Women empowerment is directly related to the development of a nation. To ensure we’re treading on the path towards prosperity, our women should have equal rights and feel empowered. It would also ensure they’re equal contributors to our country’s development. Today, women are breaking all gender stereotypes and working in positions that were previously reserved only for men. If women empowerment is a subject that interests you and you feel passionate about pursuing it as a career, you can get a suitable degree that will help you get a job in the field. Women Empowerment In India is essentially a part of development studies. You can either pursue a development studies course or pick a specialised diploma or certification in women empowerment.
Careers in Women Empowerment: Scope
It makes more sense to study women empowerment as a part of a degree in development studies. Doing so will give you a deeper insight into the entire social work sector. Like other third-world countries, development studies are increasingly gaining popularity in India, thanks to the rapidly rising awareness of various social issues. Development studies offer a greater understanding of several issues stigmatising our social structure, different developmental theories, and working towards improving people’s lives, in general. It is an excellent field as it allows you to make a difference in other people’s lives through your work and initiatives.
With a degree in development studies or a diploma or certification in women empowerment, you can find jobs in NGOs, the CSR department of corporates, government organisations, consulting firms, the United Nations, and related organisations. You can also undertake research or get into academics by completing your course. Contrary to popular notion, these jobs can be well paying too. It basically depends on your role and the organisation you work for.
Degrees in Women Empowerment
As per your interest and suitability, you can pursue any of the following courses:
1. Diploma in Women’s Empowerment and Development
A couple of institutions in India offer a diploma in women’s empowerment and development (DWED). The famous institutions include:
- Indira Gandhi National Open University – IGNOU, Delhi
- School of Social Work Roshini Nilaya – Autonomous, Mangalore
- Sri Durga Malleswara Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala, Vijayawada
This course is suitable for people who want to work for gender equality and the development of women. But, first, let’s look at the syllabus and eligibility criteria for these diploma courses.
Eligibility: A diploma course in women empowerment can be pursued after completing 10+2 from any stream.
Syllabus: Generally, the below-mentioned topics are included in the syllabus:
- Gender training perspectives
- Strategies for women’s empowerment
- Women and development
- Organisation and leadership
- Work and entrepreneurship
- Credit and finance
- Women and society: global concerns and local issues
Benefits of pursuing a DWED course:
A course like DWED enables students to work as resourceful trainers and community influencers in speaking about gender-related issues in society. You basically become a spokesperson for addressing the stigmas arising from such problems. You can work in NGOs, government projects, or institutions to complete this course.
Since you study all the aspects connected with gender equality, problems the society is facing, and ways to tackle these problems, you can get involved in research work. In addition, you will also learn about the existing laws and regulations in the country related to women empowerment and gender equality.
2. PG Diploma and Master’s in Development Studies
Some colleges offer PG Diploma and certificate courses in women empowerment. To enroll in a PG diploma course, you should have an undergraduate degree in any stream with a minimum of 50% marks.
You can pursue a course in development studies where you will learn about women empowerment and other pressing issues of society. Top ranking educational institutions in India that offer master’s degrees in development studies are:
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Christ University, Bangalore
- University of Delhi, Delhi
- Ambedkar University, Agra
- Madras Institute for Development Studies, Chennai
- Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
Recommended Read: 5 Unconventional Careers That Break Gender Stereotypes
Another way to work towards women empowerment is through picking an unconventional career that helps in breaking gender stereotypes. These jobs were traditionally perceived to be suitable for a specific gender only. But, with men and women both picking unconventional career choices, these age-old perceptions are being laid to rest. For example, women now work in jobs like defense forces and pilots that were earlier male-dominated job profiles. Similarly, men are working as nurses and classical dancers. These were jobs synonymous with the female gender. It is a great way to contribute to the development of society by being a positive change yourself.
Wrapping Up
If you’re passionate about working for Women Empowerment in India, you should ideally pursue a course in this subject. It will give you a better understanding of the topic and help you find a suitable work opportunity. You can opt for a diploma, postgraduate diploma, or certificate course in women empowerment or developmental studies to accelerate your career in this field. The choice of your course should depend on whether you want to focus on women empowerment as a topic alone or study other socially relevant subjects. You can work for corporations, the government sector, or even national/international NGOs for the upliftment and enablement of women. With the reign of liberal arts education in India, studying development studies would be a great choice.
If you’re still unsure of what you want to pursue further in your career, avail career counselling online from our career coaches at Mindler. It will help you get greater clarity on your studies and career topics.
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