.jpg)
The term gender refers to the economic, social, and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female. Gender differs from sex in that it is social and cultural in nature, rather than biological. But the fact that gender attributes are socially constructed means they are also amenable to change in ways that can make a society more just and equitable. And this, my esteemed jury and fellow debaters, is my debate today.
When designing and implementing population and development programs, taking gender equity into account is crucial. First, there are variations between the roles of men and women, variations that need nuanced propositions. Second, there is systemic inequality between men and women. I'm sure that no one present in this room would deny that, universally, there are clear patterns of women's inferior access to resources and opportunities. Women are consistently under-represented in decision-making processes; ironically, processes that shape their societies and their own lives. When women are constrained from reaching their full potential, that potential is lost to society. For a vibrant nation, program design and implementation should endeavor to address either or both factors. This requires addressing both the condition, as well as the position, of women and men in society.
I must say, it is crucial not to consider gender as not an aspect of a man's social identity. This fact is often overlooked, because the tendency to consider the male gaze as the norm and those of women as a variation of the norm is unfortunately intrinsic. Repression is a seamless garment; a society which is authoritarian in its social and sexual codes, which crushes its women beneath the intolerable burdens of honour and propriety, breeds repressions of other kinds as well. And therefore, for my vibrant India, we need more equitable relationships on a redefinition of the rights and responsibilities of women and men in all spheres of life, including family, workplace, and society.
I would like to conclude by quoting a book that has left a lasting impact on me, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists, "Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture."
