International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Education (IJTLE)

ISSN: 2583-4371
Vol-2, Issue-2, Mar-Apr 2023
Journal Home Page: https://ijtle.com/
Journal DOI: 10.22161/ijtle

Gender Equality as a Tool for Sustainable Development

Sucheta Yadav

Associate Professor in Geography, Pt. NRS, Govt. college, Rohtak, Haryana, India

Received: 19 Jan 2023, Received in revised form: 27 Feb 2023, Accepted: 05 Mar 2023, Available online: 11 Mar 2023

Abstract
Gender inequality is prevailing in all the cultures of the world that is a big challenge for sustainable development
of any country. Sustainable Development depends on an equal distribution of resources that cannot be attained
without gender equality. Gender equality is the process distributing resources, programs and decision making
fairly to both males and females without any discrimination on basis of sex. Women empowerment is a key factor
for achieving sustainability any as it enables them to fully use their potential, creativity and talent which are
instrumental for the economic development for country. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) accepted by world leaders in 2015, symbolize a roadmap for progress that
is sustainable and achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. The
present paper reveals the aspect that sustainable development of any country is impossible without women
empowerment. Main objectives of the research paper is to promote societal awareness to gender issues and
women's human rights. The paper analysis applications of SDG-5 (Women Empowerment) as a Tool for
Sustainable Development.
Keywords— Sustainable Development, Women Empowerment, Gender Inequality, Economic
Development

I. INTRODUCTION terms of their relative position in society and the

Women’s Empowerment means strategies empowering distribution of resources, opportunities, limitations and
women to gain control of their own lives and to power in a given context.
inspiration broader society. women's empowerment Necessity of Women Empowerment:
refers to women's ability to make strategic life choices Women empowerment is the necessity of time. women’s
that were previously denied them. The Sustainable empowerment can be estimated by their competence to
Development Goal (SDG-5) targets to accomplish gender contribute in household decision-making which
equality and empowerment of all women and girls replicates their economic, domestic and movement
[Osborn D. et.al).The Sustainable Development Goals autonomies (Hameed W. et al. 2014 and Thapa DK,
(SDGs), also recognized as the Global Goals, were Niehof A. 2013) Women are facing discrimination since
implemented by the United Nations in 2015 with the past. In India also women had to fight for their freedom
objectives to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and and rights. The UN came out with a set of goals called the
discrimination against women and girls. Sustainable Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help make the
Development Goal (SDG) 5 set a 2030 deadline for the world a better place. Gender equality and the
achievement of gender equality and the empowerment empowerment of women and girls are both recognized
of all women and girls. Gender analysis recognizes the as urgent issues for building an inclusive society and a
differences between and among women and men in strong economy in many developing countries. This is

©International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Education (IJTLE) 1

Cross Ref DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijtle.2.2.1
Kholmirzaev, International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Education (IJTLE), 2023, 2(2)
Mar-Apr 2023

mainly because of the following: - Of the 173 counties in violence against all women and girls in the public and
the world, 155 countries have some sexually unequal private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and
laws. - In 141 countries, the number of female deaths other types of exploitation.
from natural disasters is greater than the number of Trafficking in persons occurs all over the world, because
male deaths. This gap is closely related to women’s it is closely related to poverty, social and economic
sexually unequal social positions. Reduction of the disparity, discrimination, labour mobility, natural
gender gap in employment makes it possible to increase disasters, and conflict, etc.; and it may be said that it is a
GDP in both developed and developing countries. structural problem rooted in the serious violation of
(https://unric.org/en/sdg-5/) human rights, gender issues, and social and economic
structures. In addition, trafficking in persons is also
II. Discussion related to not only sexual exploitation but also various
types of labour exploitation, such as in the agricultural
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right,
and fisheries industries, factories, and family labour.
but an essential basis for a peaceable, wealthy and
sustainable world. There has been progress over the last
decades, but the world is not on track to accomplish Women’s education and lifetime health
gender equality by 2030. Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work
This paper elaborates SDG’5 which end all forms of through the provision of public services, infrastructure,
discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. and social protection policies and the promotion of
SDG’5 has been focusing on five priority areas to shared responsibility within the household and the
endorse gender equality and the empowerment of family as nationally appropriate
women which are as follows: Gender responsive governance
Gender responsiveness in governance means equal
(1) Women’s economic empowerments participation of women and men in decision making.
(2) Women’s rights and security SDG-5 ensures women’s full and effective participation
and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of
(3) Women’s education and lifetime health
decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
(4) Gender responsive governance
(5) Gender responsive infrastructure development
(5) Gender responsive infrastructure,
In many countries, women are involved in domestic
labour, including childcare and nursing care, for many
Women’s economic empowerment hours. But contrary to popular belief, infrastructure is
not gender neutral. There is a lack of access to basic
Due to the fixed roles of women in society and
infrastructure services such as sewerage, roads, and safe
their limited access to opportunities to acquire skills
public transport, electricity and water supply facilities
and financial resources, their productivity is lower
and sanitation. Investing in more sustainable
compared with men’s. Even though in many countries,
infrastructure and promoting gender equality are
most women are engaged in agriculture or small-and-
development priorities of the Agenda 2030.
medium enterprises (SMEs) as their economic
Infrastructure influences the achievement of all targets
activities. SDG-5 escapes women from this
within SDG 5 ‘Gender Equality’. Infrastructure as a basis
discrimination as cooperation between men and
for life contributes to a reduction in the amount of
women in making decisions about farm management
housework.
and in agricultural works leads to improving the
farmers’ productivity. In addition, if women engaged in
SMEs such as food processing companies, acquire III. APPLICATIONS OF SDG-5 IN INDIA AND THE
knowledge and skills and increase production and WORLD
sales, this will not only increase their incomes but also
The contributions and collaboration of governments,
vitalize the local economy as a whole.
non-governmental organizations and the private sector
Women’s rights and security are required to achieve the Sustainable Development
(Protection from conflict, natural disasters, and Goals such as gender equality. Many scholars say that
trafficking in persons) This para eliminates all forms of progress on the 2030 Agenda has been slow, (Lorraine

©International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Education (IJTLE) 2

Cross Ref DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijtle.2.2.1
Kholmirzaev, International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Education (IJTLE), 2023, 2(2)
Mar-Apr 2023

Eden & M. Fernanda Wagstaff,,2021, Breuer, Janetschek, [8] Sustainable development goals – United
& Malerba, 2019). Despite some progress toward Nations". United Nations Sustainable
gender equality, women and girls worldwide continue to Development. Archived from the original on March 13,
2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
face systematic gender-based discrimination, violence
[9] Innovation for women's empowerment and gender
and denial of their rights. Non-governmental
equality". ICRW | PASSION . PROOF.
organizations at world such as Zonta International POWER. Archived from the original on May 20, 2021.
Foundation and JICA has made efforts to strengthen the Retrieved May 20, 2021.
systems. in the many countries. The Government of [10] https://unric.org/en/sdg-5/
India also has launched Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Prof. [11] .https://www.unadap.org/post/india-s-stance-on-sdg-
Seema singh and Dr. Antra Singh ,2020. The initiative 5-gender-equal.
aims at equal opportunity and education for girls in [12]
India. The Sukanya Samridhi Yojana on girl child https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_empower
prosperity and the Janani Suraksha Yojana for mothers ment
are other specific programmes on gender equality.
(https://www.unadap.org/post/india-s-stance-on-sdg-
5-gender-equality).Women’s empowerment are shown
in higher education as many countries registered
growing numbers of female graduates (Hirsu et
al. 2018). Still need to more awareness and applications
for gender equality in all over the world so that
sustainable development can be achieved.

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©International Journal of Teaching, Learning and Education (IJTLE) 3

Cross Ref DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijtle.2.2.1