There are many theoretical concepts that attempt to establish certain criteria when evaluating and enacting equality between people. One of them is the concept of gender equality which today we will try to describe and know in depth.
Impartiality, justice and equality constitute the parts on which the concept of equity is based; on the other hand, the way to associate and group individuals who share at least one or more characteristics is gender.
Gender equality and equity
“The different behaviors, aspirations and needs of women and men are considered, valued and favored in the same way”
—ABCs of working women for gender equality; Geneva, 2000, p. 47-48
Equality between men and women is protected by gender equity in the use of social services and goods Which means eliminating discrimination between the sexes and not preferentially favoring men over women in the aspects that make up social life, as usually happened decades ago in Western society as a whole.
Conditions for gender equality
“The rights, responsibilities and opportunities of each person will not depend on whether the person is a man or a woman.”
However, for gender equality to occur, two essential circumstances must be generated. On one side, equal opportunities and on the other hand create a series of conditions to take advantage of these opportunities
We must keep in mind that gender equality It means creating standards for existing opportunities and distributing them fairly between both sexes Men and women must have the same development opportunities in all aspects; On a personal level, the opportunity to grow, realize oneself and be happy, as in the workplace. The state, therefore, must guarantee that resources are allocated proportionally.
“Men and women will be treated fairly according to their own needs. The treatment given to each one may be different but equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations, and opportunities.”
Gender equality at work
Women cannot have lower remuneration than men when performing the same functions in the workplace. They should obtain the same based on their merits and one gender should not be favored to the detriment of the other Regardless of gender, equal remuneration must be received in the same job, with the same responsibilities and obligations.
We must add an extremely important aspect: equity does not mean neglecting the characteristics of each gender in particular. An example of this is that women have the right, in the same way as men, to longer maternity leave than paternity leave. . In this case, We address strictly biological issues and carry out what is called positive discrimination between the two sexes
What do we understand by positive discrimination?
Next we will explain a crucial concept when applying equity, it is the positive discrimination either affirmative action. This term is key: it refers to actions aimed at reducing discriminatory practices against sectors who culturally throughout history, have been excluded and considered as uprooted and vulnerable beings.
An example would be individuals with some physical or mental disability and likewise women, who, due to the influence of Jewish-Christian and patriarchal culture, have been relegated to the category of second-order individuals. All of this is even more aggravated if, due to gender, the woman also meets the condition of suffering from some impairment, as we mentioned, or any other characteristic culturally considered negative.
Positive discrimination translates into specific legislation designed to equalize employment opportunities, exercise of democratic rights, participation in state institutions and government bodies, as well as access to education. All this has required countless years of mobilization and social demands.
An example is laws to protect women in cases of gender violence, favoring mixed education or non-segregation by sex, financial aid or tax exemptions, among other measures.
In some developed countries, the result of positive discrimination has been very effective in progressively equalizing women in the labor market.
What progress has been made in positive discrimination?
It should be noted that to achieve the aforementioned equity, important advances are currently being made We find, to mention one fact, that in the Spanish state the so-called parity between men and women is promoted in the political sphere.
There are organizations that are dedicated exclusively to gender equality. These entities promote equality between men and women while advocating for women’s rights. They constantly develop useful political proposals to achieve equity thus encouraging women to be present and participate in all sectors of society.
Next, it is interesting to remember the most important events in relation to women’s rights and equality and equity. As the Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women of 1982 and recommendation 19, which clarified that violence against women is a form of discrimination. Another event would be the unprecedented mobilization of 1993 to demand that World Conference on Human Rights that he stood in favor of his rights and that led to the creation of article 18; That says so:
“The human rights of women and girls are an inalienable and indivisible part of universal human rights. “The full participation, under conditions of equality, of women in political, civil, economic, social and cultural life and the eradication of all forms of discrimination based on sex are priority objectives of the international community.”
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” (…) “every person has all the rights and freedoms proclaimed in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion or of any other nature, national or social origin, economic position, birth or any other condition.”
-Universal Declaration of Human Rights; article 1 and 2.
“Spanish people are equal before the Law, without any discrimination based on birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance.”
