Critical task

Women make about 50% of the world's population and ironically, they also form a segment which is underrepresented in several categories. Education, economic growth, politics and global development are just a handful of sections. I am, by no means, ignoring, the precentage who has already made their way, or is on its' way. This concern is towards the massive number who has never seen the light beyond managing a household by forced circumstances of early marriage and numerous other circumstantial surroundings created by our society and eliminating the choices. Choice which is provided by awareness and independent thinking and both of which are spin-offs of right kind of education imparted at the right age & right time.
Question goes back to the history, who made these rules and assumed that its' a "weaker sex" and defined a role for them? or was it a conscious selection by them itself? These are the questions that have always intrigued me and would certainly like to know: why was it like that, what is the driving force that is causing a current of change and whether this wave will sustain, recede or disappear.
Some of the solutions that I can think of are:

• guaranting women's rights and effective policies and regulations.
• more rigorous implementation of holistic education system.
• ensuring safer environment to increase their presence by addressing violence and abuse.
  
• investing in economic development by making them key players.

Of course, all the above issues and solutions are interrelated and co-dependence of one on the other is explicit. Some results will be immediate and some not so prompt. Needless to say, that it will lead to eradication of poverty, illiteracy and low social status of a huge population. Most importantly, women play a key role in education and growth of a growing population- youth, and hence the positive outcome is bi-fold.