Gender and discrimination-A review of the issues

Abstract

Women play a key role in the socio-economic development of a country. Yet, they are discriminated against in almost every walk of life, right from the very earliest stages. Female foeticide and infanticide are a denial of the right to life itself, females are discriminated against in the spheres of health and nutrition (which makes them more susceptible to mortality and contributes to unbalanced male-female ratios), as well as in the spheres of education, employment and wages, and that of political representation. Society's attitudes towards women is shown also by the violence perpetuated against them, both by their husbands and outside the home. Still, there are signs of hope, in the form of steps and measures to improve the situation of women, and more generally, in the rising levels of consciousness of women's concerns.