Gender Sensitization for Women Empowerment: A Review

Abstract

Empowerment is a dynamic process; hence it is difficult to describe it in a nutshell. It can be described in various ways like economic independence, social transformation, self-reliance, the power of decision making, knowledge enhancement, demanding equality and control over resources and so forth. Creation of a socio-cultural climate that discourages gender-biased practices and promotes rational behaviour and action on part of men and women is the need of the hour. Thus, gender sensitization must be seen as a vital action point to empower women. Gender sensitization is the process of changing the stereo type mindset of society as a whole-a mindset that strongly believes that the both male and female are ‘unequal entities ’, and hence have to function in different socioeconomic space. Gender sensitization works by changing the perception of men as well as women towards women. When perception is changed, men recognize women s contributions. Their egos start breaking down and they accommodate women in a positive way. Thus, gender sensitized person became an instrument to change as far as the status of women is concerned. They became action oriented & conscious efforts are made to nurture women s talent. This paper discusses that political, social, educational, legal, health empowerment of women is possible only by gender sensitization approach for women empowerment.