INDEX

1. Acknowledgment

2. Introduction

3. Analysis of "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers"

4. Women's Ideology towards Gender Equality

5. Movements against Gender Inequality

6. Discrimination in Various Spheres

a) At Work
b) At School
c) At Home

7. Global view towards women’s Equality

8. Conclusion

9. Learning Outcome

10. Students' Reflections

11. Bibliography/Resources

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our English teacher Sukumari for her
unwavering support and guidance throughout the duration of this project. Her
expertise and encouragement have been invaluable.

INTRODUCTION

Gender equality is a critical aspect of a just society, yet gender-based

discrimination persists in various forms worldwide. "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers," a
powerful poem by Adrienne Rich, delves into the complexities of gender issues,
women's ideologies towards gender equality, and the constraints that women
face in a patriarchal society. This project delves into women's ideologies
concerning gender equality and explores the movements dedicated to combating
gender inequality. Additionally, we investigate instances of gender-based
discrimination that women encounter at home, in the workplace, and at educational
institutions. All data collected for this project are authentic and represent
the real experiences and viewpoints of women.

Analysis of "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers"

The poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" presents a compelling narrative of a woman,

Aunt Jennifer, who is metaphorically trapped by her marriage and societal
expectations. The tigers she creates in her artwork symbolize her yearning for
strength, independence, and autonomy. The heavy, "terrified" fingers that "flutter
through her wool" suggest her desire to break free from her constrained
existence.

Aunt Jennifer's tigers, portrayed as fearless and strong, stand in stark contrast to
her own life, defined by the weight of the wedding band on her hand. The poem
highlights the tension between societal norms and individual desires, symbolizing
the struggle that many women face in a world that often restricts their freedom
and self-expression.

Women's Ideology towards Gender Equality

While gender equality is a crucial goal, achieving it is a complex and challenging

endeavor. The perspectives shared here illustrate the many facets of this issue.
The path towards gender equality often involves breaking down deep-seated
societal norms, confronting systemic biases, and addressing the unique
challenges faced by different groups of women. While progress has been made,
it's important to acknowledge that achieving complete gender equality can
sometimes feel like a nearly impossible task. However, the collective efforts of
individuals, regardless of gender, can gradually move us closer to a more
equitable and inclusive society.
 1. *Equal Opportunities:* Women desire the same opportunities as men in
education, careers, and leadership roles. They seek to break down barriers
and stereotypes that have historically limited their potential.
2. *Economic Equality:* Women, like men, deserve fair wages for their work.
Achieving economic equality is a shared goal, with women advocating for
closing the gender pay gap.

3. *Political Empowerment:* Women's voices in politics matter, and many

women are passionate about increasing female representation in
government and decision-making roles. Men recognize the importance of
diverse perspectives in shaping policies.

4. *Education and Awareness:* empowering women through education is a

goal shared by both men and women. Awareness and education help
women make informed choices and become advocates for gender equality.

5. *Legal and Policy Reforms:* Men and women unite to push for legal and
policy changes that protect and advance gender equality, including laws
against gender-based violence and discrimination.

Movements against Gender Inequality

Since world 2, the women's liberation movement and feminism have created a general
movement towards recognition of women's rights. The United Nations and other
international agencies have adopted several conventions which promote gender
equality. These conventions have not been uniformly adopted by all countries. With the
prevalence of gender discrimination, and social norms and practices, girls become
exposed to the possibility of child marriage, teenage pregnancy, child domestic work,
poor education and health, sexual abuse, exploitation and violence many of these
manifestations will not change unless girls are valued more.

1. First-Wave Feminism (late 19th and early 20th centuries): The first-
wave feminism movement focused on women's suffrage and basic civil
rights. Prominent figures include Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
and Emmeline Pankhurst.
 2. Second-Wave Feminism (1960s-1980s): This wave of feminism
addressed a wide range of issues, including reproductive rights, workplace
discrimination, and sexual liberation. Key figures include Betty Friedan,
Gloria Steinem, and Simone de Beauvoir.
3. Me Too Movement (2017-present): Me Too started as a social media
hashtag and evolved into a global movement against sexual harassment
and assault

Discrimination in Various Spheres

At Work place-
Promotion in work and occupation, women often face greater handicap than
men. A country like Japan and India may be quite egalitarian in matters of
demography or basic facilities, and even, to a great extent, in higher education,
and yet progress to elevated levels of employment and occupation seems to be
much more problematic for women than for men. At workplace some other
mistreatment like unequal pay at work, unpaid care work, People decide not to
hire or promote someone, treating employees differently, or paying them less
based on their gender, mainly they treated inappropriately at work.

At School-
Preventing or discouraging girls and young women from participating in
traditionally male-dominated fields, such as science, math, and sports, is an
example of gender discrimination. Schools may also enforce gendered dress
codes, punish those who do not conform to gender norms, or fail to punish bad
behavior on the basis that “Boys will be boys.” Another form of gender
discrimination within the schooling system can be experienced when students are
making subject choices, career choices and personal choices. Girls are encouraged
to study subjects which will groom them to become homemakers, wives and
mothers. Girls are also expected to make personal choices which anchor their
interests primarily for the well-being the members of the family and not necessarily
what is individually necessary for their growth

At Home:-
From cooking and cleaning, to fetching water and firewood or taking care of
children and the elderly, women carry out at least three times more unpaid
household and care work than men. As a result, thousands of women and girls miss
out on equal opportunities to attend school, engage in paid work, or enjoy leisure
time. The issue is that the cultural and belief structure in India plays an important
role in gender disparity. You begin to consider the equal of men and women, and
many of India’s centuries-long cultural pride must be reflected and reconfigured.
Any suggestions of change or addressing discrimination are seen as a strike at
the heart of their political, societal or ethnic culture for many Indian families
practicing sex discrimination.

In a more thorough analysis, gender inequality is largely linked to two questions:

 The transfer of surname, lineage and

 Social security.

Global view towards women’s Equality

publics around the world embrace the idea of gender equality, at least four-in-
ten think men generally have more opportunities than women in their country
when it comes to getting high-paying jobs (a median of 54% across the 34
countries surveyed) and being leaders in their community (44%). Publics see
more equity in access to a good education – a median of 81% believe men and
women in their country generally have the same opportunities in this area – and
expressing their political views (63% say men and women have the same
opportunities). No more than 6% say women have more opportunities than men
in any of these realms.

In many of the countries surveyed, men are more likely than women to say that
gender equality has increased in their country over the past 20 years.

For example, 78% of German men say that gender equality has increased over the
past 20 years, versus only 62% of women.

Globally, half (52%) believe there are more advantages to being a man than a
woman in society today. Just over one in ten (12%) believe that being a woman is
 more advantageous than being a man whereas a quarter (26%) believe there are
no differences between men and women.

Conclusion

"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" by Adrienne Rich provides a poignant lens through which
we can examine the gender issues women face daily. By analyzing the poem and
connecting its themes to real-world examples of discrimination, we hope to
contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and empowered future. The poem
serves as a reminder that while significant progress has been made, there is still
much work to be done to achieve gender equality in all aspects of life.

Learning Outcome

 Enhanced understanding of gender inequality issues.

 Improved research and data analysis skills.
 Greater awareness of women's perspectives on gender equality.

Students' Reflections

 [Siva prasad]: "Analyzing the poem made me realize how literature can be a
powerful tool to address social issues like gender inequality."
 [Abhineeth]: "This project opened my eyes to the continued struggles women
face in their pursuit of equality. It's motivating to see the impact of movements
like #MeToo."
 [Abhishek]: "The real-world examples of discrimination were eye-opening. It's
clear that we still have work to do to achieve gender equality."
 "I've learned that our voices matter in the fight against gender inequality. Silence
only perpetuates the problem." - [Abhinav]
 "I learned that gender inequality is not about men vs. women; it's about breaking
free from the confines of society's expectations. Amy's journey is proof that we
can." - [Adya]
 "I learned that as a young woman, we must stand up for our rights and strive for
equality." - [Amritha]
 "I used to think gender inequality was too big to tackle, but I learned that change
begins with small, courageous steps." - [Archa]
 "I learned that gender inequality isn't just a women's issue; it's a human rights
issue. We must all be part of the solution." - [Dhanalakshmi]

Bibliography/Resources
• https://twitter.com/oxfamindia/status/926016030891130880

• https://iesl.lk/SLEN/48/SDG5.php

• https://in.one.un.org/page/sustainable-development-goals/gender-equality sdg-5/

• https://www.sonata-software.com/sustainability/gender-equality

• https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/causes-gender-inequality/

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/effects-of-gender discrimination#effects-on-

healthcare • https://statisticstimes.com/demographics/country/india-sex-ratio.php