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| Indian Women and Equality Across Various Strands of Time-We Cannot All Succeed When Half of us are Held Back | |||||||
| Paper Id :
17595 Submission Date :
15/05/2023 Acceptance Date :
30/05/2023 Publication Date :
05/06/2023
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| Abstract | India is developing country. The development of Humans and betterment of their lives is the core of this development. The Development of a nation also calls for the development of women. Treatment of women as equal to men, enjoyment of human rights in appropriate and desired manner by women all over the country and equality of opportunities to women altogether are required for development and empowerment of women at National level. The achievement of Women in this sphere and their journey since time immemorial is full of Ups and Downs. Indian Women are creating their own place in all sectors including politics, sports, entertainment industry, business, medicine, administration, agriculture. History shows instances where women have been political leaders, served as scientists and also showed their capabilities and power in armed forces. It was in 1992 that women secured a place in The Country’s armed Forces. The Practicality of the Indian Legal System is a long distance away from what is written in texts. Despite the presence of numerous legislations for the protection of women and their rights, the enforcement and conviction of alleged perpetrators and practical application of law is weak. The mindset and long running Customs, misconceptions and Mal Practices stand to be the main reason behind the weak application of Present Laws. While visible gains have been made through legal reforms, human development and grassroots initiatives, India still has a long way to go in many areas of women empowerment and gain equality for women all around the country irrespective of their inner differences. | ||||||
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| Keywords | Women Empowerment, Opportunities to Women, Equality in Society. | ||||||
| Introduction | Every Society is
characterised based on various differences. Gender differentiation is also one
of them. Women have always been a subject of discrimination. They have always
been recognised as daughters, wives or mothers and have been struggling since a
long period of time to gain their separate identity. In India there is a huge
difference between the status, representation and recognition of the identity
of men and women. Men have always been considered as heads of the family, the
bread earners and control of the household is always in their hands. This is
because they are thought of being capable to do so. On the other hand the
capability of women is always questioned. Women did not share the stage and
status with men. They are considered subordinate to men and hence are expected
to act in the same way in every sphere of life. The correct place for women is
within the four walls of house and kitchen. They had a role of reproducing
heirs and home making while men had the role of earning and keeping control. |
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| Aim of study |
The Research paper aims in
discussing the situation of Women in Detail. It aims at addressing the various
aspects of women empowerment in India. It focuses on discrimination faced by
women because of Gender Difference. The Paper explains the situation and
position of women across various strands of time. It discusses the changes that
have come into scene and affected the lives of Indian women. It shows the big
movement of women from an era of total control to an era of Freedom and
Empowerment. Some other Objectives of the Paper are:
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| Review of Literature | 1.
KK Verma and Rajan Verma -Towards Gender Equality[1]: It talks about the
Gender Inequality that exists within Indian Societies. It addresses the need of
Equal treatment of women and Men. The shift of society from various unequal
Practices towards a society with Free and Empowered women is also mentioned.
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| Main Text | Indian
women are greatly disempowered and enjoy a much lower status than men since
time immemorial. Their education, skills, talents and capabilities have always
been neglected. Women are tend to be and act as a pillar in the lives of men
while men being the building. Their contribution to the society never comes in
sight and their own wishes and dreams have a very less chance to be supported
and promoted. The Indian society is a patriarchal society. It dominates the
life of people, socially, economically and politically and thus adversely
affects the lives of women not letting them live their life on their own
terms.[3] Things
have slowly and steadily changed. Now we have various legislations and
constitutional provisions that protect the interest of women and promote women
empowerment and gender equality and justice. Things have not changed overnight
but over a long span of time. The social reforms and political movements have
resulted in the inclusion of women in politics and brought major social changes
in the lives of women. Progressive legislations that provide women with rights
and also, recognition and implementation of those rights, have also come up
over the history. Many social evils that
hampered the growth of society by hampering the growth of women and girls have
been eradicated form the society. Women have now come up and stood beside men
and not behind them. A
female in India faces the problem of discrimination since the day she is born.
Female infanticide and later female foeticide are widespread practices.[4] Many
factors together contribute to the issue of discrimination that women face.
Female foeticide or infanticide occurs as girl child is considered to be a
burden on the family. This is due to the reason that after marriage she will move
to another family and all money spent on her upbringing won’t be of any use to
her parents. One day she has to be given away so it is considered to be a waste
of money to spend on the girl education. Further the prevailing Dowry system is
also responsible for the evils like female infanticide. Further Patriarchy is
the backbone of gender based inequality. Women are not given equal
opportunities and in some or the other way they are made incapable to fight for
what they deserve. In
families where the parents can afford the education of only one child, they
prefer to spend on the male child and not on the female. A brother is expected
to take care of her sister instead of teaching the girl to take care of herself
on her own. A woman, if she does or acts
in the same manner as any man, she is considered to be crossing her limits. After
marriage also women are treated unequal. Even the educated women are not
allowed to step out of the houses and earn. The decisions for a woman are
either taken by her father or after marriage, by her husband or in-laws. Women
are expected to wear jewellery, ‘sindoor’, ‘Mangalsutra’ and other items to
show that they are married. Unmarried girls need to dress themselves nicely and
should look attractive and beautiful. This is all objectification. There are no
such ornaments or symbols for men in order to show that they are married or
not. So much focus is laid on the physical appearance of a woman. It is
important for her to look good to others. Veil or Purdah adds on to this pond
of inequality. It has been very difficult for people to put on masks during the
Covid-19 waves while the women have been breathing and living under their veils
and Purdah since so long. At
the end of 19th century, the position of women changed drastically. Women stood
up for their rights. Voices for the protection and promotion of the rights of
women were being raised all around the globe as well as in all corners of the
country. Light was thrown upon the Women rights with regard to employment,
education, Property rights etc.[5] The Historical struggle for the Recognition
and Protection of Rights and status of women began giving its fruit. Most of
the Social evils were being criticized and their term came to an end. The Sati
system was abolished in 1890’s on Humanitarian grounds by the law passed by the
British Government in India.[6] Raja ram Mohan Roy stood out to be the main
reason behind this abolition. He proved that this practice of Sati had no
religious or cultural sanction. It
is important here to mention that the reform movements for women betterment and
their empowerment were carried out by men. Men were the only reason behind
setting up limits on the freedom of a woman. These social reformers only
highlighted and mentioned the major evils which were visibly violent like Sati
etc. Such reforms mainly helped the upper class women. The reformers felt no
need to change those things and issues which affected the control of men over
women. They did not challenge the Kinship structure, the patriarchy and
division of labour on the basis of Gender.
Neither the Caste system was questioned nor Sanctity of marriage. Due
to this reason, female reformers like Pandita ramabai and Tarabai shinde came
into scene and they threw light on the biasness of the men Reformers. The
abolition of Sati was an important achievement. The law made it voluntary to
practice Sati. It was the choice of the widow. In the Dayabhaga family system,
a widow with a child could inherit the property of her deceased Husband. The
Practice of sati prevented this inheritance.
Widow re-marriage was recognised in 1856. The
Indian National Congress also included the participation of women.[7] Annie
Beasant was appointed as its president. Further in 1953, Vijay Lakshmi Pandita
was elected as the President of UN General assembly. These were some proud
moments of Indian Womanhood. In the national movements, women came out off
their veils and came out of their houses to stand beside men in the fight for
freedom. The
position and status of women have changed a lot as compared to the past. But
still women are not the complete owners of their fate even today. They are
subordinate to men and have a number of restrictions on their rights and
freedom of choices. Even if living in the same house with men of the family,
the life of a man and a woman is completely different. The women are deprived
of their Human rights which men on the other hand enjoy without any second
thought. The patriarchal structure of the society creates difficulties and
hurdles in the life of women at every step. Till today women have not acquired
the position which they actually deserve. Women have been struggling since time
immemorial for the recognition of their rights and this struggle still
continues and will continue in future. Many laws have been passed in favour of
women. The position of women has experienced a great rise but practically
seeing, a lot of gap is still there between the position of men and women. Swami
Vivekananda said that the contribution and participation of both men and women
is equally important for the appropriate development and progression of the
society. Men and women are like two wings of a bird. The bird cannot fly if
either of the wings is not there. Similarly society cannot run if either of men
or women is not there.
A major change is visible in the status of women after India gained Independence.[8] More opportunities are provided to women today, both culturally and structurally. Women today have more freedom of choice as compared to earlier times. Today women have access to education and employment. Political participation of women has also increased to a great extent. Today women are a part not every department, every sphere of employment. Women have struggled since a long time and their efforts have helped them to come out of the Slavery trap. Women have advanced and now they demand education and opportunities. In families where girls are not educated, the outcome is same and woman is not able to achieve anything. But in families where girls are provided with opportunity of education women have access to a much better life. |
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| Conclusion |
The principle of equality
widely runs through the Indian Constitution, its preamble, the Fundamental
Rights. A number of acts are passed by the Indian legislature for the welfare
of women. Acts like the Pre conception/Pre natal diagnostics technology act,
2003, Prohibition of Child marriage act, 2006, Immoral Trafficking act, 1956,
Domestic Violence act, 2005, Dowry prohibition act, Commission of sati
Prevention act, 1987etc. have all played their part in reducing the gap between
the status and position of men and women. All these acts have only one goal
i.e. women empowerment, dissolving the gender barriers and protection of rights
of Indian women. All these acts came up after the recognition of fact that
women are deprived of so much of what is due to them. It is reality that
nothing beside law can help women achieve the right position. The correct
implementation of the law and change in the mindset of people is the need of
the hour. Reality hits differently. Even after so many years of struggle women stand
far away from justice. The constitution and other laws leave most of the
matters relating to women rights on Personal laws. The private/personal laws
are generally discriminatory in nature. The situation has changed and it is
expected to continue changing. The goal is to achieve complete women
empowerment and destruction of all the barriers and biasness that is causing
gender discrimination. Female foeticide and female infanticide are widespread
evils of Indian society. They must come to an end. Other crimes happening
against women everyday also need to end. Women must be recognised as an equal
half of the society. Their efforts and Roles need to be appreciated and
recognised. All this requires a huge effort from the society. Not only men but
women should also play their part in order to achieve the status which they
deserve and for which they are struggling since so long. Women need to stand
for themselves because if they will not fight for their rights then why would
someone else will. If women will stand today and achieve what they deserve, it
will not only help them but also make the country better and more supportive
for the future generation daughters. A mother should fight for the rights of
herself and her daughter and should also teach the daughter the same. Major
changes require small steps. Hopefully one day India will achieve the goal of
complete Gender Equality. |
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| References | 1. Charlotte Higgins, “The
age of Patriarchy” Journal of India 44 (In Press, 2018). |
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