Structural inequality is a situation when social institutions offer a biased distinction which is advantageous to certain category of people and marginalizes some other set of people. In this case, the women. This marginalization is mainly a rural phenomenon. However, urban communities are not completely excluded.
The structural gender inequality persists in rural communities due to factors such as sexual orientation, tradition and religion. As a result of this, some women in rural communities are denied equal access to wealth, properties, wages, quality education, good health care and health insurance, employment, living standards, among others. Which is detrimental to the actualization of sustainable development goals and frustrates the economic growth of the society at large.
To combat structural gender inequality in rural communities, all private sectors should encourage maternity leaves with pay. Also, the government should without gender bias increase the minimum wage, end residential segregation, build affordable assets for working families, invest in infrastructure and public services, ensure the fair distribution and access to land, and end all forms of discrimination.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.
#SpeakWednesday #StructuralInequality #GenderBias #RuralCommunities #Urbanization
