post 9/11 changed the global dynamics forever. Even to this day, the US has failed to bring about peace in Afghanistan. Imagine if Iran is attacked while having allies like Russia, Syria and Hizbollah. This would have catastrophic consequences not only for the interests of the US, its allies but rather all countries around the globe as none could escape this devastation. Tragedies cannot be ruled out, especially when the leaders take decisions based on their instincts as does President Trump. If Hillary has been elected, the situation would certainly have been different. Hillary is certainly more experienced than President Trump in dealing with foreign policy issues. At least, Hillary would have avoided dealing with foreign policy issues on Twitter.

Women being ensconced at the top positions have a positive impact on the society in particular and the world in general

In our part of the world, Benazir Bhutto became the first female prime minister of the Islamic world. Her rise to power had certainly motivated women to break the shackles and grab higher positions in the power structure. Later on, Dr Fehmida Mirza became the first female speaker of the National Assembly and Hina Rabbani Khar assumed the role of the first female foreign minister of the country. From our eastern side, Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister. Recently, Sushma Swaraj led the Ministry of External Affairs, and Nirmala Sitaram has held the Defence portfolio. Nonetheless, few women grabbing the top positions at the helm of affairs cannot be equated to gender equality, especially if the ground realities tell a different tale. Numerous findings have found women being paid low wages compared to their male counterparts, even if these women have contributed to the same amount of work and the same number of working hours. Even though, the government has fixed a 10 per cent quota for women in government services and 17 per cent reserved seats in national and provincial assemblies for women. That segment remains underrepresented in almost every field. Women do not have much say in the decisions that most matter to their lives.

To enhance the women to the status of equality, the governments should make holistic efforts in this regard. Legislation can be an important tool, which can include the provision of mandatory representation in the decision-making bodies such as boards constituted under different Acts, university syndicates, different commissions, etc.

Through these measures, women will get mandatory participation in these bodies in addition to their normal participation by virtue of their offices. For this, legislators may take inspiration from “The Punjab Fair Representation of Women Act, 2014,” which amended existing 66 Acts and Ordinances to provide mandatory representation to women. This writer also has had the opportunity to see the draft of “The Sindh Reasonable Representation of Women Bill, 2018,” which amended 117 existing Acts for the purpose. These are small steps but in the right direction.

It is also worth mentioning here the women being ensconced at the top positions have a positive impact on the society in particular and the world in general. For example, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern victoriously created harmony in New Zealand by defeating the narrative of extremists and terrorists. She has indeed set an example to the world that women leading from the front have a positive bearing on creating peace and harmony amongst diverse communities, even in volatile times. From PM Ardern’s leadership, at least four lessons can be drawn. One, a woman has characteristics of a mother and these characteristics do intervene even in the decision-making. Thus, humane decision-making can always be expected from her. Two, women prefer peace and harmony over violence and bigotry. Three, social cohesion is a doable job by means of empathy. Four, extremist tendencies can be defeated through peaceful means. Thus, women’s presence at the international relations’ complex chess-board would also have a positive outcome.

Hence, it is important to give the women their due share as they are 50 per cent of the world’s population. Realising the importance of women, Founder of the Nation emphasised, “No nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.”

It is time to give women equal rights and to bring them into the mainstream as equals to their male counterparts. Imagine the scenario if women are contributing to their full potential and the same is combined with man’s contribution. That means doubling the productivity, which would certainly do wonders for the social, political and economic development of the world.

The writer is a freelance contributor