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The role of women in the society

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The Role of Women in the Society

Women play very important role to ensure the stability, progress and long-term
development of a community and nation. International studies show that when the economic and
political organization of a nation change, women play a very important role to ensure the society
adapt to the change. Moreover, women play an important role in the development of a family.
They ensure sustainable development and quality of life in the family. They play role of wife,
leader, administrator, and a mother. The role of women in today’s world is changing
significantly. This is because women are now well educated and self-dependent. They have
become experts in many fields.

The Role of a Woman in Family, Political, Economic and Community

Development
Family is the bedrock of a society and society is good if the family is good. Women play
a very important role of instilling family and societal values, norms and morals to children in
their tender age and in return results to a good society comprising of people with good morals.
The mother is the central personality of the home and the family circle. All the members turn to
her for sympathy, understanding and recognition. Woman dedicate her time, labor and thought
for the welfare of the members of the family. Coming down to the area of education, women are
also major stakeholders in this sector. Ranging from kindergarten, nursery, primary, secondary
through tertiary education institutions, women contribute to the sustenance of quality education
both in our nation and beyond.
Women are considered to be peacemakers in the society and have a unique prospective to
bring to the negotiation table. They are considered to be advocates of peace and are mediators.
Research and case study has shown that when women are involved in peace agreements and
governance, they offer a long-term solution. Women also play a key role in food production and
form a large proportion of the agricultural work force globally. Statements in a report from the
Food and Agriculture Organization reported that women constitute between 70 and 90 percent of
the agricultural labour force in many sub-Saharan African countries (FAO, 1984)
In the past, leadership positions were simply set aside for the men. In recent years that
has changed and now women play a role in community development serving in leadership
positions. Due to a woman’s attachment to the family setting, they are able to apply what they
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see in the home to the areas in which they serve as leaders. They are more sensitive to the people
they govern or head and pay more attention to them. Because of this, they are able to help people
more and bring development in a community. Women also play a big role in fighting for the
rights of the members of the community. Although in the past they were viewed as weak, women
have come a long way in proving their strength in different ways and on different platforms.
Their participation on the forefront when it comes to fighting for equality in terms of pay and
opportunities leads to community development.

Politics Development
Women's political participation results in tangible gains for democracy and a more
sustainable future.  There is strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is
increase in policy making that emphasizes quality of life and reflects the priorities of families,
women, and ethnic and racial minorities.
Women’s participation in politics helps in gender equality and affects both the range of
policy issues that get considered and the types of solutions that are proposed. Russian Federation,
an examination of the role of female legislators in parliament, shows that the women legislators
were able to set aside ideology to support legislation which was to benefit children and families
on a multi-partisan basis. They proposed measures that increased benefits to citizens with
children, extended pregnancy benefits and parental leave, reduced taxes for families with many
children, created penalties for domestic violence, and promoted equal rights for men and women
(Shevchenko, I. (2002).
Women political participation makes citizen feel that there is democracy in the nation.
Research has shown that around the world women are perceived to be more honest and more
responsible in the society compared to their male counterparts, In Timor-Leste, Croatia,
Morocco, Rwanda and South Africa, an increase in the number of female lawmakers has led to
legislation related to antidiscrimination, domestic violence, family codes, inheritance, and child
support and protection ( Karam, A. and J. Lovenduski (2005).

Among the powerful women in the society includes, Kamala Harries,(the vice president
of America), Rashida Tlaib,(United States Congress Member), Sahle-Work Zewde (the current
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president of Ethiopia, the list of notable hardworking female politicians who have made impact
in the society is inexhaustible.
Development of Economy
The increase of women in the workforce has resulted in significant increase in the
economy in the past century. Women have increased their share of employment to 40.5 per cent
of those employed in 2008, from 39.9 per cent in 1998 (ILO, 2009). In the same vein, women
contribute immensely to the income of the family thereby improving their economy. As gender
inequality continues to improve in the workforce, more women than ever now find themselves in
the position of family breadwinner. IMF research suggest that higher female labour force
participation boost economic growth and raises living standards. When women participate in the
labour force employees will have a larger pool of talent from both male and female.

Conclusion
It is evident that women are key players in the society and there is need for them to be
empowered.
In order to meet worldwide development goals and build strong, sustainable democracies,
women must be encouraged, empowered and supported in becoming strong political and
community leaders. When women are empowered and can claim their rights and access
leadership, opportunities and choices, economies grow, food security is enhanced and prospects
are improved for current and future generations
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References
Acharya, M. and L. Bennett. 1982. Women and the Subsistence Sector: Economic Participation
and Household Decisionmaking in Nepal. World Bank Staff Working Papers, Number 526

Shevchenko, I. (2002) “Who Cares about Women’s Problems? Female legislators in the 1995
and 1999 Russian State Dumas” in Europe-Asia Studies. Vol. 54, No. 8: 1208

Karam, A. and J. Lovenduski (2005) “Women in Parliament: Making a Difference” in Women in

Politics: Women in Parliament: Beyond the Numbers. International IDEA.
[http://archive.idea.int/women/parl/ch5e.htm.]

International Labour Organization (ILO) (2009a). Gender equality at the heart of decent work.
Geneva.

Chinkin, C. (2003) “Peace Agreements as a Means for Promoting Gender Equality and Ensuring
the Participation of Women.” United Nations: Division for the Advancement of Women.
[http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/peace2003/reports/BPChinkin.PDF].

Strickland, R. and N. Duvvury (2003) “Gender Equity and Peacebuilding: From Rhetoric to
Reality: Finding the Way.” International Center for Research on Women.
[http://www.icrw.org/docs/gender_peace_report_0303.pdf].

Jessica S. Bean, "'To help keep the home going': female labour supply in interwar
London." Economic History Review (2015) 68#2 pp. 441–470.

Gouws, A., & Kotzé, H. (2007). Women in leadership positions in South Africa: The role of
values. Politikon, 34(2), 165-185

Lorber, J. (1984). Women physicians: Careers, status, and power (Vol. 281). New York:
Tavistock Publications.
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Reynolds, A. (1999). Women in the Legislatures and Executives of the World. World Politics, 51(4), 547-573.