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2024 | Book

From Entrenched Gender Bias to Economic Empowerment

Undermining the Patriarchy

Editors: Eunju Hwang, Bhabani Shankar Nayak, Utkarsha Malkar

Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland

Book Series : Sustainable Development Goals Series

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About this book

This book examines entrenched gender bias and the economic, political, and social systems that sustain patriarchy. Drawing examples from both developed and developing countries, it underscores the barriers women face within the capitalist system. It delves into how operational practices, economic frameworks, and political institutions perpetuate gender bias. Through the study of cases where traditional power structures have been challenged, it proposes a framework for achieving gender equality through cooperative and collaborative action, ensuring inclusion for all within the democratic system.

This book places particular emphasis on the economic involvement of rural women, the potential for technology to empower women, gender equality within the creative industries, and the enduring nature of patriarchy. It demonstrates how economic progress can be inclusive and beneficial for women globally and will be of interest to students and researchers in development studies, labour economics, political economy, and gender studies.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
Historically gender bias is a product of gender division of labour, gender, and division of space. The normalization and naturalization of gender-biased roles continue to exuberated within social, cultural, economic, political, and religious socialization. Such deep-rooted gender bias in historical, cultural, and institutional frameworks continue to exist that impedes the pursuit of true gender equality. Despite significant movements for women’s rights and empowerment, families, societies, and states around the world grapple with entrenched gender bias that manifests in various forms. The entrenched gendered bias and its discriminatory patriarchal structures continue to undermine women and their creative abilities in everyday life. The gender roles shaped by different forms of patriarchal systems, relegated women to subordinate positions, limiting their access to education, economic opportunities, and political participation. Such a process has created male dominated chauvinistic society where the historical gender-based patriarchal norms are perpetuated through generations, established a foundation for the entrenched gender bias that persists today.
Eunju Hwang, Bhabani Shankar Nayak
Chapter 2. Visualising Gender Bias: the Use of Visual Analysis to Examine Fashion Images of Women
Abstract
We are surrounded by images that show us idealised, feminine bodies—young, skinny, white, able-bodied women with luxurious blonde locks, pouting their moist, plump lips seductively at the camera, stretching out their lean, hairless limbs, barely dressed in tiny diaphanous garments. The fashion industry is a major culprit in this idealisation process, from runways to magazine covers, adverts to social media posts, these multiple sites help construct a narrow definition of the acceptable, beautiful body. This chapter explores visual analysis as a tool to enable critiques of the visual communication of the industry. Whilst there is academic research which critically assesses the fashion industry, and scholarly discussion about how to do visual analysis, there is little fashion literature that analyses imagery in a sustained way. The chapter provides a snapshot of the state of visual analysis in fashion studies and considers what tools might enable productive interpretation of entrenched gendered constructs.
Julie Blanchard-Emmerson
Chapter 3. Death of A School Principal: Transition of Gender Ideology in Tea Service in Korea
Abstract
The chapter closely follows the 2003 Posŏng Elementary School incident in Korea, where its Principal committed suicide after he was confronted by a young female teacher. The school was located in a small village and had only 61 students in 2003. Whereas the tea service was quickly disappearing in large cities in 2003, the Principal and the Deputy Principal expected a newly hired contracted teacher to serve tea. While the chapter examines why the tragic incident occurred in the geographical location and the temporal background, it will unearth the hidden gender hierarchy of female workers’ tea service and the implications of tea service. This chapter uses Norbert Elias’s theory of the civilisation process and shows how Elias’s concepts of shame and delicacy played a role in the 2003 incident. The chapter also compares coffee protests in the United States in 1977 with the 2003 incident in Korea to draw the cultural implications of tea/coffee service in the United States and Korea.
Eunju Hwang
Chapter 4. Technological Patriarchy in India
Abstract
The rise of information technology has enabled high-tech industries to assist Indian women in joining the workforce, but it has not helped bridge the gender gaps in society. This chapter argues that the emergence of a new generation of technological innovations has not contributed to ending patriarchal gender roles within social, cultural, and economic structures and processes in India. The technological revolution has not revolted against patriarchy and gender-based discrimination; instead, it has embedded entrenched patriarchy into its systems and processes. Gender inequality and exploitation persist within the technological revolution and its workforce. The new generation of feminist theorists seeks to advance the conceptualisation of technological patriarchy and re-evaluate how to develop an egalitarian technological revolution beyond the confines of technological capitalism and its fraternal relationship with patriarchy in India.
Bhabani Shankar Nayak
Chapter 5. Women Empowerment: Using Information Communication Technology Tools in the Indian Context
Abstract
In the whole world where women face several obstacles, such as limited access to political involvement, jobs, healthcare, and academics, women’s empowerment has grown in importance. In India, many initiatives have been launched to make significant strides toward gender parity and women’s empowerment. “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”, “Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana”, and “Mahila E-Haat” are some of them. Several universities, including technical institutions, were established exclusively for women. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become effective instruments in recent years for advancing gender equality and empowering women. The use of ICT technologies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment is discussed in this paper. In particular, it looks at the ways in which ICT technologies have improved women’s access to academic, economic possibilities, and political involvement. E-commerce also significantly contributes to the empowerment of women by giving them access to new markets, clients, and business prospects. Also, the study analyzes the difficulties faced when employing ICT tools for gender equity and women’s empowerment and makes potential fixes. Ultimately, the article makes the case that ICT tools should continue to be used because they have the potential to positively impact gender parity and women’s empowerment.
Tanmoy Mukherjee, Javarabhovi Shivarama
Chapter 6. Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD’s) Guidance for Development Partners—A Critical Assessment of Its Relevance to Combat Entrenched Gender Bias
Abstract
The full enjoyment of all women’s and girls’ human rights, gender equality, and empowerment are all universal ideals in and of themselves. They were outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They are also necessary for economic progress, sustainable development, and leaving no one behind. For members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and other development partners working to advance gender equality, Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls: Guidance for development partners serves as a helpful handbook. This advice was created with the programme cycle in mind, as well as other factors including the policy framework, analysis, design, and execution, as well as learning and assessment. It outlines the problems of how to best set up the internal organisational processes necessary to deliver on gender equality in all development and humanitarian assistance operations, as well as potential for boosting funding for gender equality with and beyond official development assistance (ODA). Effective development cooperation is based on strong leadership commitment and a solid policy framework that recognises the value of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Members of the DAC are concentrating on gender-related inequities in light of the international resolve to leave no one behind. The necessity for transformational change is also widely acknowledged. In order to achieve transformative change for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, this Guidance outlines strategies for development partners to address unequal power relations and damaging structures and norms as well as entranced gender bias. Against the above backdrop, this chapter aims at critically analysing the significance and relevance of this Guidance in the combat against entrenched gender bias. It provides recommendations pertaining to whether this Guidance can be used in a contextualised manner for countries to adapt their legal framework accordingly to ensure that entrenched gender bias is eliminated from societies.
Bhavna Mahadew
Chapter 7. Gendered Knowledge Economy as a Boon for Global Social Development
Abstract
This chapter discusses the pervasive challenges of economic issues and poverty affecting individuals, families, communities, and nations. Poverty has been characterized by a lack of necessities, such as food, shelter, healthcare, natural disaster, and education, and is often rooted in broader economic issues such as inadequate education and skills, unequal distribution of wealth and resources, limited access to credit and financial services, discrimination, and global economic factors. It mainly focuses on the aspect of gender inequality, which is a significant but less spoken economic issue that exacerbates poverty and undermines nations’ economic and social development. It shows how women face unusual challenges in accessing economic opportunities, such as unequal pay, limited access to credit and financial services, and discrimination in hiring and promotion. As a result, women are more likely than men to experience poverty, particularly in developing countries. Promoting gender equality and empowering women is crucial for sustainable economic and social development. Further, a structured approach has been portrayed to address these causes, involving policy and institutional reforms, community engagement, and education and awareness-raising efforts to overcome the economic issues. Understanding these issues and finding appropriate solutions is vital for policymakers, economists, and individuals alike, as they impact our daily lives and the future of our society.
Sagar Revandkar, Javarabhovi Shivarama, Manju Kalita, Jayashree Balasubramanian
Chapter 8. Unveiling Entrenched Gender Bias in the Human Resource Management (HRM) Domain across various sectors of Mauritius by using Qualitative approaches
Abstract
As such the international situation of gender in the HRM domain demonstrates a case of entrenched gender bias and been qualified as a classic case of gender discrimination with an imminent need for more research in this area and this study on gender in the HRM domain in Mauritius fills this much needed gap. This study explores the unequal position of gender in the HRM domain from the various occupational sectors of Mauritius by using the qualitative research methodology of Focus Group discussions (FGD’s). The women who participated in the FGD’s were from the public and private sectors of Mauritius. The realities of women’s occupational lives in the HRM domain were explored during the FGD’s. The conversations were digitally tape recorded, transcribed and the material was analysed by the use of thematic analysis. The themes that emerged were the barriers, hurdles and impediments they experience and also the aspects that they want to change, that would facilitate their progression and advancement, reduce obstacles they face and enable them to make a meaningful contribution in their occupational lives. Though this study mainly focused on women in the HRM domain, the findings could apply unequivocally to women in diverse professions in Mauritius and internationally.
Deepika Faugoo
Chapter 9. Empowerment of Women for Dynamic Leadership in the Library and Information Science Profession in India
Abstract
Discrimination and patriarchy being the major problems reflected in society do not only affect the empowerment of women and their progress but also the development and growth of the respective sector where they work. Though women are physically and mentally capable enough to handle administrative and managerial roles and tackle obstacles at the workplace, they are often neglected and considered inferior and less confident when appointed to the highest and superior positions. Librarianship is one of the important sectors of academics where the proportion of women librarians is more than that of males. Though having a major proportion, women librarians were often seen in junior positions, and male librarians used to handle managerial positions in the twentieth century. But now the scenario has changed in today’s era, where most of the well-managed and prestigious libraries in India and across the globe are headed by women librarians. While getting opportunities and even after getting lead positions, they deal with many challenges due to discrimination and lack of awareness. The respective article aims to empower women in India for dynamic leadership in the library and information science profession. It focuses on women’s leadership, their strengths, and the areas where their weaknesses can be improved. The article will help in spreading awareness among women across the library and information science profession, upgrading their professional and interpersonal skills, and strengthening themselves to perform dynamic leadership.
Aditi Bhujbal, Javarabhovi Shivarama
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
From Entrenched Gender Bias to Economic Empowerment
Editors
Eunju Hwang
Bhabani Shankar Nayak
Utkarsha Malkar
Copyright Year
2024
Electronic ISBN
978-3-031-57212-8
Print ISBN
978-3-031-57211-1
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-57212-8

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