The Role of Education in the Empowerment of Women

Abstract
If you educate a man you educate an individual, however, if you educate a woman you educate
a whole family. Women empowered means mother India empowered.
---PT. JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
Education is the key factor for women empowerment, prosperity, development and welfare.
Discrimination of women from womb to tomb is well known. There is continued inequality and
vulnerability of women in all sectors-Economic, Education, Social, Political, Health Care,
Nutrition, Right and Legal etc. women oppressed in all spheres of life, they need to be
empowered in all walk of life. In order to fight against the socially constructed gender biases,
women have to swim against the system that requires more strength. Such strength comes from
the process of empowerment and empowerment will come from the education. And rural
development will come from women empowerment. This paper is an attempt to study the impact
of education in women empowerment.
Introduction:
Women constitute almost half of the population in the world. But the hegemonic masculine
ideology made them suffer a lot as they were denied equal opportunities in different parts of the
world. The rise of feminist ideas has, however, led to the tremendous improvement of women's
condition throughout the world in recent times. Access to education has been one of the most
pressing demands of theses women's rights movements. Women education in India has also been
a major preoccupation of both the government and civil society as educated women can play a
very important role in the development of the country.
What is Women Empowerment?
In the simplest of words it is basically the creation of an environment where women can make
independent decisions on their personal development as well as shine as equals in society.

Women want to be treated as equals so much so that if a woman rises to the top of her field it
should be a commonplace occurrence that draws nothing more than a raised eyebrow at the
gender. This can only happen if there is a channelized route for the empowerment of women
Thus it is no real surprise that women empowerment in India is a hotly discussed topic with no
real solution looming in the horizon except to doubly redouble our efforts and continue to target
the sources of all the violence and ill-will towards women.
Importance of women education in India
Women education in India plays a very important role in the overall development of the country.
It not only helps in the development of half of the human resources, but in improving the quality
of life at home and outside. Educated women not only tend to promote education of their girl
children, but also can provide better guidance to all their children. Moreover educated women
can also help in the reduction of infant mortality rate and growth of the population.
Women empowerment through education
Women Empowerment is a global issue and discussion on women political right are at the fore
front of many formal and informal campaigns worldwide. The concept of women empowerment
was introduced at the international women conference at NAROIBI in 1985. Education is
milestone of women empowerment because it enables them to responds to the challenges, to
confront their traditional role and change their life. So that we cant neglect the importance of
education in reference to women empowerment India is poised to becoming superpower, a
developed country by 2020. The year 2020 is fast approaching; it is just 7 year away. This can
became reality only when the women of this nation became empowerment.
Education empowers women in several perspectives. Some of the perspectives include;
(i)

Equal education boosts economic growth for women and girls.

Education not only helps women and girls to escape poverty by developing the skills
they need to improve their livelihoods, but also generates productivity gains that
boost economic growth substantially. For growth to reduce poverty, however, it needs
to overcome inequality by improving the lives of the poorest and marginalized

women and girls. Education is vital to achieve this goal because it can help ensure
(ii)

that the benefits of growth are fairly shared with women and girls as well.
Health
Womens education is critical in helping them with an empowered approach to health
issues. Women at times die of health related diseases which could be preventable
upon education. Educated women are more likely to avoid these dangers, by adopting
simple and low cost practices to maintain hygiene, by reacting to symptoms, and by

(iii)

making sure a skilled attendant is present at birth.

Education is vital to eliminate malnutrition in the long term
Especially education that empowers women. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of
more than a third of global child deaths. Educated mothers are more likely to ensure
that their children receive the best nutrients to help them prevent or fight off ill health,
know more about appropriate health and hygiene practices, and have more power in

(iv)

the home to make sure childrens nutrition needs are met.

Education enhances job opportunities, helping women to escape poverty.
Educated women are more likely not just to be employed, but to hold jobs that are
secure and provide good working conditions and decent pay. By benefiting women in
particular, education can help narrow gender gaps in work opportunities and pay. As
well as helping lift households out of poverty permanently, education guards against
them falling or falling back into poverty. In Jordan, 25% of women with only
primary education who live in rural areas work for no pay, compared with 7% of

(v)

those with secondary education.

Education empowers women to overcome discrimination.
Girls and young women who are educated have greater awareness of their rights, and
greater confidence and freedom to make decisions that affect their lives, improve their
own and their childrens health and chances of survival, and boost their work
prospects. One in eight girls is married by the age of 15 in sub Saharan Africa and
South and West Asia, and one in seven has given birth by the age of 17. Ensuring that
girls stay in school is one of the most effective ways of averting child marriage and
early birth. Education is also a key factor in hastening the demographic transition to
lower birth and mortality rates. In Ethiopia, 32% of girls with less than primary
education were married before the age of 15, compared with less than 9% of those
with secondary education.

(vi)

Education is indispensable in strengthening the bonds that hold women in

communities and societies together.
Education helps people understand democracy, promotes the tolerance and trust that
underpin it, and motivates women to participate in politics and claim for leadership
positions.

Conclusion
From the above we can understand that there is a positive relationship between women &
education. According to the Country Report of the Government of India, Empowerment means
moving from a weak position to execute a power. Education of women in the education of
women is the most powerful tool of change of position in society. Education also brings a
reduction in inequalities and functions as a means of improving their status within the family. To
encourage the education of women at all levels and for dilution of gender bias in providing
knowledge and education, established schools, colleges and universities even exclusively for
women in the state. To bring more girls, in mainstream education, the government is providing a
package of concessions in the form of providing free books, uniform, boarding and lodging,
clothing for the hostilities midday meals, scholarships, free circles and so on. The educational
and other policies for women empowerment should be implemented in reality for empowering
women in the world.
References
1. India: Womens Empowerment- IFAD/OE. 2000. The Republic of India: Tamil Nadu Women's
Development Project: Completion Evaluation,Report 340-IN. Rome, April.
2. Need for womens empowerment in India. Article by Mithun Dey
3. Rao, N.J. Usha, Women in developing society, New Delhi, 1983.
4. Tiwari, Smita: Daughters of the Earth, 2001.
5. Empowerment of Indian Women: A challenge of 21stcentury. Article by Dr. Dashrath Bhuyan