Can Education Really Empower Women

Kadian Sahib,

If you do not mind, kindly permit me to say that it is due to your empowerment through education that you are frequenting alternately between Hindustan and Europe. An illiterate or to say uneducated person can never dream of going so far in his life.

Same is true in the case of empowerment of women that they are contributing their best in every sphere of activities.

Regards

I disagree respectfully Dr Janghu. As a historian can you say that prior to the onset of modern education system, were we not empowered? Further, one of the great traveler of the world Guru Nanak wasn't formally educated as you said about dreaming of travel. Modern education is a metaphor of privileged-wage-slavery and if that is empowerment then yes there has been empowerment. If you consider being literate equal to being educated then I rest my case on empowerment.
 
I strongly agree with you that education is must to empower whether it's a boy or a girl. But along with this, we as a society need to look for answers of some more serious questions. Is the only education sufficient to empower women? Despite of being one of the leading developing countries, we are struggling to maintain a balanced sex-ratio. In contrast to this our neighborhood Asian countries like China and Korea getting success in bringing back equality. Even, with in India, worst sex ratio is found in the areas where illiteracy rate is low. Haryana, Punjab and Delhi are leading states of the country. If not worst, then, at-least have really bad sex ratio, lower than country's average (date you can look on Google). Dowry is still there in the system. I know, sometimes, some insane use dowry law as an instrument but truth is that many times, after marriage, girls are not getting the respected they deserve. Every now and then, we find cases of women murder in metro cities due to dowry issue(even, educated and working women). All in all, I feel, it's is something to do with our mindset. Till the point, we continue to treat them as second citizens, things will not change significantly. We need to stop using different yardsticks for boys and girls. But I don't know how to educate masses on this? What's the solution for this? May be with time things will change. Again, I repeat, I am a strong supporter of educating women but this is not sufficient to empower women
No one can deny the multiple benefits of educating women. Over the years several steps have been initiated to bridge the gap between roles of men and women in the society.

At a time when the world was fast changing and the role of women was not just restricted to homes, can education play role in changing the mindset of Indian Society to empower women in real sense of the term 'EMPOWERMENT.'

Please join discussion depicting the present 'mindset' and future perspective.
 
Last edited:
Don't go far, take Kerala as an example 100% literacy, all what you have mentioned is visible there. There Women participation is every field is conspicuous.

You have sited a very good example. Let me give you a different viewpoint.

Has the Kerala women really progressed due to education? Do we have any statistics on how educated these Kerala women that we see in all the hospitals around? Most of them have done some kind of training on nursing, nothing much. Compare this with women who have done engineering, masters, or even Phd. How many of these highly educated women are delivering (working)? How many of these educated women would be willing to give a clean the body of patients? Isn't the current education system creating new stereotypes having potential but hesitant mindsets?

Another example is of our beloved PM and his ministers. Most of these people are highly educated (IIM, MBA from best institutes, etc and what not), however, what have they delivered? Any thing else then Corruption?

Coming to empowerment. Look at our PM and President who are highly empowered; can they even stand like a leader? Or speak like a leader?

Education is just an enabler, it can not transform a personality unless there is an attitudinal change.

What we need is a practical learning, an education in practice that can be put to a use.
 
I strongly agree with you that education is must to empower whether it's a boy or a girl. But along with this, we as a society need to look for answers of some more serious questions. Is the only education sufficient to empower women? Despite of being one of the leading developing countries, we are struggling to maintain a balanced sex-ratio. In contrast to this our neighborhood Asian countries like China and Korea getting success in bringing back equality. Even, with in India, worst sex ratio is found in the areas where illiteracy rate is low. Haryana, Punjab and Delhi are leading states of the country. If not worst, then, at-least have really bad sex ratio, lower than country's average (date you can look on Google). Dowry is still there in the system. I know, sometimes, some insane use dowry law as an instrument but truth is that many times, after marriage, girls are not getting the respected they deserve. Every now and then, we find cases of women murder in metro cities due to dowry issue(even, educated and working women). All in all, I feel, it's is something to do with our mindset. Till the point, we continue to treat them as second citizens, things will not change significantly. We need to stop using different yardsticks for boys and girls. But I don't know how to educate masses on this? What's the solution for this? May be with time things will change. Again, I repeat, I am a strong supporter of educating women but this is not sufficient to empower women

Friend,

Here arises need for change of mindset.

Thanks
 
I disagree respectfully Dr Janghu. As a historian can you say that prior to the onset of modern education system, were we not empowered? Further, one of the great traveler of the world Guru Nanak wasn't formally educated as you said about dreaming of travel. Modern education is a metaphor of privileged-wage-slavery and if that is empowerment then yes there has been empowerment. If you consider being literate equal to being educated then I rest my case on empowerment.

Kadian Sahib,

With all humility at my command, I respect your right to disagree with me but to my mind it is better to be literate than to remain illiterate so that one could understand small intricacies of day to day transactions of life. Then comes the question of education.

To comment on the Revered Guru Nanak Ji is beyond my reach. Further this comparison is not required here because, the comparison is always between the contemporaries and not between those who lived over half a century earlier and those who are living today.

Let us now join to discuss various hues and colours of education. Education has different meanings for different people. Some consider certificate/degree as a sign of certain yard stick to measure education and there are others who consider job suitability of the degree holders while there are others in favour of formal education as available in the prevalent education system; but there are others who want input of spiritual education or moral education as a necessary ingredient of educated category. Then there are people who consider practical oriented education and vocational and professional education. Thus there is no end of the categories of education. This state of affairs leads to endless debate and discussion on the issue.
But dear friend, my simple submission is that we come out with our views on the topic of the thread: Can education really empower women?

Kindly be generous and please do not feel offended if somebody expresses his or her views contrary to your hypothesis.

I always welcome your valued comments.

Regards
 
Last edited:
...
...
But dear friend, my simple submission is that we come out with our views on the topic of the thread: Can education really empower women?

Kindly be generous and please do not feel offended if somebody expresses his or her views contrary to your hypothesis.

I always welcome your valued comments.

Regards
Can education really empower women? The answer is no.

Can education really "help" in empowerment of women? The answer is yes and no, depending upon the objective and method. For example, if the objective is to get a higher degree certificate to add title or value to ones name then, in reality, it would not empower the person. On the other hand,if the objective is to gain wisdom or capability, then it would really help.

Lastly, I think the benefits of education are not gender specific.
 
Can education really empower women? The answer is no.

Can education really "help" in empowerment of women? The answer is yes and no, depending upon the objective and method. For example, if the objective is to get a higher degree certificate to add title or value to ones name then, in reality, it would not empower the person. On the other hand,if the objective is to gain wisdom or capability, then it would really help.

Lastly, I think the benefits of education are not gender specific.

Friend

I agree.

Now let us move to the next question raised in the thread post in the beginning, i.e. can educating women help in changing the mind set of men towards women?
regards
 
You have sited a very good example. Let me give you a different viewpoint.

Has the Kerala women really progressed due to education? Do we have any statistics on how educated these Kerala women that we see in all the hospitals around? Most of them have done some kind of training on nursing, nothing much. Compare this with women who have done engineering, masters, or even Phd. How many of these highly educated women are delivering (working)? How many of these educated women would be willing to give a clean the body of patients? Isn't the current education system creating new stereotypes having potential but hesitant mindsets?

Another example is of our beloved PM and his ministers. Most of these people are highly educated (IIM, MBA from best institutes, etc and what not), however, what have they delivered? Any thing else then Corruption?

Coming to empowerment. Look at our PM and President who are highly empowered; can they even stand like a leader? Or speak like a leader?

Education is just an enabler, it can not transform a personality unless there is an attitudinal change.

What we need is a practical learning, an education in practice that can be put to a use.

I stood to the point I made "There Women participation is every field is conspicuous."

Now you are talking about standard of education, how good it is all over the country you must be aware of it.

Education is just an enabler, it can not transform a personality unless there is an attitudinal change. I agree to it.....
 
Kadian Sahib,

With all humility at my command, I respect your right to disagree with me but to my mind it is better to be literate than to remain illiterate so that one could understand small intricacies of day to day transactions of life. Then comes the question of education.

To comment on the Revered Guru Nanak Ji is beyond my reach. Further this comparison is not required here because, the comparison is always between the contemporaries and not between those who lived over half a century earlier and those who are living today.

Let us now join to discuss various hues and colours of education. Education has different meanings for different people. Some consider certificate/degree as a sign of certain yard stick to measure education and there are others who consider job suitability of the degree holders while there are others in favour of formal education as available in the prevalent education system; but there are others who want input of spiritual education or moral education as a necessary ingredient of educated category. Then there are people who consider practical oriented education and vocational and professional education. Thus there is no end of the categories of education. This state of affairs leads to endless debate and discussion on the issue.
But dear friend, my simple submission is that we come out with our views on the topic of the thread: Can education really empower women?

Kindly be generous and please do not feel offended if somebody expresses his or her views contrary to your hypothesis.

I always welcome your valued comments.

Regards

Okay. It is interesting now. But come forward and enlist minimum empowering parameters which you consider specially under women empowerment. Further females on this portal can come forward and opine what they have witnessed on these parameters.
 
I stood to the point I made "There Women participation is every field is conspicuous."

Now you are talking about standard of education, how good it is all over the country you must be aware of it.

Education is just an enabler, it can not transform a personality unless there is an attitudinal change. I agree to it.....

Friend,

You are right. The change in attitude is also an inseparable outcome of education.

Thanks
 
Friend

Now let us move to the next question raised in the thread post in the beginning, i.e. can educating women help in changing the mind set of men towards women?

regards

Yes, this is more important question. What can change the mind set of society about women? Can education do this? Well, I don't think so. The biggest issue is that people are not ready to give best possible chances to the girls. Although, they are realizing education is necessary for their daughter's future (Again, I feel, marriage is main reason not the empowerment of girl). I have seen, many times, people ( mainly parents and/or male siblings) are forcing girls to choose courses and colleges (near home) of their (parent's) choice rather than going for best option available because of pretty shallow reason based on gender. They always ask for advise from others but not ready to listen right things. They want to listen whatever they feel is right. I had faced real criticism/sarcasm 2-3 times when tried to oppose some of my relatives and tried to advise best for their daughter's future (My cousins). After some time, I stopped this due to social obligations of relationship with them. Many times, those (brother/brothers before marriage and husband after marriage) who himself are not capable of doing anything significant in their career are deciding the fate of girl in the family (specially in career). They are assuming their right to do so. Even so called educated "engineers", working in reputed firms (which they believe are reputed and having false proud of their job) are not allowing their sisters to go for coaching or not allowing them to take admission outside state. I am not saying give absolute freedom to girls. Give whatever they ask. This is not true for anybody whether it's a girl or a boy. Some discipline is necessary. But we shouldn't draw different discipline lines for boys and girls. I don't know what exactly we should do to make people aware. I think, parents must ask their daughters what they want to do in life. Discuss with them pros and cons of their choice. And, come up with a best possible solution. This approach is totally missing in the society. They must behave somewhat like friends with whom girls can share things without reservations. They must involve more their child whether it's a boy or a girl.

Till the point, people will not come out of thinking that "लडकी तो पराया धन है ", things will not change.
 
Last edited:
Yes, this is more important question. What can change the mind set of society about women? Can education do this? Well, I don't think so. The biggest issue is that people are not ready to give best possible chances to the girls. Although, they are realizing education is necessary for their daughter's future (Again, I feel, marriage is main reason not the empowerment of girl). I have seen, many times, people ( mainly parents and/or male siblings) are forcing girls to choose courses and colleges (near home) of their (parent's) choice rather than going for best option available because of pretty shallow reason based on gender. They always ask for advise from others but not ready to listen right things. They want to listen whatever they feel is right. I had faced real criticism/sarcasm 2-3 times when tried to oppose some of my relatives and tried to advise best for their daughter's future (My cousins). After some time, I stopped this due to social obligations of relationship with them. Many times, those (brother/brothers before marriage and husband after marriage) who himself are not capable of doing anything significant in their career are deciding the fate of girl in the family (specially in career). They are assuming their right to do so. Even so called educated "engineers", working in reputed firms (which they believe are reputed and having false proud of their job) are not allowing their sisters to go for coaching or not allowing them to take admission outside state. I am not saying give absolute freedom to girls. Give whatever they ask. This is not true for anybody whether it's a girl or a boy. Some discipline is necessary. But we shouldn't draw different discipline lines for boys and girls. I don't know what exactly we should do to make people aware. I think, parents must ask their daughters what they want to do in life. Discuss with them pros and cons of their choice. And, come up with a best possible solution. This approach is totally missing in the society. They must behave somewhat like friends with whom girls can share things without reservations. They must involve more their child whether it's a boy or a girl.

Till the point, people will not come out of thinking that "लडकी तो पराया धन है ", things will not change.

Dear Friend,

Your post itself testifies that mind set of people is gradually changing towards the need of providing education to females. Do not feel disheartened with slow pace of change because it will accelerate in due course of time passing the barriers it has to face from tradition bound society. Keep up your spirits and go ahead in contributing in the shape of advice as and when required.

Cheers and regards,
 
I agree, things are changing at a slow pace. I never felt different when parents oppose something (There I can understand, generation gap is the reason) but it's really disheartening to see youngsters (brother/brothers and husband) are becoming obstacles in girl's progress. They don't belong to different generation. At least, they should understand the need of the hour. Even, I was really surprised with one person. When he was looking girl for marriage, he had set some reasonable good education standards for his life partner but, when it comes to giving chance to his own sister (in her career what she wants), he didn't. (Quite a story. Also, don't want to narrate here). This is hypocrisy. Perhaps, you are right. It will take time to cross the barriers of tradition in the society. Surly, I continue to contribute in best of my capabilities.

Off-topic: It is always nice to have healthy discussions with you. Its senior members like you who are making Jatland an exciting platform.

Dear Friend,

Your post itself testifies that mind set of people is gradually changing towards the need of providing education to females. Do not feel disheartened with slow pace of change because it will accelerate in due course of time passing the barriers it has to face from tradition bound society. Keep up your spirits and go ahead in contributing in the shape of advice as and when required.

Cheers and regards,
 
Last edited:
I agree, things are changing at a slow pace. I never felt different when parents oppose something (There I can understand, generation gap is the reason) but it's really disheartening to see youngsters (brother/brothers and husband) are becoming obstacles in girl's progress. They don't belong to different generation. At least, they should understand the need of the hour. Even, I was really surprised with one person. When he was looking girl for marriage, he had set some reasonable good education standards for his life partner but, when it comes to giving chance to his own sister (in her career what she wants), he didn't. (Quite a story. Also, don't want to narrate here). This is hypocrisy. Perhaps, you are right. It will take time to cross the barriers of tradition in the society. Surly, I continue to contribute in best of my capabilities.

Off-topic: It is always nice to have healthy discussions with you. Its senior members like you who are making Jatland an exciting platform.

Dear Friend,

Keep it up. As much as you can, do contribute in this cause but never loose hope. Remember the proverb: slow and steady wins the race.

I sincerely reciprocate your nice feelings.

Thanks.
 
It is true that Education is the best means through which men and women become good human beings; so none should be left un-lettered. Let us come together and resolve, each one--teach one !
 
ये पढे लीखे इम्पावर्ड आदमी के विचार हैं??
Friend, school/university education is not enough for the empowerment of the women, but spiritual education is also necessary. Thank god, all women are not 'educated'. According to me mostly of these 'educated' women don't believe in bringing up kids, doing household works and so (though exceptions are always there). God saves from these 'educated' women (mostly).
 
The views referred to do not reflect the real response and role of educated women towards challenging before Indian women !

The educated or say working woman in Indian society has to perform double duty of house wife as well as an employee and thus supplement to the income of her family. And most of them are doing both the duties successfully as is evident from ever increasing number of women participants in our work force in different professions.
 
House Wife and Employed Woman are 2 different professions . Trust no one can do both with absolute focus unless Super Human . I know many working woman they get do some of both with their Spouse Support ONLY ( goes for guys as well ).

Concern is " House Wife " is round a clock Job ( with all care n.......) . Others still have timings - in other time those can do some of House Wife Stuff .

IMO - Woman should pick one profession n excel in same - else chaos would be there .

One more : Toughest Job is being House Wife no clue about house husband .
 
Last edited:
Back
Top