The Role of Women in Economic Activities

The American society is about the most civilized society worldwide. Even then, gender has remained a divisive element that has forbidden women from participating in some economic activities. Women are not promoted to pursuing some specific professions like engineering or getting access to certain resources. Elements such as patriarchy, gender violence, gender relations and gender division of labor help in weakening the participation of adult females in the company. If certain gender issues are resolved, women can participate in economic activities better and hence promote improved economic growth in both the family and the society at large.
Outline
A. Gender issues that come in the way of economic growth

1. Patriarchy
2. Gender division of labor
3. Gender violence
4. Gender relations
   B. Methods to resolve these issues
5. Policy intervention
6. Education
   C. Recommendations
   Annotated Bibliography
   Bergmann, B. R. (2005). The economic emergence of women. Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: http://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RffIAAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=economic+participation+of+women&ots=oken1Ox5LW&sig=fjuhOPis3WCsihtVYbfiiM3K2zc&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=economic%20participation%20of%20women&f=true. According to this source, economic participation had been monopolized to men before the past one and a half century. The recent past has, however, seen in the reduction of this system. Initially, Bergman (2005) argues, the majority of women were restricted to domestic chores. He further argues that there is hope that women will achieve more in regard to economic participation than they already have in both developing and developed countries. In Bergman’s (2005) perspective, there is a need for a global recognition of women from their depending on me for their economic needs. He argues that the capabilities and talents of women should be tapped to ease the burden of economic participation on women. Bergman (2005) however, sees this release as one that asks for a revolution. He foresees difficulties in making this departure and argues that the one way to deal with the difficulties is to persist. He notes that some people, even women themselves, may despair if they think that the departure may lead to a ruination of a system that provided warmth and comfort to the family. On the other hand, there are those women that still seek for a freer existence. These are the people that Bergman (2005) suggests should drive the revolution.
   Morrison, A., & Sabarwal, S. (2008). The Economic Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Why Does It Matter? Available at: Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network. https://openknowledge.worldbank.com/bitstream/handle/10986/11131/472300BRI0Box31premnote12801PUBLIC1.pdf?sequence=1. This research article is sponsored by the World Bank. It analyzes the role of women in the economy and in reducing poverty in the society. Morrison and Sabarwal (2008) argue that one way women and young girls can be empowered is by helping them acquire a higher and quality education. Like Bergman (2005), Morrison and Sabarwal (2008) agree that significant progress has been made on the inclusion of women in the economic activities. They argue that a majority of countries achieved the millennium goals of gender equality. They, however, think that there is still room for improvement in his regard. According to this article, some societies have not seen to the education of women. Many young women and adolescents continue to exist in an inactive state where they neither work nor attend education. With this in mind, the women pose an economic burden in the society. It also becomes difficult for them to be employed due to lack of an education.
   Morrison and Sabarwal (2008) suggest a series of empowerment programs to ensure that women are more capable of participating in the economy in the future. First, they see the need for resource allocation among women. There is a need to allow women to make important decisions in regard to the economy. Second, there is a need to improve the labor and education participation among women. An increased level of education also helps to improve other sectors of the economy as they become more knowledgeable and capable to make important decisions.
   Boserup, E. (2007). Woman’s role in economic development. Earthscan. Available at: http://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=EzXxQOf77K0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=economic+participation+of+women&ots=r_fNVcfWcv&sig=B3f26t5qXxdOVZJadyi5htHxWKY&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=economic%20participation%20of%20women&f=false. According to this article, every society has its method of division of labor. The most recognized criteria of allocating roles in the family have been age and sex. Gender division of labor is recognized as a natural factor that is based on the gender itself. This implies that women are regarded as incapable and unfit to participate in roles that are allocated to men. Given this, it becomes rather difficult for any changes to be made to the societies. Boserup (2007), however, notes that the division of labor along gender lines cannot be justified. To validate this statement, he notes that different communities allocate different roles to the different genders. In some cases, the roles that are allocated to men have been allocated to women. With this in mind, it cannot be justified that women need to be treated differently from their male counterparts. While most communities agree that women should cook for their families, there is a disagreement on who should provide for the families. Specifically, this is the case among agricultural communities. With this in mind, it is possible for the role of women in economic activities to be amplified.
    
   References
   Bloom, D. E., & Finlay, J. E. (2009). Demographic change and economic growth in Asia. Asian Economic Policy Review, 4(1), 45-64. Available at: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/var/ezp_site/storage/fckeditor/file/pdfs/centers-programs/centers/cid/publications/faculty/wp/015.pdf
   Boserup, E. (2007). Woman’s role in economic development. Earthscan. Available at: http://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=EzXxQOf77K0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=economic+participation+of+women&ots=r_fNVcfWcv&sig=B3f26t5qXxdOVZJadyi5htHxWKY&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=economic%20participation%20of%20women&f=false.
   Morrison, A., & Sabarwal, S. (2008). The Economic Participation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Why Does It Matter? Available at: Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network. https://openknowledge.worldbank.com/bitstream/handle/10986/11131/472300BRI0Box31premnote12801PUBLIC1.pdf?sequence=1.
   Bergmann, B. R. (2005). The economic emergence of women. Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: http://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=RffIAAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=economic+participation+of+women&ots=oken1Ox5LW&sig=fjuhOPis3WCsihtVYbfiiM3K2zc&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=economic%20participation%20of%20women&f=true.