AS we approach the Millennium Development Goals goal post, it is apparent that we are off track and unlikely to meet goals that deal with women. The resounding question is: can promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment lead to an improved lot for women?

Empowered women understand their value to society and can demand their right of access to levers of democracy in the same way that their male counterparts do. This awareness is fundamental to increasing the allocation of resources for protecting women’s lives and promoting their well­being. Key to providing this awareness is a well-functioning societal fabric that espouses quality of life, irrespective of gender, race or class.

Promoting gender equality therefore creates conditions and consensus for providing an egalitarian society, ensuring that women benefit from ­public policies and capital outlays.

Women with secondary education are more likely to be able to state their needs and ­affirm their rights. They marry later, postpone childbearing, have fewer children and are better able to take timely decisions about access to life­improving services.

In a specific way, gender equality and women’s empowerment protect against the major causes of underdevelopment and reduce the factors delaying access to life-improving services. Ways to improve women’s empowerment are to increase the value placed on daughters, eliminate child marriages and increase gender equality within relationships through improved partner communication and the active involvement of fathers.

Promoting gender equality and empowering women is thus not only an important goal in itself but also represents a powerful tool for achieving an egalitarian society.

Let’s commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Child Abuse from November 25 to December 10 for our future generations.

CHRIS MAXON
Newlands East, Durban