“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world.”
― Nicholas D. Kristof
- Gender inequality still exists in India within the households, workplaces and in larger society. As per 2011 data, effective literacy rates (age 7 and above) were 82.14% for men and 65.46% for women.
- In certain developing nations like India, gender inequality starts manifesting itself very early, a girl child starts facing discrimination right from the womb and it ends in female foeticide. Female child is treated inferior to male child and this is deeply engraved in the mind of the female child. This is more predominant in India as well as other lesser developed countries. A male child is considered a blessing and his birth is celebrated as opposed to a female child where her birth is not celebrated and is considered more of a burden. The 2011 Indian census shows that there are 940 females per 1000 boys.
- Educating a boy is seen as an investment as they are expected to earn and provide for their ageing parents. Whereas, an educated girl will have a higher dowry expense because they need an educated partner. It is also believed to be a waste of resources to educate a girl child as she will eventually get married and be a homemaker. If a family cannot afford to educate all their children, the male child will get preference.
