Meira: We must be catalysts of change
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Saturday viewed gender disparities are more due to lack of proper understanding of women’s capabilities than any real frailty of will and wisdom. But women are emerging as agents of change in the struggle against gender biases. “We have to be catalysts for changing mentalities and addressing cultural stereotypes,” she said.
Addressing a sixth meeting of the Women Speakers of Parliament at Berne in Switzerland, Ms Kumar said, “I am of the view that gender disparities are more due to a lack of proper understanding of women’s capabilities than any real frailty of will and wisdom. In fact, it is for women like us to ensure that the role of our gender in society is alleviated from a stereotype of weakness and indecision to one of power and responsibility. We have to be catalysts for changing mentalities and addressing cultural stereotypes,” she said.
Speaking on empowering women and addressing violence against them, Ms Kumar said that India has been at the vanguard of international commitments to women’s human rights and women’s participation in both the Indian legislatures and the executive. She further said that the present Lok Sabha, which unanimously elected her as the first woman Speaker, also has the largest number of women members so far.
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