Women's Day 2023: Fierce Essay Topics, Speech Ideas On Women's Rights And Gender Equality

Monday, February 27, 2023, 15:36

To learn about the situation of women across the globe, and spread the message of gender equality, one needs to understand women's rights, issues and the current scenario. Engaging and sharing thought-provoking ideas can be one way to understand the status of women in society and raise awareness about the issues faced by them.

All women want gender equality in terms of everything. March 8 is celebrated as International Women's Day and therefore, we have curated fierce essay topics, speech ideas on women's rights and gender equality on International Women's Day 2023.

International Women's Day 2023: Fierce Essay Topics, Speech Ideas On Women's Rights And Gender Equality

1. Powerful Indian Women Who Were 'Firsts In Their Fields' And Etched History

From politics, science, cinema, and sports to astronomy, science and technology, Indian women have embraced the power of womanhood and have set a benchmark in every profession.

The road to equality still remains long- be it sexuality, class or race, but the dynamics are slowly changing. The freedom to make choices and to live a life unhindered by negative stereotypes, prejudices and roles, will change the socio-economic condition of women for the better.

Here is a quick rundown of those powerful women who were the 'firsts in their fields' to mark their name through stellar achievements to create history.

Read the complete article here.

2. How Women Can Stay Safe While Working During Night Shifts

How ironic it is that for the sake of a woman's safety, she has always been advised by her parents or close ones to not leave their homes after it gets dark or come back home before 7 pm atleast. And they did follow the advice for a very very long time. But was it enough to stop the crimes against women?

Late-night shifts can be scary for women (even if we keep aside the gender biases) in a country where passing lewd comments and getting away with them is quite easy. While some do report it to authorities, others sweep it under the carpet in fear of getting victim shamed by society. Even though stringent harassment laws are in place, women are still hesitant to work during night shifts because not always the employer ensures that their employees are protected during unsocial hours.

There are certain industries where night shifts are a necessity such as emergency services, logistics and transportation, hospitality, care work, and railways. Despite all the challenges women are marching forward and opting for night shifts. If you feel vulnerable and exposed while working during late-night shifts, here are a few tips that will keep you safe.

Read the complete article here.

3. List Of Countries Where Women Can Take Paid Leaves For Menstrual Pain

On Friday, 24 February, the top court of India, Supreme Court will be seeking direction to all states to frame rules or menstrual leaves for female students and working women at their respective workplaces and comply with section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act 1961. The bench, headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud posted the matter for Friday after advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi mentioned the plea for the urgent listing and requested an early hearing of it.

The petition was filed on 10 January and it makes provisions for almost all the problems faced by women related to maternity. As per the provisions of the Act, it will be mandatory for the employers to grant paid leave to its women employees for a certain number of days during their pregnancy, in case of miscarriage, for undergoing a tubectomy operation and also in case of illness as well as medical complications arising out of these stages of maternity.

In India, Kerala and Bihar are the only two states which allow period leaves to females. Also, businesses like Byju's, Swiggy and Zomato allow their female workers to take one or two off days every month. In Australia, an innerwear company Modibodi, which specialises in period/menstrual underwear, offers women workers a paid leave of 10 days each year. Here is a list of other countries that allow days off or leaves for periods/menstrual pain.

Read the complete article here.

4. Fearless Ways To Say 'No' To Dowry Demands

'Ek kapde me ladki bhej dijiye, humey aur kuch nehi chahiye' (Just send the girl, we don't need anything else). And this is followed by - 'but where will they both sleep?', 'fridge is not a luxury but a necessity these days,' 'where will they keep their essentials?' and slowly when it becomes worse, and finally the new brides hear those golden words (literally) - 'How much gold did you bring from your house?' , 'How about a house instead, or cash is also fine with us, it will benefit the girl only'.

You get the drift, right? And the sad part is, it not only happens in an arranged marriage setup but even if you are marrying your childhood sweetheart, there is absolutely no guarantee that yours will be a dowry-free marriage. So, in this nation, big fat weddings are not known for their culture and tradition, but also for the dowry demands.

Since it has been made illegal, people still receive or ask for it in the form of gifts. India's dowry violence is an age-old problem it is women and their families who bear the brunt of it most of the time.

Read the complete article here.

5. Top 10 Central Government Schemes For Girl Child In India

Gender biases exist around the world and therefore, sex selection is mostly attributed to 'son preference' (or 'daughter aversion') because families prioritise having sons over daughters due to religious beliefs, and historical and economic reasons.

Child Sex Ratio (CSR) is defined as the number of girls per 1000 boys between 0-6 years of age in a human population set. The decline from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 and further to 918 in 2011 is alarming. It reflects both, pre-birth discrimination (gender-biased sex selection) and post-birth discrimination against girls.

While a decade later, the sex ratio at birth has become slightly better, but there is no denying that irrespective of the country, timeframe or religion, the women population has been harassed, discriminated and exploited.

Let us look at 10 Central government-sponsored girl child schemes that aim to change the attitude of society towards girl children in India and help them to uplift their standing in this nation.

Read the complete article here.

6. Occupation Of A Housewife: Will Homemakers Be Forever Tagged As An Unpaid Productive Resource?

Blame it on patriarchal, political or social order, but history bears witness that women have always been seen as passive humans and the silent process of female subjugation still continues today and compels them to believe that the suffering they go through, and the discrimination they face is natural.

It is not just about upbringing, society or religion, even the language used has contributed to discrimination against women. Ask any man what your wife does, and there is a high chance you will hear them say, 'She does nothing, she is just a HOUSEWIFE.

A 2019 report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed that on average, women spend 299 minutes a day on unpaid domestic services for household members as compared to 97 minutes spent by men on average.

Read the complete article here.

7. What Is FGM (Female Genital Mutilation)? Why Culture Should Not Be A Defence For Child Abuse

Just a picture being taken to a remote area, where inside a dark decrepit building or a hut you are being tacked down on the floor without having a single iota of knowledge of what is going to happen next and why. All you can hear is the sound of metal, probably a blade or knife being heated and your underwear goes off without your consent.

You get confused and struggle to get up but all your efforts go to waste. What happens next is that same hot blade and knife slices your clitoris inch by inch and all you can do is scream and cry in pain. The next thing you know is that a piece of flesh is removed from your body and you are left on the floor bleeding.

Now imagine this mutilation happening to 200 million girls and women across 31 countries where culture is used as a defence for female child abuse in order to control their sexuality. The sad truth this inhuman practice is performed by women to other women.

Read the complete article here.

8. How To Bridge The Gap When It Comes To Digital Access Of Women In India

Technology has the power to unite everyone and promote equality, but once the gender divide gets embedded in this, it unleashes a digital gap, especially in the case of women in lower-middle-income countries. Today, having access to the internet and technology is considered a necessity rather than a luxury.

Having access to digital tools and literacy can empower people to gain better access to education, healthcare, skills and livelihood opportunities. Not only it can empower adults, and elderly people, but women too who do not have basic digital access in comparison to men.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reports that more than 50% of the world's women are offline. This is more pronounced in developing countries, where the internet penetration rate for adult women is 41%, compared to 53% for men.9 GSMA found that 393 million adult women in developing countries do not own mobile phones, and globally, women are 8% less likely to own a mobile phone than men, mentions UNICEF Gender and Innovation, a literature review.

Read the complete article here.

9. Dating Trend 'Consciously Single' Is Becoming Popular With Indian Women: Here Is Why!

Since 2019, Indian weddings and festivities took a backseat because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but last year it was back on track and with full force. While some women dream about a big fat wedding, others face anxiety at the very mention of it.

The familial and social expectations are sky-high, especially for unmarried women in India and they end up getting engaged in traditional matches that they didn't ask for in the first place. The worst part is they are being pointed out for being single. As a result, they are surrounded by unsolicited advice, opinions, suggestions and inquiries about who they want to date or want as a partner.

In this country, singlehood is seen by most people around us as a void that needs a permanent solution or someone to fill it in the form of marriage. In case you have somehow dodged those peculiar questions, being frowned upon is something you can escape. It doesn't matter if you have an amazing career, lovely friends who support you or you are at utmost peace emotionally, the stigma of single shaming will be latched on to you by society at all costs. No doubt this makes you wonder why you need a partner when you are happy in your own company.

Read the complete article here.

10. Role Of Women In Effective Peacekeeping

Women have been an important part of the UN Peacekeeping family and are actively involved to make all operations effective. To ensure there is a positive impact on the peacekeeping environment, they have been deployed in numerous areas. Not only do they vouch to build peace, but they are the flagbearer of women's rights as well.

Time and again they have proved that they can maintain the same standards as their male counterparts, even when the situations are extremely demanding. More than 200,000 Indians have served in 49 of the 71 UN peacekeeping missions established around the world since 1948.

Women peacekeepers are being employed in large numbers to make peacekeeping more effective. Not only they are believed to have greater and better access to communities which help to not only protect civilians but promote human rights and also encourage women to take part in political and peace-building processes. These are reasons why women play an essential role when it comes to peacemaking.

Read the complete article here.