Women in Mauritius

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Women in Mauritius
Sega Musik.jpg
Two female Sega music dancers (center and right) from Mauritius.
General Statistics
Maternal mortality  (per 100,000)53 (2020)
Women in parliament 20% (2020)
Women over 25 with secondary education 45.2% (2010)
Women in labour force50% (2018)
Gender Inequality Index [1]
Value0.347 (2021)
Rank82nd out of 191
Global Gender Gap Index [2]
Value0.679 (2022)
Rank105th out of 146

Women in Mauritius refers to the social demographic of women in Mauritius. Women's role in Mauritian society [3] changed throughout the 20th century. Historically, Mauritian culture maintained patriarchal power structures, in domains inclusive of family and work life. Women's contribution in the workforce increased due to the creation of 'Export Processing Zone', by the Mauritian Government. [4] This shift resulted in a surge in 'dual-earner' and working single-mother households. [5]

Contents

Furthermore, in 2008, Mauritius established the Employment Rights Act. The Act forbids discrimination within the workplace and stipulates equal remuneration for work of equal value. [6] Both females and males, regardless of their marital status, have the legal right to choose their own profession, in Civil Code and under The Act. [7]

Parliament

In the postcolonial era, women in Mauritius experienced the impacts of colonialism. [8] During the 19th-century Mauritian law stated that women should be treated as the inalienable property of their husbands. [9] The government then repealed laws that they view deal with inheritance and emigration. [10] In 1989, the government appointed equal opportunity officers in the principal ministries for issues related to women. The Ministry of Women's Rights and Family Welfare reports indicate some improvement in issues relating to discrimination. [11]

Some developments in Parliament include Mrs Ameena Gurib-Fakhim accession to the presidency (from 2015 to 2018), [12] as well as, Hon.Mrs Maya Hanoomanjee's attainment of the position of the first woman Speaker in 2014. [13]

Events

In 2016, the Ministry of Gender Equality requested the withdrawal of an advertisement by Coca-Cola which was considered "sexist" due to a complaint from a gender consultant. [14] In March 2018, a new law was established to form the National Women’s Council as a platform for women to voice out their needs and aspirations. [15] In order to address issues like violence against women, trafficking of women, and the promotion and protection of rights to sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, in May 2018, a joint monitoring framework agreement on the gender action plan was signed with the European Union. [15]

Indices of Development

Economic

In Mauritius, working age females (15+) have an unemployment rate of 10%. [16] The percentage of women in senior positions, such as: Senior Chief Executive, Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretary, increased from 23% in 2001 to 40% in 2016. [17] The international conference in August 2018, produced a declaration on women’s economic empowerment in addition to a work plan on the priority areas of the Indian Rim Association to significantly contribute to women’s economic empowerment. [15]

Education

The proportion of students progressing from primary cycle to secondary cycle in 2011 was 79% for boys and 84% for girls. [18]

Gender

In 2013, Mauritius' Gender Inequality Index was 0.375. [19] According to Ms. Jeewa-Daureeawoo, it has been stated Mauritius is on the right track to eliminating discrimination against women. [15]

Related Research Articles

The term 'minority group' has different usages depending on the context. According to its common usage, a minority group can simply be understood in terms of demographic sizes within a population: i.e. a group in society with the least number of individuals is therefore the 'minority'. However, in terms of sociology, economics, and politics; a demographic which takes up the smallest fraction of the population is not necessarily the 'minority'. In the academic context, 'minority' and 'majority' groups are more appropriately understood in terms of hierarchical power structures. For example, in South Africa during Apartheid, white Europeans held virtually all social, economic, and political power over black Africans. For this reason, black Africans are the 'minority group', despite the fact that they outnumber white Europeans in South Africa. This is why academics more frequently use the term 'minority group' to refer to a category of people who experience relative disadvantage as compared to members of a dominant social group.

Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender.

Social issues in China are wide-ranging, and are a combined result of Chinese economic reforms set in place in the late 1970s, the nation's political and cultural history, and an immense population. Due to the significant number of social problems that have existed throughout the country, China's government has faced difficulty in trying to remedy the issues. Many of these issues are exposed by the Chinese media, while subjects that may contain politically sensitive issues may be censored. Some academics hold that China's fragile social balance, combined with a bubble economy makes China a very unstable country, while others argue China's societal trends have created a balance to sustain itself.

Indo-Mauritians are Mauritians who trace their ethnic ancestry to Indian subcontinent or other parts of South Asia.

Gender inequality is the social phenomenon in which people are not treated equally on the basis of gender. The treatment may arise from distinctions regarding biology, psychology, or cultural norms prevalent in the society. Some of these distinctions are empirically grounded, while others appear to be social constructs. While current policies around the world cause inequality among individuals, it is women who are most affected. Gender inequality weakens women in many areas such as health, education, and business life. Studies show the different experiences of genders across many domains including education, life expectancy, personality, interests, family life, careers, and political affiliation. Gender inequality is experienced differently across different cultures and also affects non-binary people.

Gender inequality in India refers to health, education, economic and political inequalities between men and women in India. Various international gender inequality indices rank India differently on each of these factors, as well as on a composite basis, and these indices are controversial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Mauritius</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Mauritius face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Sodomy is criminalized by Section 250 of the Criminal Code. Although same-sex relationships are not recognized in Mauritius, LGBT people are broadly protected from discrimination in areas such as employment, the provision of goods and services, etc., making it one of the few African countries to have such protections for LGBT people. The Constitution of Mauritius guarantees the right of individuals to a private life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender Equality Bureau</span> Agency of the government of Japan

The Gender Equality Bureau was established in 2001 as a division of the Japanese Cabinet Office tasked with planning and coordinating the policies of the Japanese Government pertaining to gender equality. The Gender Equality Bureau conducts research on topics concerning issues of gender—compiling findings into an annual report called the "White Paper".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in China</span> Overview of gender inequality in China

In 2019, China ranked 39th out of 189 countries on the United Nations Development Programme's Gender Inequality Index (GII). Among the GII components, China's maternal mortality ratio was 32 out of 100,000 live births. In education 58.7 percent of women age 25 and older had completed secondary education, while the counterpart statistic for men was 71.9 percent. Women's labour power participation rate was 63.9 percent, and women held 23.6 percent of seats in the National People's Congress. In 2019, China ranked 39 out of the 162 countries surveyed during the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in El Salvador</span>

Gender inequality can be found in various areas of Salvadoran life such as employment, health, education, political participation, and family life. Although women in El Salvador enjoy equal protection under the law, they are often at a disadvantage relative to their male counterparts. In the area of politics, women have the same rights as men, but the percentage of women in office compared to men is low. Though much progress has been made since the Salvadoran Civil War ended in 1992, women in El Salvador still face gender inequality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Africa</span> Overview of the status of women in Africa

The culture, evolution, and history of women who were born in, live in, and are from the continent of Africa reflect the evolution and history of the African continent itself.

Nepal, a Himalayan country situated in South Asia, is one of the poor country because of undeveloped resources. It has suffered from political instability and has had undemocratic rule for much of its history. There is a lack of access to basic facilities, people have superstitious beliefs, and there are high levels of gender discrimination. Although the Constitution provides for protection of women, including equal pay for equal work, the Government has not taken significant action to implement its provisions.

Gender inequality has been improving a lot in Bangladesh, inequalities in areas such as education and employment remain ongoing problems so women have little political freedom. In 2015, Bangladesh was ranked 139 out of 187 countries on the Human Development Index and 47 out 144 countries surveyed on the Gender Inequality Index in 2017. Many of the inequalities are result of extreme poverty and traditional gender norms centred on a patrilineal and patriarchal kinship system in rural areas.

Gender equality is the notion that all men and women should receive equal treatment in all aspects and that one should not be discriminated based on their sex. Gender equality is a human right and this is recognised by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The right to be free of discrimination on the grounds of sex is found pursuant to Article 2 of the declaration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ameenah Gurib-Fakim</span> Scientist and president of Mauritius

Dr. Bibi Ameenah Firdaus Gurib-FakimGCSK is a Mauritian politician and biodiversity scientist who served as the sixth president of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018. In December 2014, she was selected to be the presidential candidate of the Alliance Lepep. After Kailash Purryag resigned on 29 May 2015, both Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and Leader of the Opposition Paul Berenger positively welcomed her nomination, which was unanimously approved in a vote in the National Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gender inequality in Sri Lanka</span>

Gender inequality in Sri Lanka is centered on the inequalities that arise between men and women in Sri Lanka. Specifically, these inequalities affect many aspects of women's lives, starting with sex-selective abortions and male preferences, then education and schooling in childhood, which influence job opportunities, property rights, access to health and political participation in adulthood. While Sri Lanka is ranked well on several gender equality indices in comparison to other countries in the region, there are also some sources that question the verity of these indices. However, globally, Sri Lanka ranks relatively lower on gender equality indices. Overall, this pattern of social history that disempowers females produces a cycle of undervaluing females, providing only secondary access to health care and schooling and thus fewer opportunities to take on high level jobs or training, which then exacerbates the issue of low political participation and lowered social rights, a cycle studied and noted on by Dr. Elaine Enarson, a disaster sociologist studying the connection between disaster and the role of women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's empowerment</span> Giving rights, freedom to take decisions and strengthening women to stand on their own

Women's empowerment may be defined in several ways, including accepting women's viewpoints, making an effort to seek them and raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy, and training. Women's empowerment equips and allows women to make life-determining decisions through the different societal problems. They may have the opportunity to re-define gender roles or other such roles, which allow them more freedom to pursue desired goals.

Despite being a highly developed and modern society, Japan has high levels of gender inequality. In 2015, the country had a per-capita income of US$38,883, ranking 22nd of the 188 countries, and No. 18 in the Human Development Index. Its Gender Inequality Index rank was 19th on the 2019 report, which is relatively low for developed nations. The disparity between income and gender inequality is due to the persistence of gender norms in Japanese society. Gender-based inequality manifests in various aspects of social life in Japan, from the family to political representation, playing particular roles in employment opportunities, education, and income, and occurs largely as a result of differing gender roles in traditional and modern Japanese society. Inequality also lies within divorce and the marriage of same sex couples due to both a lack of protective divorce laws and the presence of restrictive marriage laws; discrimination exists outside of the law and is present in the modern day society of Japan.

Foreign aid for gender equality in Jordan includes programs funded by governments or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that aim to empower women, close gender based gaps in opportunity and experience, and promote equal access to education, economic empowerment, and political representation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Gender representation in sports politics takes a look at issues bordering how men and women engage in the same sporting event without short-changing any of the sexes. The major consideration in on women and their low turnouts in most sporting events. This write-up tends to address the issue.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain . Country Studies. Federal Research Division. (Data as of 1994.)

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