Archive for April 2010
Women and Education: A Critical Review

Empowerment of the women is an essential component of the political and social development of society. The growth and development of a community or civil society depends upon the growth and development of its individuals in general and the women in particular. There is no doubt about the fact that men and women are equal, but women have a vital role in the over-all development of the society and the nation. Women are equal partners in the over all growth and development of the family, community and society. Women have been given a position of pride in every religion. In Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and other religions they are respected and due importance is given to their role and rights. In the Holy Quran a complete Sura, “Sura-i-Nisa” is devoted for the role, welfare, rights and duties of the women. No student of the comparative religious philosophy can fail to observe that at the fountain of every spiritual faith and at the basic fabric of every civilized society, stands a woman whose sympathy blesses the work of infusing a new life into humanity. Women are the foundation of a family, society and finally the Nation. In this paper an attempt has been made to discuss the importance of education for women and role and status of a women in the present scenario.Women constitute an important segment of the society and shapes the entire future of the humanity and nation. It has been rightly said that behind every successful man there is a woman. This clearly indicates that women as an integral part of our society have a vital role not only for rearing and bearing the children, but also for the personality development of our future generation and development of the Nation as whole.1 Role and status of a woman by any standard is related to various variable factors which among others include the upbringing of the women, personality development, education of the women, family environment, social outlook, surrounding circumstances, political scenario, religious commands and their interpretation. Nevertheless, the biological and social status of a women along with her distinct roles as a mother or sister or daughter on one hand and wife or mother-in-law, sister-in-law or daughter-in-law on the other hand can not be ignored.Women with good health and positive leadership qualities are very important in every family and society. Role of women in the traditional societies no doubt was confined to the household management based on the traditional values, attitudes and customs, but the family culture in the context of which early socialization takes place is very important factor which later on encourages or discourages her participation in the socio-economic activities of the family and subsequently in the organizational, social and political matters of the society.