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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.

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:
1. Addressing the issue of Gender Inequality in India.
2. Analysing the status of women in a male Dominating society like India.
3. Tracking the Empowerment and Freedom that Indian women have achieved over various strands of time.

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.
2. Neera Desai and usha Thakkar- Women in Indian Society[2]: It talks about the status and position of Women in Indian Societies. It also includes the Various Role played by women in every sphere and highlights the Value and Importance of Female Gender.

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.

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.

1. Charlotte Higgins, “The age of Patriarchy” Journal of India 44 (In Press, 2018).
2. Geraldine Forbes, History of Women in India (The Cambridge University Press, 2004).
3. K.K Verma and Rajan Verma, Towards Gender Equality (Arjun Publishing House, Bangalore, 1995).
4. Neera desai and Usha Thakkar, Women in Indian societies (National Book Trust, New Delhi, 2019).
5. Editorial, “Sati System” Hindustan times, Apr. 11, 2020.
6. Government of India, “Report of the INC Committee” (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2003).
7. Diganth Raj Sehgal, “The Position of Women in Society after Independence” The Hindu, June 4, 2019, available at https://blog.ipleaders.in/position-women-indian-society-independence/ (last visited on December 18, 2020.)