Context:- It is the right time to build a sustainable model for women empowerment considering 900 million adolescent girls across the world.

What is the status of women’s leadership?

• According to the Women’s World Atlas, only four countries have achieved parity between women and men in parliament.
• The world is home to 900 million adolescent girls and young women poised to shape the future of work and growth.
• The World Bank notes that over 43% of Indian STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduates are women.

How significant is women’s leadership?

• Women leadership is crucial to tackling climate crisis.
• Women leadership leads to peaceful foreign diplomacy cutting across borders.
• In government at national and more local levels, women leaders are associated with fewer deaths and faster action.
• In companies, women leaders have proven to be motivating and communicative during any crisis.

What are the key elements for women’s leadership?

• ICT – Women at all levels of society must have inclusion in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
• Bodily autonomy – Women need to be empowered to make decisions about their bodies.
• Shared responsibility within the household – It is crucial for us to recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid care and domestic work, so that women may enjoy economic opportunities and outcomes on an equal footing to men.
• Educational Technology solutions – gives us tools to bridge part of the accessibility gap in education through hybrid learning models.
• Beyond comfort zone – Moving beyond one’s comfort zone is critical for women leaders as it helps build resilience and confidence.
• Dismantling stereotypes – Actively countering stereotypes and advocating for the inclusion of women in all fields.
• Sporting activities – The inclusion of adolescent girls and young women in sports can build their self-confidence, strengthen self-belief, and impart the nuances of teamwork.
• Providing employability – multi-pronged approach is needed in enhancing women’s employability.

What are the barriers to women’s leadership?

• Gender norms that disproportionately allocate domestic and care responsibilities to women
• Representation of men as leaders of STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics), finance, and entrepreneurial fields
• Inadequate maternity leave
• Lack of childcare facilities in the workplace