Why gender matters in development?

Why woman matters in development?

Gender has never been an issue in Bhutanese society until the drive for gender equality was coerced by some international agencies working for women and women’s rights. Historical shreds of evidence have it that there never had an instance of gender discrimination in our society. While experts argue that gender issues in Bhutanese society never emerged in the public forum, they also never take into account that there had been a time when a young girl ruled the country after Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel’s theocratic rule. As a matter of requirement, she took the masculine name called Tshokey Dorji. In a community under Trongsa Dzongkhag, a woman heads the households and the tradition has been there from a long time.

However, like many global communities, women were confined to household chores and to make homes. They have basically bestowed the responsibility to cook, wash and sit her children at home. This was also attributed to menial work involved outside home and men, by masculinity, were off to work out of home and involving force and energy. As the global interface evolved over time, menial work became the thing of the past. Machines and mechanization revolutionized the world and it became easier for both man and woman to handle their work. There was no requirement for force and stamina to get the work done as machines carried out the work and the operation of machines involved switching of a button. This must be the point in time when the birth for the notion of gender equality was born.

Gender equality and the campaign, rather coercion of this demand, emerged in Bhutan not earlier than a decade of time. As Bhutan joined the global community and various international agencies, the gender agenda became prominent and came out in every discourse, both international and national forums. At some extents, gender agenda and taking it to the highest policy forums became the basis for international aids. Thus, Bhutanese society was more into taking a chance to receive and benefit from the monetary aids than the ideas and nuances of gender equality.

However, such evolution in our gender arsenal benefited the women at the policy level, the number which is much lesser compared to men. They were provided lots of training, sent abroad to learn gender best practices elsewhere in the world. Laws and policies related to gender, gender equality, gender mainstreaming, gender-responsive budgeting was formulated. At one point in time, deliberations were held whether there should be quota reserved for women in the parliament.

However, nothing has materialized as yet and the women at policy and leadership level have not improved despite efforts being made at all levels. It was interesting to note that the quota system for women that some factions of our society raised was not taken positively by our women. They raised that keeping setting aside a certain number of seats to women in the parliament was a challenge to their capability and it rather provided the space for others to think that women were incapable. Women raised that keeping seats reserved for them would make women more handicapped as privilege comes with shortcomings.

Taking this instance as a linchpin of development, it is explicitly expressed that women in our society think more independently of their wellbeing which is a positive sign in pursuit of development. Literatures have it or rather, it is expressed in honour a woman, which says that ‘behind every successful man, there is a woman.’ If the same is implied to a nation, it is imperative that a woman plays a vital role in society. Unlike earlier days when women prepared meals, did dishes, looked after children and made homes, women today are inevitable section of society for all development programs.

From law-making to policy implementation, leading a scientist team to discovery in ICT, teaching a student to treating a patient, policing a town to rescuing commoners during emergency situations, becoming a successful entrepreneur to a block chain scientist, raising the future of humankind to serving a nation, women in Bhutan has become an integral part of our development journey. Without women participation, any developmental plans and policies would be incomplete because only women understand at length and depth of what is best for women. It is important that women make their presence in any discourse and assert their importance. By involving them, we are doing justice to our society which involves our sisters, daughters, nieces and mother of future development.

Thank your reading.