Interrelationship between gender equality and sustainable development

Both terms Gender equality and sustainable development are buzzwords in current times, seen frequently in newspapers, blogs and research papers world over. They are not merely words but objectives that world leaders aim at achieving. From Ivy leagues to universities in eastern hemisphere, studies are being conducted to understand how these objectives could be achieved and what is the interrelationship between the two. There are no universal definition of both the concepts, but a basic common understanding of both the terms across intellectual circles lead to some inferences.

Gender equality refers to absence of any kind of discrimination against any gender, man, women or transgender. No special privileges are conferred on any gender in the society. All genders have equal entitlements and receive fair and dignified treatment from each other. Eg. - MNC's in modern days claim to be equal opportunity employer i.e. no discrimination between male, female or transgender during recruitment process. 

Similarly, 'Sustainable development' refers to growth of society that can be sustained over a long period time, which does not affect nature or environment adversely. In essence, an equilibrium position in which man and nature can co-exist in perfect harmony. Eg. - Replacing coal or fossil fuel power with renewable sources like wind, solar etc et al.

Interrelationship between gender equality and sustainable development is dynamic in nature. In fact, both are directly proportional to each other. This can be appreciated through Scandinavian model. In Indian context, God's own country Kerala will provide greater insights into understanding this relationship.

Scandinavian countries like Norway, Finland, Sweden have taken their society to the level where gender equality is the central theme. Women and men are equally entitled to all natural (mineral wealth)  and material resources (modern physical aspects). Notion like women can not do this or that is alien to these countries. This kind of partnership has resulted into societal development on sustainable basis. This is best manifested in their constant top ranks on human development index, published by UNDP. They believe that if development is not engendered, it is endangered. 

Moreover countries like Ireland, Australia, New Zealand along with these societies have chosen for a development model that is gender neutral. Transgenders have equally been made part of development story. 

In Indian parlance, as Gandhi ji said, it is impossible to develop the society without the development of other half. Kerala has set an example how gender empowerment leads to more economic, psychological and societal contributions. Success of kutumbshree is a testimony to the above argument. If man from Kerala has migrated to middle east to earn money. Their women back home are also earning money through agriculture, plantation, cotton based industries or as salaried professionals in MNC's. This makes Kerala an example of progressive society that have more fruits to be harvested in future. Women in Kerala are not only educated but highly enterprising. This is due to presence of matrilineal structure. since time immemorial and recent thrust on women empowerment on the way to gender equality. 

In both of the above scandinavian or Kerala model, it is gender equality that has led to sustainable development. Sustainable development is a generic term that also expresses the meaning like any long term autonomous development of society. For an instance, if women were not entitled to equal opportunity to education in these societies, this would have led to lack of reproduction rights and in turn population explosion. This in turn put great pressure on natural resources like land, water, air or forests. This will also lead to greater level of pollution. Carbon footprint per capita will increase. Nature's replenishment capacity will be outpaced which had already occurred.

Also, if women were not given equal rights to health infrastructure. This will lead to higher maternal mortality rates, female infanticide which will in turn result in decline of female population. Haryana in India is a glaring example of this. Any society with constant decline in female population can not develop on sustainable basis.

Besides Scandinavia and Kerala, mid eastern countries's case will also help in understanding interrelationships between gender equality and sustainable development. Women in middle east have not been given equal rights at par with men. Development of mid eastern societies thus lagged behind. It is only due to oil wealth that these countries rank higher in human development index. These societies are continuously in struggle phase. Gender equality leads to psychological satisfaction among all members of society. This, them may put society on the track of sustainable development. The growth and development of Turkey is a point in case despite belonging to similar culture settings.

It, thus becomes imperative for world leaders to strive towards achieving these goals of gender equality and sustainable development. Beginning has already been made. SDG's, Beijing Platform 1995, ICPD cairo convention 1994 all aim at women empowerment. These are agreements on elimination of discrimination against transgenders. Nepal, recently became the third country in world to have recognized transgenders constitutionally. India has also made a beginning in this respect. Government is bringing a law to recognize transgenders. 

Leaders can take cue from legendary figure like Amrita Devi Bishnoi from Jodhpur, India who sacrificed her life to preserve the nature. There in after, Bishnoi community has followed the path of gender equality and sustainable development. They do not believe in patriarchal, caste or materialistic system. One another example can be Ela bhatt, who channelised the energy of women in to creating a self sustaining institution called SEWA. This is a classic example of gender empowerment leading to sustainable development of an institution.

It is time that this interrelationship is appreciated. All intellectuals, leaders and activists have to come together to build a society whose development is gender neutral and leave a better world to next generations.