Thursday, February 26, 2015

“Women - Powerful or Weaker”

More women than ever before have joined the ranks of the superrich, according to Forbes’ 28th annual billionaires list 2013. Forty-two women made the list for the very first time, up 25 percent since 2013. They remain a small minority among the world’s wealthiest, however, making up only 172 of the 1,645 billionaires. Among the newcomers is Sheryl Sandberg, the famed Facebook COO, who is encouraging women to take positions of leadership through her Lean In movement. Another remarkable new name is self-made business tycoon Folorunsho Alakija, who made her fortune in the oil industry and is now Nigeria’s first female billionaire. Wal-Mart heiress Christy Walton—worth $36.7 billion—took back her title as richest woman in the world from L’Oreal’s Liliane Bettencourt. Also notable: 32 of the world’s richest women made their own fortunes, rather than inheriting it from their husbands or parents.

Forbe’s annual snapshots of the 100 women with the most impact are top politicians and CEOs, activist billionaires and celebrities who matter. In roughly equal measure you’ll find next gen entrepreneurs and media mavens, technologists and leaders in philanthropy — all ranked by dollars, media momentum and impact. 


In the world even though women are the major founders of the society, yet women have not achieved equality with men. Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, it is estimated that nearly 70 per cent are women. Between 75 and 80 per cent of the world’s 27 million refugees are women. The political participation of women in the world seems relatively low and it is duly because of the existence of the patriarchal mindset even in the political parties in almost all countries in the world no matter how advanced and socially, economically, culturally and politically sound the countries are.


The socio-economic status of women in Nepal is very poor. The women are being discriminated in every aspect of the society. Today trafficking in persons (TIP) is, yes, a problem of migration that can be deadly. It can also be racked with innuendo and sexual exploitation, forced labor and/or the monetized removal of organs for sale on the global medical black market. Today trafficking in persons (TIP) is, yes, a problem of migration that can be deadly. It can also be racked with innuendo and sexual exploitation, forced labor and/or the monetized removal of organs for sale on the global medical black market.


Members of the Hindu community in some parts of western and central Nepal still practice Chhaupadi, a custom that forces women to live in the stable while menstruating and just after giving birth. They are forbidden to cook and eat with their families. It’s hard to find official statistics there regarding complicated issues: violence, rape and trafficking, for instance. Most victimized women don’t dare go to the police. There has been a growing number of cases of women being burned in domestic disputes over the past decade. Other issues on the rise include trafficking to the Gulf countries and female feticide, which is relatively new to Nepal.

A decade ago, there were very few “massage parlors” and “dance bars” in Kathmandu. Now, with growing poverty in Nepal’s villages and increasing tourism from China, Pakistan and the Gulf countries, what the government calls the “entertainment business” has expanded. It’s a very classic pattern of exploitation.

Socially and economically men are always considered as superior to women, breadwinner, head of the family and the care taker and this is major cause for the low participation of women in civil services in Nepal is in the transitional phase even though women are participating in the political field but it is not up to the level. The concept on women as weaker-sex and subordinate to the man has not changed yet and will still take long time. However people talk about gender equality, in cities of Nepal where the literacy rate is better than the remote villages and small towns, still people do not want to accept it. There is difference between words and their implementation.

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