Changing Status Of The Women Of Punjab: The Dynamics Of Inclusion And Empowerment

Abstract

Introduction: Women empowerment is a rapidly growing theme that inspires women to feel courageous enough do what they feel they cannot do. Women seem far behind compared to men when it comes to participation in different sectors, particularly the economy and politics. A woman is considered to be empowered when she obtains the placement in the world of consistent challenges and obstacles that dominate Gender Disparity, and challenge the existing trends of power at the level of society at the outset. The primary objective of the study is to explore and identify the socio-cultural challenges to women’s empowerment in the State that hinder their capacity to make their life choices.

Study Area and Focus: Punjab has been reeling under the burden of a week sex ratio since 2001. Besides being outnumbered, women lag far behind in terms of availability and access to resources and opportunities as well as inclusion in the economy.

Scope: A notable gender disparity can be observed in all spheres of women’s interaction, existence and empowerment. The research intends to explore the key socio-cultural challenges that hinder the progress of women towards empowerment in Punjab.

Methodology: The paper adopts a qualitative research design to explore the selected phenomenon.

Findings: As compared to the national average, which is INR 1,67,995, Punjab’s per capita Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)1 (at current prices) in 2021-22 is roughly INR 1,88,015. The state’s sex ratio2 for 2017-19 was 891, which is lower than the comparable national average of 904. Additionally, this high number is primarily attributed to urban rather than rural areas improving because of increased literacy, effective medical care, and state-wide awareness. The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR)3 is lower than the national average, which is 27.7 per cent and 18.6 per cent, at 19.4 per cent and 17.1 per cent in rural and urban areas, respectively. Punjab is doing well in terms of total literacy rates. Compared to the national average of 72.9 per cent, the state has a literacy rate4 of 75.8 per cent as per the 2011 Census. The gender disparity in the literacy rate is 80.5 per cent for men and 70.7 per cent for women, which is similar to the national averages of 80.9 per cent and 64.7 per cent, respectively.