The idea of having equal rights, opportunities, and responsibilities regardless of a person’s gender, remains a critical issue worldwide. Despite significant progress made in recent decades, barriers to gender equality persist across various spheres of life. It is therefore imperative to understand these barriers and develop strategies to overcome them.
Barriers To Gender Equality
1. Systemic Discrimination
Systemic discrimination refers to policies and practices adopted by public and private institutions that perpetuate inequality. This is also known as institutional discrimination.
This type of discrimination is deeply embedded in the institutional structures. It makes them less visible. Consequently, it becomes difficult to recognize them and act against them.
Comprehensive reforms in organizational policies, practices, and cultures are required to address systemic discrimination. Such discrimination can also be prevented by introducing anti-discriminatory laws or a quota system to foster an inclusive environment.
2. Social Norms and Cultural Practices
Social norms and cultural practices globally play a significant role in perpetuating gender inequality. In many societies, women are confined to their homes and not allowed to leave without a male family member.
Similarly, practices such as child marriages are part of different cultures. Globally, one in every five girls gets married before 18 years. After marriage, these girls face several restrictions. Such as they don’t have access to health care, they can’t pursue education, do a job, and be financially independent.
This single example depicts how social norms and cultural practices can act as a barrier to gender equality. The widespread practice of child marriage shows the need for legal frameworks that protect women and girl’s rights and foster gender equality.
3. Gender Stereotypes
Gender stereotypes and social norms go hand in hand and act as barriers to gender equality. These stereotypes define gender roles and behaviors and are often deeply rooted in societies.
Such stereotypes can be changed by education and equal representation of genders in media. Moreover, it is also important to promote diverse gender roles that challenge traditional gender roles. This can open the mindset of people and dismantle gender stereotypical beliefs.
4. Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a concept that emphasizes different aspects of a person’s identity. For instance, a woman’s ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, etc, can create unique circumstances and increase the chances of discrimination for her.
A very common example is of women of color, who can face dual discrimination because (a) of their gender and (b) their color. They can face gender discrimination as well as racial discrimination at the same time.
Hence, intersectionality acts as a strong barrier to gender equality. Overcoming this barrier is mandatory for a just and inclusive society.
5. Economic Inequality
Another prominent hurdle to gender equality is unequal access to economic resources and opportunities. This inequality is widely observed in the gender pay gap. Generally, women get less money than their male colleagues for similar work.
Unequal access to economic resources and opportunities acts as a strong barrier to healthcare, education, and other opportunities. Lack of financial resources and opportunities also hinders personal and professional development.
Hence, these economic disparities can be addressed with targeted policies and legislation. These should ensure that marginalized individuals such as women have access to economic opportunities, such as equal access to jobs.
6. Lack of Gender Representation
Lack of gender representation in leadership and decision-making roles also serves as a barrier to gender equality. Despite the efforts, in many areas, women and non-binary individuals face discrimination and underrepresentation in higher positions.
This imbalance can be seen across various fields, including politics, health, business, and academia. The lack of gender representation means disparity in identifying problems, developing policies, and making decisions. This inequality hinders gender equality and results in gender discrimination.
Learn more about the Steps to Develop Gender-Responsive Policies
7. Gender Inequality in Education and Healthcare
Girls and women around the face strong barriers when it comes to access to education and health. By 2030, globally 110 million girls and young women might remain out of school. This single figure depicts the difficulty of achieving gender equality.
Similarly, women also face hurdles when it comes to access to healthcare. Many women are simply not allowed to visit doctors. Moreover, the lack of infrastructure such as hospitals, and the lack of equipment and machinery increase these hurdles. Consequently, women face disparity and exclusion.
8. Resistance to Change
Many societies depict resistance to change when it comes to achieving gender equality. This refusal or resistance can come from individuals and public or private institutions that are reluctant to accept change. This change can be a shift in gender roles (women doing jobs and men doing household chores) or accepting new policies and practices.
Gender equality in these societies can be achieved by building awareness and fostering dialogues on the benefits of gender equality. National organizations as well as organizations working at the grassroots level can play a significant role in breaking barriers to achieve gender equality.
9. Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence is another important barrier to achieving gender equality. This includes domestic violence, harassment, and assault which are mostly faced by girls and women.
Gender-based violence results in physical harm and psychological damage to individuals. It also reinforces gender disparities and power imbalance. It is a strong barrier to an individual’s ability to benefit from social and economic developmental opportunities.
These types of barriers can be addressed by developing policies and legal reforms that protect survivors and discourage such harmful practices. To achieve gender equality, the victims of gender-based violence should have support and access to justice that provides them with a secure environment.
10. Digital Divide
In this ever-changing world, women face barriers to fully participate and benefit from the digital world. Women have a lack of access to electricity, internet, mobile, and computers.
Limited access to digital technologies deprives women of their basic rights. Most women are digitally illiterate they are unaware of digital opportunities and social media platforms. This limits their personal and economic development opportunities which is a strong barrier to gender equality.
11. Lack of Access to Resources
Lack of access to resources is another hurdle to gender equality. This means that women have no or less access to educational, financial, and development opportunities.
Many women face difficulties when availing of legal and economic benefits. They face hurdles starting a new venture and are unable to rent or buy land, apply for loans, or sign a contract.
Such practices perpetuate gender discrimination and stall economic development and progress in society.
Concluding Remarks
Gender equality is a fundamental human right that is beneficial for the whole society. Recognizing barriers to gender equality can help to identify loopholes. This involves developing and implementing policies that foster inclusivity, and challenge cultural norms that benefit individuals.