Nyay manch ngo believes that the economic empowerment of women is a crucial part of creating a gender just and equitable society. As a UNFPA report from 2007 puts it:
“Economic empowerment can … provide incentives to change the patterns of traditional behaviour to which a woman is bound as a dependent member of the household. In short, gainful employment empowers impoverished women in various spheres of their lives, influencing sexual and reproductive health choices, education and healthy behaviour.
Cultural norms and patriarchal structures limit women's possibilities to engage in paid employment. When women do work, it is often in the informal sector, which is characterized by low-skilled, low paid jobs and a lack of protection and benefits. Moreover, working women face wage discrimination and barriers to their advancement. Economic empowerment provides a key to changing the gender relations within society: a larger degree of economic independence can give women more self-confidence, a greater voice in the family, perhaps a say in how the money is spent, and a way out in the case of abuse and violence.
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