By Riska Mentari
The Coordinator of Educational and Training, Center for Community Development and Education (CCDE) Banda Aceh
The autonomy of a woman and the improvement in their economic, political, social, health, and education status is a highly important ends itself. But first, the women themselves need to understand how valuable they are. There are still many women in the world who have to face traditional stereotypes that are labeled in their families or environment.
Women should have self-esteem, self-confidence, and the freedom to make their own choices. That is why in this modern era women empowerment is a crucial thing that you must understand. As a woman, you will play many important roles in your life. Either you play the role of a mother, teacher, office worker, entrepreneur, architect, doctor, chef, or even a mechanic.
Women should have no restrictions in doing whatever they want, especially in terms of work. Just as a man who is able to cook becomes a chef and is welcomed positively, so should women who are able to take on roles in jobs that have only been done by men for years?
According to IDNTimes, understanding women’s empowerment is crucial because it can have a positive impact on a wide scale. Among other things, it can prevent unemployment for women, support the development of the wider community through gender equality, the recognition that women also have potential & qualified intelligence, build economic independence for women, help reduce the poverty ratio, reduce the spread of sexual exploitation & domestic violence, and raise awareness that women also have extraordinary prospects and no less than men.
Data from the World Bank shows that in 2017 the worldwide female population is around 50 percents. The gap between unemployed women and the unavailability of job opportunities is a major problem around the world. Women have great potential but unfortunately are not utilized.
In my opinion, as the Coordinator of Educational and Training at the Center for Community Development and Education (CCDE), Education is one of the most important tools for empowering women with the knowledge, skills, and self-confidence needed to participate fully in the development process.
Reporting to the United Nations, sexual and reproductive health agency, More than 40 years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirmed that “everyone has the right to education”. In Indonesia alone, the number of girls dropping out of school is very high. According to data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdikbudristek), in the 2020/2021 school year, there were around 83.7 thousands children dropping out of schools throughout Indonesia and 60% of them were girls.
It is important to empower women in today’s digital era, so that no more women are left behind. In accordance with The 17 Sustainability Development Goals of the United Nations, one of which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
