Women Empowerment as a Key to Support Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Global Sustainable Development

Abstract

Humanity experiences challenges caused by gender inequality which further obstructs achievement of global sustainable development. Considering gender equality as human equality, this chapter emphasizes women empowerment's role in supporting global sustainable development. Based on literature review, this chapter aims to examine women empowerment's role in and contribution to UN SDGs (sustainable development goals). This chapter underlines that the gender inequality hinders and obstructs global sustainable development and achievement of SDGs. Furthermore, this chapter examines causes of gender inequality as they need to be identified and eliminated to achieve global sustainable development. Women empowerment plays a significant role in solving gender inequality related problems (e.g., health problems, education inequality, discrimination, crime, violence). Women empowerment achieved through supported gender equality can act as a multiplier factor in achieving synergy creation and influencing a sustainable future. This chapter highlights the influence of women empowerment and gender equality on all three pillars of sustainability. Furthermore, this chapter underlines the importance of women empowerment in all industries and politics for addressing the gender inequality problems. This chapter provides recommendations on how to enhance women empowerment to support achievement of all SDGs. Women empowerment based sustainable development policies can influence achievement of the SDGs. This chapter is expected to be useful to the academics and policymakers focusing on achievement of SDGs, sustainability, and sustainable development.

Citation

Sertyesilisik, B. (2023), "Women Empowerment as a Key to Support Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Global Sustainable Development", Chakraborty, C. and Pal, D. (Ed.) Gender Inequality and its Implications on Education and Health, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 153-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83753-180-620231014