THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPING SOCIETY

 

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN DEVELOPING SOCIETY
o      Developing society
A developing country society consists of economically and technologically developing nations. They are about two-thirds of the world population, and are mainly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
 
Political instability occasioned by a precarious economic situation is widespread in the third world, as they are often designated. The third world has little homogeneity; it is divided by race, religion, culture, and geography, as well as by frequently conflicting interests.
 
The conflicting interest is a major factor for men being accorded more roles in society than women.
 
o      Roles of women in a developing society
 
Women in developing societies still play a subordinate role in comparison to their men counterparts. They are expected to be more active in the lives and care of their children and home, while the men are expected to essentially dominate all levels of society. However, gradually and increasingly, the number of women in leadership positions in local communities, government employment, and professional work is gaining ground.
 
To a degree, women have penetrated various professions and also serve in the armed forces, which hitherto was the exclusive preserve of men, although the ratio when compared to men in such roles remains a far cry from what it ought to be in comparative sharing.
 
Women are also beginning to play an increased role in governance across developing societies, thanks to the dogged fight put forth by various women's societies and the efforts of various United Nations organs across the developing nations.
 
Women suffrage, the right of women to share on equal basis with men the political privileges afforded by representative governance and more particularly to vote and be voted for in elections and referendums and to hold public office is as good as settled, as most government across the developing society now makes a concerted effort to increase the participation of women in electioneering processes, thanks largely to vigilance and effort of women as assisted by women suffrage movement dotted across the developing world.
 
One role that women have consistently played in the developing society is their influence in life of their husbands, by constantly adding the feminine touch to the various decisions taken by men, a point in instance is the role of the first ladies of most of the developing countries. To such an extent that the role goes with the office and all that pertains to it, and running it effectively. And these offices are complementary in providing for the deficiencies in the main activity in the day-to-day running of the state by their husbands.
 
Women's roles in politics are also on the rise, through the efforts of various pressure groups as lobbying forces for various social issues and against deficiencies in the policy framework responsible for the allocation of offices for elective positions, both in the administrative and legislative organs of governance. And increasing numbers of women are meriting various government appointments, such as ministerial offices of minister and diplomatic postings.
 
Another estate in the developing world in which the women have a lasting impact is the teaching profession, especially the primary school, where they capture more jobs than the men; they also have a competitive share of the jobs of secondary education, and they also hold positions in the tertiary institutions, though much less than those held by men.
 
The women in a developing society play a significant role in the informer sector of the economy. Since the developing economies are mainly fueled by the traditional rural sector, which features subsistence production of farm produce and simple manufactured products.
The women are in the main responsible for making sure that most of these goods reach the market and get to the consumers. They are also responsible for the vitality recorded in the textile industry in a developing society, being almost the sole agent between the manufacturer and users of the textile products.
 
The banking sector provides considerable engagement to the women, both in terms of employment and provision of soft loans for small businesses-such as farming, fishing, and petty trading.
 
The contribution of women is noticeable in the sporting arena, where many have distinguished themselves both at home and across the globe.
 
Though the truth persists that women are less powerful than men in the developing nation. Traditional partitions, which still play a major role in the developing society, still restrict the role women may play and limit their economic opportunities, and deny society the contribution women can add to the growth of the nation.
 
o      Limiting factors
 
The women in a developing society are largely undermined by conventionally accepted male attributes, such as physical strength or aggressive behavior, to gain and keep their positions in society. The thinking within a developing society is still largely that male dominance was the natural or God given order of the society.
 
Another factor militating against strong strides by women in developing countries is poverty, which in some of these countries exceeds 90 percent. This results in high unemployment, situation arises whereby men are allowed to fill available slots before allowing women to compete.
Also, in many developing nations, women have low social status and are restricted in their access to both education and income-generating work. Without adequate income, they commonly depend on men for support, but often get little.
 
Despite rapid modernization across the globe, the way of life in the developing society still remains largely traditional and in accordance with conservative values. And they will remain underrepresented in such an atmosphere.
 
o      Conclusion
 
The role of women in the present-day developing society is a great improvement compared to some decades prior, though the number is a far cry when juxtaposed with their counterparts in the developed world.
 
To cheer is the number of women who have excelled in cooperate conglomerates, in government services, etc. With women like Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as the first female president of Liberia, and Portia Simpson Miller, the first female prime minister of Jamaica, and a lot more in the legislature across the developing society, there indeed is reason to believe that with commitment and dedication tomorrow of the women of the developing society will meet better days.
 
A good number of women in developing societies are rural dwellers and work in the fields and marketplaces. With concerted effort, the status of women can be improved through an increase in functional literacy among women, training in relevant vocational skills, knowledge for civil participation, and skills to assist in nation-building. These will enable the women to consolidate on the progress already made in their contribution to the development of their society.
 
The women interest groups already on ground in most of the developing societies should redouble their efforts in fighting to overcome most of the limitations that are presently militating against their effective competition in all strata of the state, to take equal position with the men in every aspect of national life in the nearest possible future, by taking advantage of the numerous international organization in place with the advancement of women in the third as cardinal in their policy.