Stop Gender Inequality : Essay I By Kavya, 14, Mumbai

If I could change one thing about the world, I would eliminate gender inequality. Gender inequality is at the core of most of our world’s biggest problems.

Gender inequality is the social phenomenon in which men and women are not treated equally. It is not just about men and women, but also about transgenders. They too face discrimination and are made to feel inferior because of their gender. Gender inequality affects everyone. Stereotypes or ‘rules’ about how women and men, girls and boys should behave and what work they should do, begin in childhood and follow them through to adulthood.

Not everyone experiences inequality the same way. The situation is worse, and often different, for people who face more than one type of discrimination.

For ages, gender inequality in some form or the other has existed in India and it continues to affect us today. Gender equality is also an aim in the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ which is the 5th goal to be accomplished in the list.

It is unfortunate that even in this day and age we have to raise this issue as history is witness to women like Indira Gandhi and Savitribai Phule who empowered girls to think they could be whatever they wanted to be. Jhansi’s Rani Lakshmibai was a symbol of bravery, patriotism, and resistance who did not bow down in front of the British.

To battle prejudices against the girl child, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched on 22nd January, 2015 at Panipat, Haryana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Let us celebrate the birth of the girl child. We should be equally proud of our daughters. I urge you to sow five plants when your daughter is born to celebrate the occasion.”

What happens if these archaic practices continue to be followed? Gender inequality affects children in many ways.

• They affect children’s sense of self from a young age.

• Children classify jobs and activities as specific to boys or girls.

• People use stereotypes to enforce on children the ‘perfect’ way to behave. This creates insecurity.

So what can we do to help deal with this issue?

1) Spread awareness about gender equality and speak up against child abuse and violence.

2) Ensure all children have access to quality education.

3) Support women employment.

4) Collaborate with organisations and take up initiatives like doing workshops in areas where gender bias is predominant (rural areas, villages etc.)

5) Give scholarships to girls.

Life has a simple rule – there is no such thing as a superior gender. We are all humans: a boy, a girl, a man, a woman or a transgender; all float on the same boat.

‘Whether a girl or a boy; it does not matter; it’s just a thought in our mind which we need to change!’

Kavya Mehta, Mumbai

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