Closing the Gender Wage Gap

As we all know, gender inequality is not limited to India; it exists in most countries around the world, including the U.S. The gender wage gap is evidence of this. As the following infographic shows, the difference in economic attainments between men and women as shown in their earnings, is one aspect of the gender gap that we must make an effort to eliminate. It's true that there's still a long struggle ahead for us, but we've got the determination and the enthusiasm to work for change.

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Our Very Own Magi

On this special day of gift giving, we would like to share, not the story of the three wise men, but that of a very kind and generous wise woman called Teresa, a sponsor of the Women's Literacy Project who has donated extensively to our cause.

As a teacher, Teresa knows that illiteracy is at the root of the great gender divide that exists in India. Hence, she is aware of how the lives of the women of Paddar will improve through literacy.

We know Teresa well and can easily speak of her intelligence, her wit and her commitment to helping the needy. Through her generosity, she has helped sustain this literacy project since its launch in 2010. She has always asked to remain anonymous, but we felt we needed to pay homage to our most generous and concerned benefactor on this day of giving and solidarity.

Indian Women Struggle for Change

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Statistics show that women in India have achieved a great deal in recent years, including a reduction in maternal mortality rates, and an increase in both literacy rates and education levels. However, there is still much to be done to reduce the gender gap. 

In reaction to the gruesome gang rape in Delhi, a protest movement emerged which was born, according to the women who started it, "'of their outraged realization that no matter how accomplished they become, or how hard they work, women here will never fully take part in the promise of a new and more prosperous India unless something fundamental about the culture changes.'"

According to the N.Y. Times article "Indian Women March: 'That Girl Could Have Been Any One of Us'"), "sociologists and crime experts say the attacks are the result of deeply entrenched misogynistic attitudes and the rising visibility of women, underpinned by long-term demographic trends in India." These atttitudes must change.  How, then, can we contribute to this change?

The Women's Literacy Project of Gulabgarh is aware that, no matter how small our effort, we can all help to improve the situation of Indian women and we therefore support whatever measures and efforts must me taken to achieve this aim. In our case, actions begins with increasing the literacy rate among the women of rural areas in Paddar.

Among other things, literacy empowers women by increasing their self-confidence and providing opportunities for them to improve their lives at both a personal and professional level. It also raises awareness, helping women to recognize what their collective needs and rights are, thereby providing them with an essential tool for understanding why this affirmative struggle for change is so important. Finally, literacy can show women how they can remain united in this positive undertaking.

On a positive note, we see that people have joined together in this movement to demand a safer existence for all women throughout India. Let us hope that this union is a long-lasting one, capable of bringing on other greatly needed changes in social attitudes that will close the great gender divide.

UN Literacy Decade about to end

This December, 2012 marks the end of the UN Literacy Decade, which began in 2003. The initiative was launched to promote, defend and improve literacy in children, youth and adults worldwide. We will know how successful this action was when the final evaluation is submitted to the United Nations General Assembly in 2013.

India still lagging behind China in female literacy rate

According to a recent article by Carrie Lennard, Government Labour and Education Manager at Euromonitor International, the one-child policy in China (in place since 1979) and its preference for educating males is doing damage to the Asian giant's growth rate, so much so that its total employed female population is forecast to contract by 1.2% between 2012 and 2020.

In contrast and partly owing to increased female incomes, during that same period India saw a real growth of 64.2% in consumer expenditure on education.

This reinforces our conviction that we must promote female illiteracy because improved literacy among women translates into improved health as well as school enrollment and outcomes by enabling women who enter the workforce to invest in their children's health and education, that is, in their children's future.

Statistics and predictions tell us that literacy is the key to social and economic development and improvement at several levels. It can mark the difference between extreme poverty and a bright, hopeful future for an entire society, not just for women. What is more, in countries beset by conflict, literacy can contribute to peace.

India may still be lagging behind the other Asian giant, but it can do a lot to bridge that gap and why not, to get ahead of its rival neighbor. If rivalry means improving the social conditions, health and education of its people, then let there be rivalry.

My visit to a literacy lesson

It's been a long wait, but finally here's a short video clip of the visit I made to the WLP class in Gulabgarh, where I was able to observe at first hand how the students of the project were progressing in their efforts towards achieving literacy and numeracy skills.

I was delighted and also moved when I saw this group of women doing something for themselves for a change, even if that meant reconciling their classes with babysitting for their grandchildren. Women never seem to stop looking after their families, so often forgetting to care for themselves.

I'm enthusiastic about this project and convinced that our efforts will help the women succeed in becoming literate, thus more independent and self-confident. The changes that take place in them will not only be for their own benefit, but also for that of their family and their community.

It was a true pleasure to share that short time with them and to check their notebooks too! 

Congratulations to these ladies - the students of the Women's Literacy Project, Gulabgarh!

Mari

Kavita Parmar: the prosperity chain

We're glad to be back after a rather long recess with an interesting interview with an Indian fashion designer who fosters responsible purchasing through her collections of modern garments, wonderfully crafted by artisans from India and Spain. Click on the image below to watch the interview by RTVE.

Kavita Parmar is a fashion designer from India who currently lives and works in Madrid, Spain. She established the firm IOU which creates unique, modern garments - beautifully crafted products imbued in tradition.  IOU tries to connect the garment with the craftsman through what it calls the "prosperity chain" thereby fostering responsible purchasing.

Ms. Parmar provides work for several Indian cooperatives. "We use technology to connect the consumer to the artisans, bringing back that emotional connection between consumers and what they are buying. In this way we promote responsible purchasing because when we know how much work is involved behind the product we are buying, we value it more."

For Kavita, "India always means starting from scratch because India is like that. There everything is always possible… and then there's this enormous projection of colors, smells… it's intense… India stimulates all your senses… it's wonderful… it makes you feel again."

Exceptional women creating amazing projects that add

a human dimension and value to what they do.