Women in the past were too naïve and knew too little. With limited
career options, they were contented even if their partners never shared
housework or child-rearing. But today, women stand high having conquered every
arena in career fronts. Withstanding family pressure, social customs, gender
bias, and other impediments, with sheer will-power and determination, women
have been competing with their male counterparts. Women Empowerment, the
buzzword today is providing right platforms for women to rise to their true
potential. However, there still are critical issues, like dealing with daily stress and
certain emotional issues that come their way.
Here are the five leading issues women face today.
1. Male dominance
Even today, women
are considered as the weaker sex and hence are subjugated. From their very
childhood days, their struggle begins. Born and brought up with the conditions
that their main responsibility is to look after the house the girl never is
able to think beyond. As she grows, she is forced to learn to manage the
household chores. The intention of protection limits her from deciding on her
future or about a career. In every phase of a woman’s life, she is dominated by
a male. It is the father of childhood and a husband at youth and then her son
during old age.
2. Social pressures
For men, career is
the only domain they are fully responsible for. And for a woman, their domains
are house, kids, family, apart from self. With all these, career obviously
takes the back seat, especially after marriage. The reason is the compelling
changing priorities. As soon as the girl reaches the marriageable age, there
are pressures from the family and the society as well. Then follows the
pressure to have a child and build a family. With the mounting
responsibilities, a woman’s focus is only to fulfill the responsibilities.
3. Inequality and gender bias at workplace
The disparity in
the salary structure and the responsibilities greatly matter. Women are often
considered as illogical and impractical, hence are rarely found in the top
positions. Decision making being one of the crucial aspects, it is always the
men, who are often considered as right decision makers. Leadership being the
primary mediator of power, women when excluded from decision-making and
policy-making, are out of leadership roles.
4. Self-limitations and confines
Women having
undergone the pressures and restrictions posed by the family and society since
ages, are living a life with self-denials. Suppressing their interests and
needs, have become their way of life. Limiting themselves for every demand,
they place others needs before theirs. Providing support and being the backbone
of the family they are hidden behind screens. How often it is said and believed
that behind every successful man there is a woman. But none acknowledges and
identifies the ability of a woman. When a woman can guide a man and make him
successful, can’t she guide herself? But to do so, she has to break through the
norms and her self-set limitations. If ever, there has been a debate, it is
just because women have allowed men to underestimate their capabilities.
5. Daily trade-offs between home and work
Kids and family
come first for a woman, even if she has her dream career. A woman is always on
the go struggling to strike a balance between work and home. In the process,
juggling between her roles, stress, and exhaustion takes a toll on her heath,
mentally and physically.
However, the above leading issues women face today can be eased out if
there is a right support platform.
