WHY DO WOMEN NEED DEMOCRACY

                              WHY DO WOMEN NEED DEMOCRACY

                                      RAHUL RAMYA

                                       29 th NOV 2023

Industrialization doesn't inherently enhance the condition and status of women in the society. If we closely scrutinize the status of women in society we observe that industrialization has not produced the same consequence for women. In Europe the changes in overall status of the women were more radical than that in America. In America they have to face more resistance. If we examine Indian industrialization vis-a-vis women status we find that Indian women are facing more violent resistance . In China despite all remarkable industrialization and enhancement in women status we find women are still facing sharp discrimination at the level of society and misogynistic politics and government at the political level . Other South East Asian countries have more or less the same experiences . But if we scrutinize the status of democracy in different countries and regions we find the complete answer, that is we understand how the gap created by the industrialization has been filled by democracy. On analyzing the status of democracy we find in those countries and regions where industrialization is coupled with better status of democracy women have better status. This can be simply shown by a mathematical expression, that is status of women is directly proportional to status of democracy. Thus better status of democracy is an enabler of better status of women.

 

                                      The relationship between industrialization and women's status is complex and varies depending on the specific context. In some cases, industrialization has led to improvements in women's status, while in other cases it has led to worsening conditions.

One of the main ways in which industrialization can improve women's status is by providing them with new economic opportunities. As factories and other industries have developed, women have been able to enter the workforce and earn their own incomes. This has given them more economic independence and has helped to challenge traditional gender roles.

In addition, industrialization can also lead to changes in social norms and attitudes. As women become more visible and active in the public sphere, it can lead to a greater acceptance of their roles outside of the home. This can, in turn, lead to increased opportunities for women in education, politics, and other areas.

However, industrialization can also have negative impacts on women's status. In some cases, it can lead to the exploitation of women's labor, as they may be paid lower wages and subjected to poor working conditions and sexual harassment.  Additionally, industrialization can sometimes lead to a decline in women's control over their own bodies and lives, as they may be pressured to work long hours or to engage in risky behaviors.

The impact of industrialization on women's status is also influenced by other factors, such as the level of democracy in a country, the strength of women's organizations, and the cultural norms and values that prevail. In countries with strong democracies and active women's movements, industrialization is more likely to lead to improvements in women's status. Conversely, in countries with authoritarian regimes and weak women's organizations, industrialization is more likely to have negative impacts on women.

Overall, the relationship between industrialization and women's status is complex and multifaceted. While industrialization can create new opportunities for women, it can also lead to exploitation and marginalization. The impact of industrialization on women's status is ultimately determined by a variety of factors, including the level of democracy, the strength of women's organizations, and the cultural norms and values that prevail in a given society.

industrialization alone has not always led to an improvement in the overall status of women. There are many factors that contribute to women's empowerment, and democracy is one of the most important.

In countries with strong democracies, women have more opportunities to participate in the political process, make decisions about their own lives, and access education and employment opportunities. As a result, women in these countries tend to have higher levels of education, economic independence, and political participation than women in countries with less democratic governments.

China is an example of a country where industrialization has not led to an improvement in women's status as it should be. While China has experienced rapid economic growth in recent decades, women in China continue to face significant discrimination in terms of employment, education, and political participation. For example, women in China are more likely than men to be employed in low-wage, low-status jobs, and they are less likely to have access to higher education. Additionally, women are underrepresented in China's political system. And now their President is pressing for more home bound roles for women in China.

In contrast, Europe, America, and India are examples of countries where industrialization has been accompanied by improvements in women's status. In these countries, women have made significant gains in terms of education, employment, and political participation. For example, women in Europe and America, are now more likely than men to have a college degree, and they are more likely to be employed in professional and managerial occupations. Additionally, women in these countries have made gains in political representation, and they now hold positions of power in government, business, and the media.

The data on socio-economic indicators of China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, America, Canada, and India supports this observation. For example, the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report shows that countries with higher levels of democracy also tend to have higher rankings on the gender gap index. This means that women in these countries have greater economic opportunities, political participation, and educational attainment than women in countries with lower levels of democracy.

Of course, there are other factors that contribute to women's empowerment besides democracy. These include cultural norms, the strength of women's organizations, and government policies. However, democracy is a critical factor in creating an environment where women can thrive.

In conclusion, industrialization alone is not enough to improve the overall status of women. Democracy is also essential for creating an environment where women can participate fully in society and achieve their full potential.

 

Here is a table of comparative data on socio-economic indicators of women in the regions mentioned:

Region	World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index (2023)	Labor Force Participation Rate of Women (2020)	Percentage of Women in Professional and Managerial Positions (2021)	Percentage of Women in Parliament (2022)
Western Europe	79.5%	61.9%	42.4%	38.5%
Eastern Europe	74.0%	55.2%	36.0%	27.8%
America (excluding Canada)	73.8%	57.2%	39.2%	34.2%
Canada	77.4%	58.4%	42.3%	43.8%
India	62.3%	22.3%	20.6%	14.4%
Southeast Asia	69.4%	53.8%	31.6%	24.2%
Middle East	63.2%	29.9%	25.0%	19.7%
China	62.3%	50.9%	38.6%	24.8%

The data for the table on women's socioeconomic status across different regions is from the following sources:

·         The World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index (2023) for the overall ranking on the gender gap index.

·         The International Labour Organization (ILO) for the labor force participation rate of women (2020).

·         The World Bank for the percentage of women in professional and managerial positions (2021).

·         The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) for the percentage of women in parliament (2022).

The data for the correlation matrix is from the above sources, as well as the Polity IV index and the Freedom House Democracy Index for the measure of democracy.

 

 

As  can  seen, there is a significant variation in women's socio-economic status across these regions. Western Europe and Canada have the highest overall rankings on the World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index, followed by America, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. The Middle East and India have the lowest rankings. These rankings are reflected in the other data points as well. For example, women in Western Europe and Canada have the highest labor force participation rates, percentages of women in professional and managerial positions, and percentages of women in parliament. Women in the Middle East and India have the lowest.

It is important to note that these are just averages, and there is a lot of variation within each region. For example, there are countries in Southeast Asia, such as Singapore and the Philippines, that have higher rankings on the gender gap index than some countries in Eastern Europe. Similarly, there are some states in India that have higher percentages of women in parliament than some countries in the Middle East.

Overall, the data suggests that there is a strong correlation between democracy and women's socio-economic status. Countries with stronger democracies tend to have higher rankings on the gender gap index and higher levels of women's participation in the workforce, education, and politics. This is likely because democracies provide women with more opportunities to participate in the political process, make decisions about their own lives, and access education and employment opportunities. This leads us to the conclusion that if we wish to make India a good place for women, we need industrialization with strengthening the practice of democratization.