The quest to change the plight and position of women in the society is unstoppable. Success is dependent on demystifying the gender myth, which is a social construction driven by existing culture and practices intended to define the economic role of men and women in the society. According to Batliwala and Dhanraj (2007), some of the myths on women and gender are founded on the religious fundamentalism and neo-liberal economic reforms. One such gender myth is the belief that giving women access to economic resources such as finances contributes to overall empowerment. The contributions of access to economic resources by women to their wellbeing cannot be understated. However, Batliwala and Dhanraj (2007) argued that the strategy qualifies as a gender myth because it exploits women struggles for survival for economic and political gains, rather than their empowerment as envisioned by feminists. The other gender myth is that women in political positions are motivated to develop and implement politics and policies that promote social and gender equality, peace, and sustainable development. The argument has seen increased calls for laws to increase proportions of women in politically constituted bodies to alter the overall political structure and culture. The assumptions underlying the gender myth are true, but recent development have seen the seizure of the expanding political space for women by right-wing, conservative and fundamentalist parties and agendas (Batliwala & Dhanraj, 2007).
Feminist researchers, practitioners, and policy makers failure to think critically is a recipe for capture and manipulation of the institution of gender equality to advance economic and political gains. Gender equity has evolved to be a lethal weapon used by political strategies to influence acceptance of their policies and agendas. Recognition of women in the positions of political and economic power as vulnerable to utilization as particular types of social, economic, and political citizens. The use of women to nurture a depoliticized form of collective actions that poses little threat to established power structures, and as marginalized instruments for advancing agendas of fundamentalists, is of immense concern. Failure of relevant advocates of gender equality to develop strategies for arresting the situation is likely to lead to a new form of gender discrimination that is acceptable to the society based on the assumptions on which it is founded, but one that is detrimental to the overall empowerment of women. Activists must create awareness about the new form of exploitation of women in elite economic and political positions.
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I agree with Batliwala and Dhanraj (2007) analysis of the gender myths and fables. The role of the access to economic resources and political power in the development of women empowerment is undisputable. However, fundamentalists and other od their ilk have hijacked the process intended to liberate women and turned it into a political weapon for influencing masses to subscribe to their political ideologies. The analysis presented by the authors shows that inclusion of women in economic development and political positions has genuine benefits, but those intent on maintaining the status quo exploit the vulnerability of women in such positions. Fundamentalists rely on acceptability of women in positions of power at the grassroots not only to advance their interests, but also to perpetrate a new form of gender discrimination that cannot be deciphered by the society.
Reference
Batliwala, S., & Dhanraj, D. (2007). Gender myths that instrumentalize women: a view from the Indian frontline. ids Bulletin , 35 (4), 11-18.
