Gender equality in the rapidly changing modern world is a new trend in the development of relations in a society where no one is oppressed. European countries see this as a boon for the economy, the development of various industries and, in general, for a person's happiness. Other states see gender equality as a threat to the collapse of established traditions.
What is gender equality? Definition
What does gender equality mean? This is the concept of developed countries, positioning the ideology that a person, whether male or female, has the same social rights and opportunities. This social phenomenon has several similar names:
- equality of the sexes;
- sexual equality;
- gender egalitarianism;
- gender equality.
Main criteria of gender equality
Is gender equality possible? Some countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland) have already answered this question and based on the study of the phenomenon, put forward the following criteria on which one can judge about gender equality:
- participation of women in the political and economic life of the country;
- equal pay for both sexes;
- giving men leave to care for a child born in a family;
- absence of discrimination in the workplace, in the promotion of the career ladder, the acquisition of any profession;
- sex change if desired.
Problems of gender equality
Is gender equality a myth or a reality? Residents of many countries are asking this question. Not all states fully implement programs to ensure gender equality and this depends on many factors and mentality. Countries with a traditional family way of life, see in gender equality the destruction of age-old traditions. The Muslim world perceives gender equality negatively.
International standards of gender equality
Gender equality in law is fixed by the UN International Organization in the Conventions of 1952 and 1967. In 1997, the European Union developed standards for gender equality:
- equal treatment of men and women in the workplace;
- the safe stay in the workplace of pregnant, recently given birth and lactating;
- equal pay for work;
- the imposition of sanctions against leaders who discriminate.
Gender Equality in the Modern World
The Gender Equality Act exists in Nordic countries (Scandinavian model). Importance of women's representation in government is also given in countries such as the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany. In Canada, there are special authorized state bodies: the Ministry of Women's Affairs, the Gender Equality Section of the Canadian International Development Agency. USA in 1963 - 1964 years. adopts laws on equal pay and prohibition of discrimination.
Feminism and gender equality
Gender equality in modern society has its roots in such a social phenomenon as feminism , women declared themselves in the form of a female suffragist movement in the 19th century. - this was the first wave of the feminist movement for the right to vote, then from 1960 - the second wave for social equality with men. The modern direction of feminism, new age, professes gender equality and equality expressed in the fact that a man and a woman are equally equal, while a woman has her feminine essence - femininity, and a man - masculinity.
New Age feminism declares that neither man nor woman should be shy about their gender characteristics and are free to dispose of them as you like, gender itself may not coincide with biological sex and is associated with what a person considers himself. Other feminist trends also support gender equality on an equal basis with equality regardless of race, ethnicity, color of people's skin.
Gender equality in the world of work
The principle of gender equality implies that both men and women have the same rights to any post in a public or private organization. An important point here is the possibility of a woman to receive wages not less than a man working in the same field. In fact, gender equality in the labor market of different countries is in different stages of development. Gender equality is leading in the EU countries. Among the CIS countries is Belarus, Russia is a country with a traditional patriarchal way of not supporting gender equality properly.
Gender Equality in the Family
Gender equality is destroying the family, says the Moscow pastor, Archpriest Alexander Kuzin, relying on the law of God. The family institute must remain conservative and unchanged, and emancipation destroys the traditional family. An independent large-scale Swedish study conducted to investigate the impact of gender equalization of the roles of father and mother can lead to persistent mental disorders in children. These or other deviations occur in 23% of children in a traditional family, 28% of children live in ultra-traditional families, and 42% are children from gender-equal families.
Gender Equity Rating
Each year, the World Economic Forum provides a report (Global Gender Gap Report) for different countries, based on the study of 4 criteria:
- the involvement of women in the economy and the opportunities associated with it;
- education;
- the ratio of the sexes of children born;
- the involvement of women in the political sphere.
The provided data are analyzed and the rating of countries on gender equality is drawn up. Today, this rating, adopted in the study of 144 countries, looks like this:
- Iceland;
- Norway;
- Finland;
- Rwanda;
- Sweden;
- Slovenia;
- Nicaragua;
- Ireland;
- New Zealand;
- The Philippines.
The remaining countries, not included in the 10-top, were distributed as follows:
- Republic of Belarus - 26th place;
- Kazakhstan - 51;
- Ukraine - 61;
- Russia - 71;
- Kyrgyzstan - 81;
- Georgia - 94;
- Armenia - 97;
- Tajikistan - 98.
Gender Equality in Russia
The position of a woman even before recent times In Russia was considered unenviable, from historical sources, the Cathedral Code of 1649, if a woman killed her husband buried her alive in the ground, and the husband who killed his wife was subjected to only church repentance. The hereditary right was predominantly in men. During the time of the Russian Empire, the laws continued to protect mostly men and until 1917 Russians were deprived of participation in important state affairs. The October Revolution of 1917 brought the Bolsheviks to power and reformed the relations between the sexes.
In September 1918, the legislative power leveled women with men in the family sphere and in production. In 1980, the Russian Federation ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, but the law on gender equality in Russia was not adopted, the state apparatus appealed to the Constitution, which already has article 19.2, which states that regardless of sex, every citizen has equal rights and freedoms protected by the state.
Gender Equality in Europe
Gender equality in Europe today is considered the basis of social well-being of citizens. The policy of gender equality is successfully leading in such countries as Norway, Finland and Sweden, Denmark, Iceland. Factors contributing to the development of a gender equality policy:
- Democratic and social focus on the creation of a state where human well-being does not depend on its gender. Social rights are designed to protect gender equality.
- Availability of any vocational education and workplace for women. The highest employment of women in Iceland (more than 72% of the female population) and Denmark (about 80%). A large number of women hold positions in the public economy, while men in private. In Denmark, since 1976, a law on equal pay for men and women has been adopted. In Sweden, since 1974, there is a quota rule, according to which 40% of jobs are reserved for women.
- Representation of women in the machinery of power. Norwegians believe that the welfare of the country depends on the involvement of women in governance, as well as in Sweden and Finland, where more than 40% of women hold public office.
- Development of anti-discrimination laws. In the top five countries of Northern Europe in the first half of the 90's. laws on gender equality in all spheres of life have been approved, which prohibit direct and indirect discrimination against men and women.
- Creation of certain mechanisms to ensure equality of genders (social institutions, departments for equality). Special experts monitor the promotion of gender equality policies.
- Support for women's movement. In 1961, a member of the Swedish People's Party wrote an essay Conditional Emancipation of Women, which arose the debates and the gradual implementation of the program for the achievement of equality, anti-crisis centers were opened for women victims of violence by husbands, the centers received financial support from the state. Women's movements for equality begin to develop in parallel in other countries of Northern Europe.
Day of gender equality
Day of gender equality - the date of the well-known international women's holiday on March 8 is considered to be the day of equal rights for women in countries of Europe, along with men in obtaining the same wages, the right to study and receive any professions, to hold high posts. The beginning of this process was laid by the strike of textile workers in 1857. Men's analogue of gender equality is considered to be the international holiday of men, the date of which was established by the UN on November 19 and celebrated in 60 countries.