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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, MODERN MANAGEMENT, APPLIED SCIENCE & SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJEMMASSS) [ Vol. 8 | No. 3 (III) | July-September, 2026 ]

Gender Justice in Practice: From Exclusion to Empowerment

Dr. Surbhi Parakh

Gender justice is often celebrated as a constitutional promise, yet for millions of women in India, it remains a distant reality. While the Constitution of India guarantees equality, dignity, and non-discrimination under Articles 14, 15 and 21, the everyday lives of women continue to be shaped by deep-rooted social exclusion. This article examines gender justice not as a theoretical concept, but as a lived practice. It argues that exclusion of women is not accidental but structural, rooted in patriarchy, caste, class, religion, and economic inequality. The paper traces the journey of women from exclusion to empowerment through three lenses: social, legal, and institutional. It critically analyzes the limitations of protective legislation, including maternity benefits and workplace laws, and highlights how motherhood, care work, and social norms become tools of exclusion. The article further explores transformative pathways such as shared parental responsibility, state-funded social security, gender budgeting, legal literacy, and grassroots leadership. The central thesis is that true empowerment cannot be achieved through welfare alone; it requires dismantling the structures that produce exclusion. Gender justice, therefore, must evolve from a protectionist approach to an enabling one where women are recognized as equal citizens, decision-makers, and agents of change.

Parakh, S. (2026). Gender Justice in Practice: From Exclusion to Empowerment. International Journal of Education, Modern Management, Applied Science & Social Science, 08(03(III)), 07–11. https://doi.org/10.62823/IJEMMASSS/8.3(III).9473

[1] Constitution of India

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[1]  TeamLease Services, Impact of Maternity Benefit Amendment on Hiring (2019)

[1]   Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Study on Elected Women Representatives (2022); Field observation in Deeg-Kaman region, Rajasthan

[1]   World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Report 2023.

[1]  Census of India 1951; National Sample Survey Office, 78th Round, 2023.

[1]   Amartya Sen, Social Exclusion: Concept, Application, and Scrutiny, ADB (2000)

[1]   Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21)

[1]   Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam)

[1]   Kimberlé Crenshaw, Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex, 1989 U. Chi. Legal F. 139

[1]   Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act

[1]   Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, Report on Employment (2019)

[1]   A.I.R. 1997 S.C. 3011

[1]   5 S.C.C. 707

[1]   7 S.C.C. 469

[1]  International Labour Organization, Convention C183, Maternity Protection Convention, 2000.

[1]   Justice J.S. Verma Committee Report (2013)


DOI:

Article DOI: 10.62823/IJEMMASSS/8.3(III).9473

DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.62823/IJEMMASSS/8.3(III).9473


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