Gender discrimination

In our country the girls are the worst victims of gender discrimination. Social prejudices and customs tend to degrade their position, the girls are discriminated right from their birth. When a female child is born, it is not regarded as a happy event. She is not welcome with the deep warmth of heart. Instead of being delighted, the male members of the family think that she has come to add to their misery. The female members also think the same way. She is regarded as a liability to be got rid of as soon as possible. Gender discrimination tells upon the mental, physical and psychological growth of the girls. Their health and education are affected because of gender discrimination. The girls eat less than their male counterpart. So they become physically feeble.

Education of the girls is not taken up on a priority basis. Most of the parents think that the girls need no education. Their educational cost is regarded as a useless cost.

After the marriage they will live in their husband's home. So the parents do not want to educate them. The parents think that only the boys should be educated, because they are the future property of the parents. This notion of the parents is the main obstacle on the way to women's empowerment. On the other hand, the girls are married off by their parents before they come of age. And in selecting the bridegroom the girl's opinion is not sought. Even her marriage drives her parents mad as dowry has to be paid. Her parents try to find a husband for her even before she attains physical and mental maturity. The parents think that early marriage of the girls is the best way to get rid of this burden. The parents don't understand that today's girl is tomorrow's future if they are educated properly.

Today women are playing an important role in all spheres of life. They are no longer confined within the four walls of their parents' or husband's house. They have come out of the kitchens and are working hand in hand with men in all the development programmes of the government. By receiving higher education they are becoming pilots, doctors, engineers, teachers, administrators etc. They have been able to prove their worth. They have changed their family a lot with their earnings.

They are contributing to their family. They are contributing much to the economy of the country. Without female education a nation's satisfactory development is not possible. It is true that only an educated mother can provide us with an educated nation. An educated mother knows how to keep a family small or to enjoy a better life. Whereas an uneducated girl is totally dependent on the males. They are considered weaker by the male members of the society. So my opinion is that a girl can be educated if her mother is also educated. In order to bring about a change in the position of the women, women themselves should rise up and protest.

To remove this gender discrimination all the conscious people of the society have to change their outlook towards girls. Early marriage should be stopped. Men have realised that true development of the country is never possible keeping half of the population idle at home. This realisation must be reflected in our national life.