NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Winter Internship
Programme 2012-13
Book Review












Submitted by:
SIDDARTH BROOK
Roll no. 26
Submitted on: 09/01/2013
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Gender Issues - A Road Map to Empowerment
by Rashmi Agarwal and B.V.L.N.Rao, 2004, Shipra Publication, 115-A, Vikas Marg, Shakarpur,
Delhi-110092, Pages 272, Rs. 550,
ISBN: 81-7541-170-8.
I am and I can, but I wish that you also wish that you want to walk with me on the soft and
hard terrain of life and recognize that I am and I can, with this statement the book looks at
empowerment as a process of development instead of mere acquisition of power on transfer by
outside forces and initiative. This book is based on the view that in every society there is a need
to develop a sense of self-belief and self-confidence among women in general to enable them to
acquire benefits from the opportunities bestowed to them. The book argues that it is very
important to develop the personality of women in order to enable them to come forward to help
themselves instead of waiting for someone to guide them.
The book consists of seven chapters and four annexure, with an exhaustive nineteen pages
bibliography. It is a serious attempt to study the policy issues relating to gender equality and
empowerment; various empower related programmers and its evolution. It puts emphasis on self-
development as a means of empowerment rather than mere acquisition of power.
The first chapter of the book is an extensive work with respect to the empowerment of women in
international scenario with special focus on the UN initiative. The authors are of this opinion
that, due to these initiatives the gender gaps in different fields have been minimized to a
considerable extent, but the South Asian region is lagging behind due to its societal and
traditional attitudes.
Secondly the second chapter traces the genesis of the gender policy in India beginning from the
period Vedic ages to the present times and discusses the gender issues from the Constitutional
and Legislative perspective and also the initiatives taken in different five-year plans and on the
Policy of Women Empowerment. It examines the role of judicial activism and the Non-
Governmental Organization in facilitating the gradual transformation of the Indian society from
welfare-oriented approach to empowerment paradigm of womens development.
The next chapter of the book critically reviews various schemes for the development of women
and various modes of empowerment through organization in terms of quantitative and qualitative
evidences. It includes programmes directed towards Social Empowerment, Economic
Empowerment and Political Empowerment. The authors have collectively figured out several
lacunas in the enforcement of these programmes and hold the view that had these pit-falls been
avoided the effects of the programmes could have yielded a better result than the effect that has
been generated.
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The extent to which these Empowerment Programmes have been successful in achieving the
desired goal is the subject matter of the Fourth Chapter. An attempt has been made to put
together evidence that throws light on the status of women and the achievement in various
aspects of their empowerment. It statistically analysis how much women in India have achieved
in education, health and work participation. The data depicts a worrisome area of concern with
regard to; declining female sex ratio despite increased economic well-being of people and
womens participation in decision making process including the fact that womens participation
in work is not fully recognized. It shows that, generally women are lagging behind in every
sphere of life as compared to men.
This discrimination owes its origin from the society, which is evident from the proverb that a
home carries weight because of husband and has characterized the biological difference
between male and women as stronger and weaker according to socio-cultural orientation, is the
main thrust of the Fifth Chapter. The authors also discuss the sex segregation in employment by
showing how different occupations are classified as gender-specific and accordingly
discriminated in wages. But various researches have proved that women equally possess the
capacity as men do (Maccoby & Jackline, 1974). What is required is Education so as to break the
strong gender stereotypes.
The Sixth Chapter begins with determining the essence of Empowerment and proceeds with the
issue do women make good managers, with the help of various research work carried out by
foreign researchers. The study reveals that women are not deficient in characteristics that are
necessary in decision making. On the basis of their study, they conclude that the women
managers follow high-task-high-relationship pattern as their basic pattern of leadership and that
there is no difference in the basis leadership pattern due to the type of job.
The final chapter elaborately deals with the concept of empowerment and its relation with
Personality Development. The basic thrust towards empowerment has to come from women
themselves, with self development taking the center stage., which may be given a practical shape
of an action programme.
Overall this book is though provoking and useful for sociologist, planners, administrators,
womens activists and general readers who are interested in gender issues. It seems that this book
focuses on personality development and has ignored some of the real issues such as paternity,
alleviation of poverty, minimizing sex discrimination or extending of opportunities to women
etc., which if included could have been appreciated too. No doubt this book is a creation of an
extensive study and well codification of wide range of research works, legislations and
governmental policies.