Women's empowerment is not a catchy slogan of equity, but a structural need of any society aspiring to continue in development. A strategic and holistic approach is vital for real empowerment. The PESTEL Framework comprises Politics, Economy, Social, Technological, Education, and Legal involvement. This framework is an effective tool for comprehending and improving female empowerment at a pragmatic policy policy-oriented, and social level. In this article, these dimensions are discussed with real-world examples that highlight how PESTEL can influence a gender-inclusive future.
Politics Factor: A Power Distribution as Representation:
Politics defines Gender Inclusion. Women’s participation in Political movements, decision-making bodies not just influences the policy but also the cultural interpretation of women's authority or power. For instance, Rwanda, a world leader in women’s participation and representation. Over 2/3rd of its seats in parliament and a 50% allocation in the cabinet are reserved for Women of Rwanda. This shows a cultural reform, constitutional restructuring, democratic national vision, and years of collaboration of Rwanda’s government with civil societies, International Organizations such as UNIFEM. Their 2003 constitutions embedded the clause of gender equality by adding a 30% quota of female parliamentarians’ representation.
These examples show that Rwanda’s policies are based on International Gender inclusivity by offering more seats to women in the table of policymakers to shape better policies for the country and for the world. This example demonstrates that women can contribute to society and amplify the marginalized voices if they get equal representation in the government institutions.
Economic Factor: Economic growth through inclusion
Economic empowerment is not just about focusing on fairness, a fairness with some exclusion, but it is about smart diplomacy and a smart economy. Due to the economic activities of women in society can create better opportunities for education, health and prosperity. Closing the gender gaps in economic participation and entrepreneurship can increase the GDP, decrease poverty, and promote resistant economies.
The World Bank Group's gender strategy for 2024 to 2030 underscores the importance of reducing the gender gaps by aiming to focus on gender quality to reduce the ratio of poverty, as they believe it is not just a social issue, but it has a greater importance for economic development as well. Empowered women can get a better chance to invest in their families, engage in innovative things, and build a better society, such as the co-founder of Girl Power Talk, Rachita Sharma.
Social factor: Change narratives to shape realities:
Cultural norms, society narratives and expectations, and traditions had a great influence on gender roles. Social empowerment means changing the narrative of society, breaking the stereotypes, and starting to promote equality from home to the workplace.
Programs like the “Benazir Income Support Program” in Pakistan are focused on eradicating poverty, giving equal status to marginalized societies, especially focusing on women's empowerment by establishing a comprehensive social protection net.
The United Nations community-based programs, like the “UN Women’s safe cities initiative,” are structuring better and safer places for women that encourage women to participate, innovate, and build a better society with confidence.
Technological empowerment: Luxury to need:
Technological access is not a luxury anymore; it is a need in today’s world. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, technology became an essential need for education purposes, economic development, and social interaction. However! Women are digitally excluded for various reasons, especially in marginalized areas, such as a lack of information, fewer opportunities, and economic problems, and are unaware of technological innovations.
On the other hand, initiatives like “She Codes Africa,” which aims to give opportunities to African women to be equipped with coding, learning digital skills, and create a Green Pasture for female tech leaders. Additionally, in Pakistan, digital programs like “Digital Livelihood Training by UNDP” help women to learn skills digitally and give them an opportunity to earn from home especially in marginalized areas like Balochistan and KP. Technology has always been a great equalizer, as long as it is accessible and content is designed with a gender perspective.
Educational Factor: Knowledge is a key to success:
Education is a fuel for empowerment. Education can help you achieve success rapidly, from access to educational institutions to leading society. Education enables critical thinking, increases self-confidence, and gives better opportunities for a better future.
Campaign like “Beti Parhao, Beti Bachao” in India has a positive impact on society, which helps to raise awareness among the people about female infanticide and women's education. However, education should be applicable, comprehensive, and resilient by comprising all the factors, like skills development, digital literacy, critical thinking, and confidence building, speaking skills, knowing legal rights etc. for the 21st century.
Legal empowerment: the right that matters in exercise:
Legislation can empower or trap others. Legal empowerment means not just having rights but using them in practice matters most. These legal rights include property rights, domestic violence, workplace rights, and the right to access justice.
Tunisia’s Progressive Personal Status Code is a good example of legal empowerment, which was introduced in 1956. This law gave women the right to women to civil marriage, the right to divorce, and also made the law “right to combat violence against women, where women can exercise their rights in case of domestic abuse, ****** violence.
These legal rights are not just a legal reform, but they enable women's empowerment, allowing them to live with dignity with full legal rights.
Conclusion: A complete road map of women's empowerment:
Women’s empowerment is not just a basic concept; it is a developing procedure rooted in the system. The PESTEL is not only a framework, but it’s a complete road map for a strategic and social change. When politics gave equal representation, economics gives Green Pastures, and societies break stereotypes, technology is not a luxury but accessible, education promotes leadership, and law gives protection then women can truly be empowered.
