What’s the news?

The recently released 17th edition of the Global Gender Gap Report (2023) predicts it will take 131 years to close the global gender gap, rising to 149 years in South Asian countries, including India.

Central idea

The recently released Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, based on data from 146 countries, paints a grim picture. In light of this sobering reality, it is evident that affirmative action in the form of reservation is an essential step towards achieving gender equity and, ultimately, gender equality.

Equality through Equity: Equity is the initial and essential step toward achieving true equality. In a world where gender discrimination has persisted for centuries, equitable policies like reservations are indispensable. They provide women with the opportunities they have long been denied and help level the playing field.
Affirmative Action through Reservations: Reservations are undeniably one of the most effective forms of affirmative action aimed at rectifying historical injustices and promoting equity. It serves as the cornerstone for achieving gender equality and is integral to dismantling deeply entrenched societal biases.
Inefficiency and incompetency Misconceptions: Critics claim that reservations result in inefficiency, but this assertion lacks evidence; competency gaps, if any, are temporary and can be overcome through skill development and experience for marginalized individuals, including women.
A Level Playing Field: Women are not seeking to compete against their own gender; instead, they aspire to operate in an environment where gender becomes entirely irrelevant, where meritocracy triumphs over discrimination.
Challenging the Competency Argument: Women consistently outperform men in academics, with higher college graduation rates and increasing representation in the workforce. The glaring gender gap emerges in leadership positions, not due to women’s incompetence but because entrenched male hegemony persists.

Indira Gandhi’s Delayed Leadership: Despite her significant political advantages and early involvement in politics, Indira Gandhi did not become Prime Minister immediately after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death in 1964. She had to wait until the passing of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 to assume the role.
Historical Opposition to Gender-Based Reservations: During the 1930s Round Table Conference in London, prominent women leaders like Sarojini Naidu and Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz presented a joint manifesto. They rejected the idea of providing either discriminatory or preferential treatment based on gender in legislative representation, indicating their opposition to gender-based reservation policies.
Diverse Perspectives Within the Women’s Movement: Begum Jahanara Shahnawaz and Radhabai Subbarayan advocated for a modest five percent reservation for women, while Sarojini Naidu opposed such reservations.

Historic Moment: The Women’s Reservation Bill, Constitution (One Hundred Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, cleared both Houses in September 2023, marking a historic achievement in India.
Delayed Gender Equality: Despite early universal adult suffrage, women’s role in shaping Indian politics has remained minimal, highlighting the significance of this legislation.
Global Youthful Leaders: In a trend of younger political leaders worldwide, questions arise about the potential for an ordinary Indian woman to aspire to the Prime Minister’s office, as seen in leaders like Jacinda Ardern.
Undervalued Women’s Leadership: While women are often recognized in supportive roles, their presence in leadership positions remains limited, as evident in the case of Hillary Clinton, whose qualifications were overshadowed by an inexperienced male opponent in a prominent democracy.

One of the most significant obstacles to gender equality is the presence of regressive views held by both men and women.
Even individuals who are considered progressive, like C. Rajagopalachari, have opposed women like Radhabai Subbarayan from contesting general seats.
Misconceptions about the Women’s Reservation Bill:
Mulayam Singh’s accusation in Parliament in 2010 further illustrates the challenge. He argued that the earlier version of the Women’s Reservation Bill would primarily benefit educated, urban, and elite women.
However, this viewpoint failed to recognize that the bill’s core objective was to provide opportunities for women who did not belong to privileged and elite classes.

The Prolonged Gender Gap: The persistence of regressive views and misconceptions has contributed to the enduring gender gap. Women have had to wait for an extended period to close this gap. The current Women’s Reservation Bill is considered the first step toward achieving gender parity.
Desire for Expedited Implementation: There is a hope that the implementation of the Women’s Reservation Bill will be expedited by readjusting seats based on the 1991 Census data, similar to the process followed for Scheduled Caste seats by the Delimitation Commission.

The Women’s Reservation Bill is the first step toward achieving gender parity in India. It is time to correct historical wrongs, as women and society as a whole demand and deserve change. There is no reason to delay the journey towards true gender equality.