Equality To Women Could Reduce Malnourished People By 1217%

Food systems worldwide depend on the labour of rural women. Women raise the crops and play a major role in preparing and distributing them. They usually always ensure that their family members are well-nourished. It is a matter of concern and humanity that the same women do not suffer from food insecurity. Gender equality is a must for fighting against hunger, poverty, and malnutrition. Women contribute to the agricultural labour force and perform unpaid care and household work. Women contribute to more than 40 per cent of the agriculture labour force in developing countries. 

A Brief Note 

Women in rural areas suffer highly due to multidimensional poverty. Extreme poverty in the world has declined, but there are still about 1 billion people living in unreasonable conditions of poverty. In the food system, women farmers do not get equal access to land, markets, credit, or agricultural inputs as men get. Women farmers often get low prices for their food crops. Women in rural areas do not get equal education, health care, sanitation facilities, and other infrastructure. Women’s labour often remains invisible to society. Even if their workloads are heavy, they remain underpaid or unpaid. Every gender development indicator reveals that rural women have to face vast discrimination and health issues.

It should be noted that some toxic social norms are also restricting women’s decision-making power. Good nutrition is not only the right of women and girls but also a basic requirement for their empowerment. Good food plays a very important role in healthy pregnancies. Women who do not suffer from malnutrition are less likely to die during pregnancies from diseases that can be avoidable otherwise. 

Female Malnutrition in India

In India, women came out into the working sector in the 1950s. But today also, women are in charge of the food nutrition of the family. Although, there is a huge difference between men and women regarding proper diet intake. Women usually eat last and also the least in the family. It should be noted that this has been prevailing in Indian society for decades due to less awareness and access. Many women are anaemic or have very low body mass index. Due to female malnutrition in India, many children are born with low weight or with any diseases that were preventable otherwise. Many steps are taken to fight malnutrition in children, but female malnutrition in India continues as a not so touching case. To recover from numerous micronutrient deficiencies, health services are very vital. Food systems worldwide depend on the labour of rural women. In India, many women work in the food and agricultural segment. It should always be ensured that women and men get an equal share of food, credit, and beyond. 

Conclusion

 Malnutrition is a very serious condition that should be taken care of. Unintentional weight loss, less interest in eating, feeling weak, long recovery time from disease, and being underweight are a few symptoms. Women suffer more from malnutrition than men due to reproductive biology, poverty, less education, and low status in society. As food systems worldwide depend on rural women’s labour, every individual must ensure proper nutrition and food security for every woman. Female malnutrition in India is a major issue that needs to be resolved.