Why women empowerment is needed post COVID-19?

Abstract

The dreadful COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth many harsh realities. This has affected men and women differently. As it is, women already suffer the fate of the lesser gender due to the prevalent patriarchal society. The ongoing outbreak has increased this divide. Women face many challenges be it in urban or rural area, middle or low-income group; the issues differ to an extent, but they exist. The roles as defined by the social norms have become more prominent. This paper attempts to study the various consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and men. It provides an assessment as to why women empowerment is the need of the hour and tries to find probable solutions to the pertaining problems. Education and financial independence are two primary ways of empowerment at individual level. As a society, we need to rethink and revamp the values, beliefs, attitudes towards gender norms and predefined roles. We need to make changes at the grass root level to bring in equality. Global social transformation is required in order to weaken the deep-rooted patriarchy.