Gender Inequality in Developing Nations: Reasons and Challenges

GLOBAL MINDSET

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Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................1
Reasons for inequality...........................................................................................................................1
Social.................................................................................................................................................1
Economic...........................................................................................................................................2
Political.............................................................................................................................................3
Health................................................................................................................................................3
Future....................................................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................4
Introduction
In the modern day society there are many social evils that are still present. One of the primary
challenges that society is facing is Gender Inequality. Gender Inequality refers to the
inequalities that exist in terms of economic, political, health and educational basis among

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men and women. In the past also this has been the case as it has always remained as a male
dominated society where the contribution of women was not given importance (Moser,
2012). In the developed nations women are fighting for extra rights and at the same time in
the developing nations women are still facing challenges related to the gender inequality.
This report highlights the reason for the gender inequality in the developing nations.
Reasons for inequality
The discriminatory practices that women face in their social life are one of the biggest
reasons for this gender gap. There are many social and economic challenges that a women is
facing in the developing nations. This is reducing the power of the women to raise their
voices. This has increased the gender biased division of rights, labours, opportunities,
responsibilities. The occupational segregation, gender based wage gaps and women unequal
representation in informal employment are the two major reasons for their unequal
participation in the economy of developing nations (Benería, Berik and Floro, 2015). It is
seen that companies that requires labour force does not prefer women over men. This is
highest in the formal sector. Their percentage in formal sector is only 35%.
Social
In many developing nations like India, there is a huge sex ratio gap. This is due to the
presence of social practices like killing of female foetus in womb. This is highly common in
the low class community or the communities that are economically weaker. It is also to be
understood that the women in the developing nations does not enjoy equal importance in the
society hence the activities they perform tend to be valued less. This low value to their work
is the major reason for discrimination in the society. An analysis by Hindin of DHSS suggests
that only 12% in Zambia, 4% in Malawi, 17% in Zimbabwe have higher status in job while
their partners have higher status jobs by the percentage 43, 52 and 53 (Antonio and Tuffley,
2014).
This has also become a bigger challenge due to lack of information that a women have
regarding their rights, opportunities and responsibilities. In most part of the world they have
not been given access to information. They are not allowed to participate in the social
activities. It is also seen that women have not been given access to media that further
decreased their voices. The cultural factors played a very negative role in this regards.
Ethiopian women’s access to mass media is at the lowest level (Coffe and Bolzendahl, 2011).