The Lizzie Velasquez story

'My story is everyone's story': 26-year-old with rare genetic disorder who was once labeled the 'world's ugliest woman' insists she's better off thanks to cruel bullies 

• Lizzie Velasquez was born with a rare syndrome that gives her an aged appearance and makes it hard for the 63lb woman to gain weight
• When she was 17, someone posted a video of her online and strangers made awful comments, telling her to kill herself
• Since then, the Texas resident has made a career as a motivational speaker, giving a TED talk that earned over eight million views
• A new documentary about her life, A Brave Heart, premieres in September

A 26-year-old who was once labeled the ‘ugliest woman in the world’ insists that she is actually thankful for the online bullies who cruelly tormented her about her appearance, because they helped her get to the great place she's in today. 

Lizzie Velasquez was born with neonatal progeroid syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that gives her an aged appearance. It affects her face, muscle tone, brain, heart, eyes, and bones, and also prevents her from gaining weight - meaning that at 5'2", the Austin, Texas, resident is just 63lbs.

Lizzie didn't know she was different until her first day of kindergarten, when her classmates shrunk away from her. The other kids seemed afraid of her appearance and would often point and refuse to sit with her - even though she wasn't doing anything wrong.

'It was a big slap of reality for a five-year-old,' she said.

Her parents told her that she was just smaller than the other kids, but she was beautiful and could accomplish anything.

With a loving family to back her up, things started to improve a bit as she got older. She made an effort to remain positive, and even joined after-school activities to make friends. She was on the school paper and the cheerleading team, and as she put herself out there, her life got better.

Until one day, when everything changed. Lizzie was still in high school, looking for music on YouTube when she stumbled across a video of herself. In the comments section, anonymous strangers said terrible things, labeling her the ‘ugliest woman in the world’ and slinging hurtful insults. They called her a monster, said someone should 'kill it' - meaning her - 'with fire', and asked why her parents didn't abort her.

And though she knew that the kinds of people who would write such awful things are the lowest of the low, that didn’t stop their comments from hurting Lizzie - especially because each and every one of them was negative. 

'I read every single comment thinking there would be one person to stand up for me. Not one person said, "She's a child, leave her alone," or "You don't know her story, why she looks like that,"' Lizzie recalled. 'I felt like someone was putting a fist through the computer screen and physically punching me. I bawled my eyes out.'

ut while most people would have trouble recovering from such a heart-wrenching experience, Lizzie is not most people. In fact, she now says that she would like to thank the person who first labeled her the 'ugliest woman in the world, because he or she changed Lizzie's life.

Perhaps because she had already overcome so much adversity, the young woman was able to turn that cruelness into something good. Since then, she went on to college, wrote a book, and became a motivational speaker and anti-bullying activist - which was most famously seen in her widely-watched in Austin that has been watched over eight million times to date. 

'Even though things are hard, I can't let that define me,' she said on the TED stage. 'My life was put into my hands just like your life was put into yours. You were put in the front seat of the car. You are the one who decides if your car goes down a bad path or a good path. You are the one that decided what defines you.'

Those encouraging words clearly struck a chord with many people. Lizzie explained to Today: 'I'm not sure what it was about the TED talk and what I said in it, but it changed everything.' 

Rio silver medallist P V Sindhu snubs minister's offer, says Gopichand is 'the best coach'

Ace Indian shuttler P V Sindhu, who captured the imagination of the entire nation by winning a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, has ignored Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali's offer for a 'better coach', saying that her current guru Pullela Gopichand is the 'best coach' for her.

"I feel Gopi sir is the best coach. I have been training under him since I was 10. I don't have to say anything about it (minister's comment)," Sindhu told ANI.

Her comments came after Ali triggered an outrage on social media with his statement that the 21-year-old lanky shuttler may be provided a 'better coach' so that so could fetch gold in the next Olympics at Tokyo.

Sindhu received a rousing welcome on her arrival in her home town and was felicitated by the Telangana government for her stellar performance at the Rio Games.

Considered as one of the country's finest shuttlers, Gopichand has produced an array of top-class shuttlers, including 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Saina Nehwal and K Srikanth, a quarterfinalist in Rio de Janeiro.

Despite producing a spirited performance in the opening game, Sindhu lost the pulsating women's singles badminton final against Spain's Carolina Marin 21-19, 12-21, 15-21 to settle for the silver medal.

With the feat, Sindhu has also become the fifth Indian woman to clinch a medal in Olympics history after Karnam Malleswari, Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal and Sakshi Malik.

Indian women facing early menopause: Survey

Nearly 4 per cent of Indian women experience signs of menopause between 29 and 34 years of age, says a recent survey conducted by The Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC). The figure goes up to 8 per cent in the case of women between 35 and 39 years of age.

What is shocking is that women around the world normally reach menopause between 45 and 55 years of age, with a mean age of around 51 years.

According to the study, women often notice an irregular menstrual cycle that suddenly ceases. This is when most of them approach a gynaecologist and are confronted with premature menopause.

“One of the culprits could be Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) — a condition when the ovaries stop functioning normally before the age of 40. The cause of POF goes undetermined in majority of the cases, but changing food habits, work culture with increased stress are some of the reasons,” said Dr. Shobha Gupta, Medical Director and IVF specialist at Mother’s Lap IVF Centre.

Dr. Shobha said: “A woman’s body is going through so many changes today because of the atmosphere and lifestyle requirements, which is why we have been seeing cases of premature ovary failure in young adults. It is better to plan a family on time, and if you have any medical issues then you should consult your doctor soon.”

Its symptoms are the same as those of natural menopause — change in pattern of periods, hot flashes, mood swings, crying spells and sleeplessness. “If you experience these, you should consult any fertility centre and go for a blood test. If your FSH level (follicle stimulating hormone) is more than 25mIU/L then you may have POF” said Dr. Anubha Singh, infertility expert from Shantah IVF Centre.

“Lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking, thyroid or auto-immune diseases, exposure to radiation like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and poor nutrition can also cause premature menopause. Along with this, genital tuberculosis can also lead ovaries to fail,” Dr. Singh added.

Multiple studies, meanwhile, have shown that the age of menopause can be inherited.

Also, a strong association has been observed between siblings, twins, mothers and daughters. Further, menopause seems accelerated in women whose mothers experienced early menopause or premature ovarian failure.

The study concluded that though heredity does play a role, the extent remains to be identified.

Woman Called "World's Ugliest Woman" Becomes Inspiration to All

The Daily Show - Malala Yousafzai Extended Interview

Life History of Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa was born on August 27,1910 in Skopje,Macedonia. Mother Teresa's original name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. The youngest of the children born to Nikola and Drane Bojaxhiu. Her father was a successful merchant and she was youngest of the three siblings. She received her First Communion at the age of five and a half and was confirmed in November 1916. From the day of her First Holy Communion, a love for souls was within her. Her father’s sudden death when Gonxha was about eight years old left in the family in financial straits. Drane raised her children firmly and lovingly, greatly influencing her daughter’s character and vocation. Gonxha’s religious formation was further assisted by the vibrant Jesuit parish of the Sacred Heart in which she was much involved. At the age of 12, she decided that she wanted to be a missionary and spread the love of Christ. At the age of 18 she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India. There she received the name Sister Mary Teresa after St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

After a few months of training at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dublin Mother Teresa came to India on 6 January 1929. On May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun. From 1931 to 1948, Mother Teresa taught geography and catechism at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta. On 24 May 1937, Sister Teresa made her Final Profession of Vows, becoming, as she said, the “spouse of Jesus” for “all eternity.” From that time on she was called Mother Teresa. She continued teaching at St. Mary’s and in 1944 became the school’s principal. A person of profound prayer and deep love for her religious sisters and her students, Mother Teresa’s twenty years in Loreto were filled with profound happiness. Noted for her charity, unselfishness and courage, her capacity for hard work and a natural talent for organization, she lived out her consecration to Jesus, in the midst of her companions, with fidelity and joy.

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

1997 Growing up in Swat Valley

Malala was born on 12 July 1997 in Mingora, a town in the Swat District of north-west Pakistan. Her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai named her after Malalai, a Pashtun heroine.
Ziauddin, who has always loved learning, ran a school in Swat adjacent to the family's home. He was known as an advocate for education in Pakistan, which has the second highest number of out of school children in the world, and became an outspoken opponent of Taliban efforts to restrict education and stop girls from going to school.
- See more at: https://www.malala.org/malalas-story#sthash.HeRonBMh.dpuf

National news

Solo suspended from US women's national team after 'cowards' remark

U.S. women's goalkeeper Hope Solo was suspended Wednesday for six months by U.S. Soccer for disparaging comments about Sweden following the Americans' early departure from the Rio Olympics.

Solo called the Swedes "a bunch of cowards" for focusing on defense rather than attacking the three-time defending champion U.S. team. Sweden ousted the U.S. 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw in a quarterfinal match.

U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati said Solo's comments were "unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our National Team players."

"Beyond the athletic arena, and beyond the results, the Olympics celebrate and represent the ideals of fair play and respect," Gulati said. "We expect all of our representatives to honor those principles, with no exceptions."

The 35-year-old Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days early in 2015 for her conduct, will not be eligible for selection to the national team until February.

Solo was a lightning rod during the Olympic tournament, irking fans in Brazil when she posted a photo of herself covered with mosquito netting and armed with insect repellant on social media. Fans booed her mercilessly and hollered "Zika!" each time she kicked downfield.

Then she caused a stir with her "cowards" comment.

Sweden's coach Pia Sundhage, who led the U.S. team to gold medals in Beijing and London, replied by stating: "It's OK to be a coward if you win."

Solo has been making headlines throughout her stellar career.

Last month, she became the first goalkeeper with 100 international shutouts when the United States defeated South Africa 1-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago. It was also her 150th career win.

Solo won her second straight Golden Glove Award for the best goalkeeper at the Women's World Cup a year ago. Over the course of the tournament in Canada, she had five clean sheets and allowed only three goals in seven games.

Solo was among the U.S. players who filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for wage discrimination, saying the men's national team players have been paid much more than many on the women's team, which for years has out-performed the U.S. men on the international stage.

More recently, she's called for better conditions for players in the National Women's Soccer League.

She has also been trying to avoid a trial on misdemeanor domestic violence charges after a 2014 incident at her sister's home, when the goalkeeper was accused of being intoxicated and assaulting her sister and 17-year-old nephew. Solo said she was a victim in the altercation. Earlier this year, an appeals court in Washington state rejected Solo's request to avoid trial.

 

Dowry

 In ancient, the purpose of dowry was to give support and security to new couple who start their married life; in that time it was the smiling face of dowry. But by passing from one generation to next generation, as social and moral values changed, now the people’s attitude has become more consumerist and dowry has become a cancer in society. In upper-class society dowry has become the status symbol. Now-a-days demands of dowry consists a large sum of money, furniture, electronics etc.

If a girl is married in her teen age, then parents have to pay a small amount of dowry, but if a girl is educated and qualified then parents have to need more amounts to get a bridegroom of same status, and if a family feels that they will not be able to afford this amount of dowry and the society will laugh onto them, they kills the girl child before her birth or just after her birth. So dowry system is promoting to child marriage, illiteracy of women, foeticide and infanticide. Some parents pass their life under debit to pay dowry in the marriage of their daughter which also results the suicide of parents. If the amount of dowry is not sufficient or not according to statement then bride faces cruelty by her husband and in-laws and her life becomes miserable. Sometimes it takes the form of “bride-burning” and it is reported as accidental burn in kitchen or disguised as suicide. Women are facing heinous crimes due to dowry like dowry-deaths, dowry-murders, bride burning, dowry-suicides and other cruelty. These offences have created an environment of insecurity for women in the society.

Dowry Law

Offence related to dowry covered under sections 302, 304-B, 306, 34, 498-A of IPC and the Dowry Prohibition Act. But the root of this social evil is very deep and still growing up. Sections of constitution are not sufficient to stop its rising. Dowry is spreading like a contagious disease.

The Dowry Prohibition Act 1961

The Dowry Prohibition Act extends whole India besides Jammu and Kashmir.

Dowry Definition in this Act, “Dowry means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to another party in a marriage or By the persons of either party to a marriage or by any other person, by either party to the marriage or to any other person.”

Penalty for giving or taking Dowry under The Dowry Prohibition Act – If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 5 years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry.

Indian Panel Code (IPC) Section 304B 

For Dowry Death – Where the death of a woman is caused by any burns or bodily injury or occurs, otherwise than under normal circumstances within seven years of her marriage and it is shown that soon before her death, she was subjected to cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband for, or in connection with, any demand for dowry, such death shall be called “dowry death”, and such husband or relative shall be deemed to have caused her death. Whoever commits dowry death shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life.

Indian Panel Code (IPC) Section 498A

Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty. Whoever, being the husband or the relative of the husband of a woman, subjects such woman to cruelty shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine. Cruelty means — Any willful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health (whether mental or physical) of the woman or Harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demand.

child marriages

The word ‘child marriage’ refers to a marriage in which either girl is below 18 or a boy is below 21. In India a large number of girls are married before reaching to adulthood. Child marriage is a form of sexual abuse and exploitation especially for girls. It is objectionable for many reasons. Child marriage takes away education, health, other opportunities and freedom of decision making. Child marriage not only takes away girls childhood, it also puts several domestic responsibilities on their soft shoulder which is painful and for which they are not ready physically and mentally.

Reasons for Child Marriage

Poverty is one of the biggest reasons for child marriage. Poverty and problem related to poverty promote child marriage by putting pressure on the daily expenses of a family related to education, maintenance, clothing and etc. Parents fear if they will marry their daughter later then they have to need more amount of money for Dowry and other expenses so fear of exorbitant dowry is reason for child marriage, dowry rate are found to increase according to the age of girl. Illiteracy of parents and lack of awareness also promotes the Child Marriage. Lack of schools within locality for higher education of girls is another is also a reason for early marriage. If the school for higher education is not within village then it is very tough to continue education for a girl because the road connecting to school may not be safe and communicable, and girls have to dropout their school. In outback areas it is treated that “What would a girl do by accessing a higher education”. When girls left her school due to lack of school for higher education and due to social customs then they considered as a burden on her family. Now-a-days fear of elopement puts a pressure on the parents to marry their daughter early and due to fear of elopement they don’t send their girl to school.

Laws against Child Marriage

The Child Marriage Restraint Act (1929)

This Act also called Sarda Act. This act applied into a whole nation except Jammu and Kashmir. In this act, at the time of marriage age of a boy should be 21 and more, and in case of girl it should be 28 or more. If a marriage is conducted before this age, then it’s punishable under this law. The punishment of up to 3 months prison or a possible fine.

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006)

Indian government brought this Act in 2006 and this came in the effect from 1^st of November, 2007. This act is addressed to the shortcoming of the previous child marriage act (Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929). The duration of punishment from (3 months to 2-years) is increased in this act. The age of boy and girl is same in this act also but there are some major changes made up.

In my view, Dowry should be ended from society, Schools and Vocational Training Institutes should to be open more and more and society have to determine to reach out the girls to schools safely. There is a need to spread awareness in illiterate parents. There is a need of spreading the demerits of Child Marriage.

Anu Sridharan

Anu sridharan

Founder and CEO of NextDrop, a social enterprise that deals with the problem of water supply in urban areas. Launched in 2011, NextDrop keeps the residents informed about the timely water supply and also provides for better management of water supply in order to save it. Anu has also been selected to the Forbes “30 Social Entrepreneurs Under 30” list.

Kirthiga Reddy

The social network: Kirthiga Reddy
40, Director Online Operations, Head, Facebook India

Because: She heads the India division of the world's largest social network with over 800 million active users. Because since Facebook set up an office in the country in 2010, the user base went up from eight million to over 40 million people in less than two years.

Because India is Facebook's third-largest market and has an average growth rate of more than one million people per month. Because Facebook users represent the youngest and most attractive market segment in the country.

Through the looking glass: 2011 was an important year for her as she strengthened Facebook's operations in India, which included building a team, as well as making an outsized impact in the serving of global users, developers and advertisers.

Culture first: "From hackathons to new traditions like Bollywood dancing, culture was the fabric that wove us together. Through our community initiatives we touched the lives of over 1,000 million students and we also leveraged Facebook to support NGOs like Olympic Gold Quest, which grooms the next league of Olympic champions."

On the Radar: She wants to maximise the Facebook India vision to drive global user, developer, and advertiser success through bold innovation, operational excellence and leadership. "My personal goals are to lead programmes to mentor the next generation of women leaders and trek to the Everest base camp," she says.

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There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”—Kofi Annan

Women empowerment a much raised and discussed topic round the globe? But why is it necessary? Why we are trying to fill this gender gap? What is gender gap?  Why is women not given that equality level and trust in the society ! it is 21st century and women still have to run for their rights? If we ourselves could try to get the balance then there would be no need of this whole campaign for women empowerment.  A house maker can anytime be a corporate leader! And we have series of example in our country itself ! then why do we yet need this women empowerment concept? Well is this gender gap filled in all states? Are women in the country getting their deserved rights? And are they educated till the age boys are? Are they forced to get married at a young age? Well staying in urban areas we have forgotten this topic! But the reality check says that this topic needs much more attention then it is getting. Women empowerment is not only to be known topic but it is that one should bring in practice. If u aim to empower a women you will be an indirect force to empower a family. Women forms a chain of knowledge that she has. It is always passed on to someone ! yes you read it right  a house maker is a dynamic source of knowledge! And she is the one who can bring society to betterment . don’t you remember  Indira Gandhi , Mother Teresa , Lakshm bai ( Jhansi ) Savitri bai phule and sarojini naidu?

They were the ones that irrespective of their profession worked for the mankind and their work is yet appreciated by us . why? Ever wondered? What will happen if we decide to educate all the women in the country? Well I think the country will finally be tagged as Developed instead of developing.

Empowerment is not just a word or to provide facilities it is beyond that . many of us use this word casually or really do not know what the word empowerment stands for? Well

Empowerment is a multi dimensional process which should enable individuals or a group of individuals to realize their full identity and powers in all spheres of life.

According to websters dictionary the word empowerment indicates the situation of authority or to be authorized or to be powerful . in other words empowers means to authorize . so empowerment is a process which gives women power or authority to challenge some situation.

The term empowerment indicates a process of giving to developing conditions for generating power within . therefore conceptually the term empowerment has multi dimensional focus and can be described as a process wherein a group or individuals are anbled to enhance their status in the scoeity on the hand and overall participation and growth in the other. Empowerment is an active multi dimensional process which enable a women to realize their identity , position and power in all spheres of life. Empowerment provides greater making process at home an in the matters autonomy in the decision making process at home and in the matters concerning society and freedom from customs , beliefs and practices.

Empowerment demands a drastic and basic changes in the system or marriage and family , husband and wife relationship and attitude towards the socialization an remarriage.

Empowerment is a process that gives a person freedom in decision making .

definition of empowerment -: keller and mbewe –  “empowerment is a process whereby women become able to organize themselves to increase their own , self reliance to assert their independent right to make choices and to control resources which will assists in challenges and climinating their own subordination

P.K.B Nayar – empowerment is an aid to help women to achieve equality with men or at least to reduce gender gap considerably.

Now what is women empowerment? What are its features? And what are the schemes that are provided to the women in India to grow? What should women do inorder to feel empowered to reduce this gender gap? Is education enough? Or do they need to be balanced economically as well as socially? And if yes what do they do to get that economic balance? Start their own ventures or go for a job?

Will the society accept them as an entrepreneur? Or they will again have to give up on their dreams! Well this one answer my article wont be able to answer you! It is something you got to discover yourself. Of the fear of society is what haunting one person then nothing can help him to overcome him except the persons will power.  Women should not stand for their rights but also help the ones who are deprived of these rights and can not speak for them. Working hand in hand can be more beneficial . “ unity is strength” a not to be explained phrase . and it work wonders . women can get hold of their rights by being empowered together. But before that one should know what does this term “ Women empowerment “ actually means ?

Women empowerment is a prerequisite for creating a good nation . if a women empowered her competencies towards decision – making will need to promote women empowerment among the rural women. Empowerment includes higher literacy level and education for women , better health care for women and children equal ownership of productive resources , their rights and responsibilities , improved standars of living and acquiring empowerment include , economic empowerment social empowerment and gender justice that is to eliminate all types of discrimination against women and the girl child.

Women empowerment is not a new concept it is quite a well known concept  round the globe. Women all over the world have been challenging and changing gender inequalities since the beginning of history . these struggles have also been supported by many men who have been outraged at injustice against women and thereupon the consequences for the society. The goal of women empowerment is simply providing strength to them. The strength may be giving political or economic authority or provision of health and nutrition of health and nutrition care or social element in the poverty eradication. Empowerment of women , particularly rural women has become an important issue in the startergies of balanced development with social justice. Economic empowerment results in women’s ability to influence or make right decision, increase self confidence better status and role  in household etc.

I bet if every one in the country started thinking like  The country’s first prime minister , Pandit jawarharlal Nehru  who  said “when women move forward the family moves , the villages moves and the nation moves” employment gives economic status to women , economic status gives way to social status and thereby empowerment” then no one can stop women to grow in our country and take the country along with it to new heights.

It is beleived that economic  strength is the basis of social , political an psuchological power in the society . thus the lower strata of women mostly stems form their low economic status. And subsequent dependence and lack of decision making power. Therefore  if women gains economic strength they gain visibility and voice.

Women have a unique position in the economy . in our country with an unfavourable woman – man ratio and strong patriarchal roots . entrepreneurship anc acess to funds have been difficult.

Facilitating that womens direct partipation in decision making capacity and income generation activities can make significant contributions towards women empowerment . this will enable women to take the intiative for their development into their own hans. And entrepreneurship can help women to gain economic development and improve their social status . once they attain development of women entreprenuership enables society to understand and appreciate their abilities. It enhances their status and leads to integration of women in nation building and economic . it provides the needed psychological satisfaction and imbues them with a deep sense of achievements to create their enhanced identity in society.

“We cannot all succeed if half of this are held back.”

—Malala Yousafzai

There is no denying the fact that women in India have made a considerable progress in almost seven decades of Independence, but they still have to struggle against many handicaps and social evils in the male-dominated society. Many evil and masculine forces still prevail in the modern Indian society that resists the forward march of its women folk. It is ironical that a country, which has recently acclaimed the status of the first Asian country to accomplish its Mars mission in the maiden attempt, is positioned at the 29th rank among 146 countries across the globe on the basis of Gender Inequality Index. There has been amelioration in the position of women, but their true empowerment is still awaited.

Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest sons of India, quoted that, “There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved, It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing. ” Therefore, the inclusion of “Women Empowerment’ as one of the prime goals in the eight Millennium Development Goals underscores the relevance of this fact. Thus, in order to achieve the status of a developed country, India needs to transform its colossal women force into an effective human resource and this is possible only through the empowerment of women.

Inspiring proverbs

1. "There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing.

                                                                                       ---swami vivekananda

2. "there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.

                                                                                       ---kofi annan

3. "A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and         strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection. She values and uses all of her gifts."                                        —Nancy Rathburn

4. "I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." 

                                                                         ―Malala Yousafzai

5."Feminism isn't about making women strong. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." 

                                                                          —G.D. Anderson

6."Women are always saying, 'We can do anything that men can do.' But Men should be saying, 'We can do anything that women can do.'"

                                                                          —Gloria Steinem

7."Women, like men, should try to do the impossible, and when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others."  

                                                                          —Amerlia Earhart

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide

From two of our most fiercely moral voices, a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls in the developing world.

With Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them a Cambodian teenager sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth. Drawing on the breadth of their combined reporting experience, Kristof and WuDunn depict our world with anger, sadness, clarity, and, ultimately, hope.

They show how a little help can transform the lives of women and girls abroad. That Cambodian girl eventually escaped from her brothel and, with assistance from an aid group, built a thriving retail business that supports her family. The Ethiopian woman had her injuries repaired and in time became a surgeon. A Zimbabwean mother of five, counseled to return to school, earned her doctorate and became an expert on AIDS.

Through these stories, Kristof and WuDunn help us see that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. They make clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Throughout much of the world, the greatest unexploited economic resource is the female half of the population. Countries such as China have prospered precisely because they emancipated women and brought them into the formal economy. Unleashing that process globally is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the best strategy for fighting poverty.

Deeply felt, pragmatic, and inspirational, Half the Sky is essential reading for every global citizen.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg, Nell Scovell (Co-Writer)

Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, igniting global conversations about women and ambition. Sandberg packed theatres, dominated opinion pages, appeared on every major television show and on the cover ofTime magazine, and sparked ferocious debate about women and leadership.

Ask most women whether they have the right to equality at work and the answer will be a resounding yes, but ask the same women whether they'd feel confident asking for a raise, a promotion, or equal pay, and some reticence creeps in.

The statistics, although an improvement on previous decades, are certainly not in women's favour – of 197 heads of state, only twenty-two are women. Women hold just 20 percent of seats in parliaments globally, and in the world of big business, a meagre eighteen of the Fortune 500 CEOs are women.

In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg – Facebook COO and one of Fortunemagazine's Most Powerful Women in Business – draws on her own experience of working in some of the world's most successful businesses and looks at what women can do to help themselves, and make the small changes in their life that can effect change on a more universal scale. (less)

                                              VIDEO OF ABOUT THIS BOOK