The roles a woman plays in various aspects of life are many. At home, on job, in society, as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, learners, workers, citizens, leaders.
But are they being treated fairly and equally? Are they empowered enough by the society? Lets have a look…
Indira Gandhi, the first lady prime minister, for four terms, including three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977.
Pratibha Devisingh Patil, the first lady president of India.
Indira Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of Pepsi Co, is the fourth most powerful women in the world.
Shriti Vadera, special advisor to Britain Prime Minister, Gordon Brown
Nineteenth century witnessed reform movement for women, with various issues like sati practice, violence, child marriage, and employment being addressed.
With the introduction of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women, the Government of India had declared year 2001 as Women's Empowerment Year. It was said, "Our vision in the new century of a nation where women are equal partners with men". Many new projects were launched like Swashakti and Stree Shakti for women's empowerment; Swayam Sidha to benefit 100,000 women through micro-credit programs, Balika Samrudhi Yojana for the girl child and many more.
If you think a lot has been done for woman empowerment, think again.
Cases of female-infanticides are still on rise (both reported and un-reported)
Certain section of the society does not send girls to schools once she attains puberty.
Some are not sent to schools ever.
Numbers of pre-age marriages are also significant
Dowry related harassment and deaths are still in news now and then.Harassment at work place, sexual or otherwise, though mainly unreported, is significant.
Sati is still being practiced in many villages across the country.
The legislative strength of women is still less than 10%
The crimes against women are on the rise.
Widows are still looked down by many.
The gender disparity is at all time high.
Few, a significant ‘Few’, take women as sex object. Lewd comments. Indecent expressions….
The list is long. But such attitude and gender bias is eating away a talent pool. The respect has been replaced with discrimination.
In its first ever gender gap study covering 58 nations, the World Economic Forum has ranked India a lowly 53. The report titled 'The Women's Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap' measures the gap between women and men in five critical areas like economic participation, economic opportunity, political empowerment, access to education and access to reproductive health care. The report is based on United Nations Development Fund for Women's findings on global patterns of inequality between men and women. The low ranking reflects the large disparity between men and women in all five areas of the index.
We call ourselves the next super-power. Comparing us with some other nations. But tell me, can we be acknowledged as a super-power or as a matter of fact, a developed nation, when there is such discrimination in the society? No.
A lot is still to be done, miles to go….
I still keep asking myself the same question, and so do many of us: Are women getting their due share in the society?
Jawaharlal Nehru had said “You can tell the condition of the nation by looking at the status of women.”
And the following phrase of Manusmriti, “Na Stree Swathantryam Arhati” (woman is undeserving for independence), reflects our whole attitude towards women in our country. Woman suffers discrimination and injustice in all stages of her life.
Declining sex ratio portrays our discrimination shown towards her even at the stage of birth. Often the lame excuse is women are the ‘weaker sex’! But biological evidence proves, due to the presence of two X hormones women are more resistant to diseases compared to men. Life expectancy is a proof of this (In our country life expectancy of women is 65 whereas for men it’s only 60 years).
Census 2001 shows our national sex ratio as 921:1000 (921 females for 1000 males), and this will lead to detrimental social problems if not corrected. The main reason for this is female infanticide.
Gender wise abortions are on the rise. In economically developed states such as Haryana and Punjab the tendency is found to be more. Abortion though legal in our country, gender based abortion is a crime here. Strict measures should be taken for the implementation of Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act 1994, which prohibits any prenatal diagnostic techniques and sex selective abortions.
A shocking study reveals that half of the world’s malnourished children live in India owing primarily to the lack of nutritious food available to the mother. In all the critical stages, be it infancy, childhood, adolescence or the reproductive phase many women suffer malnutrition purely due to the discrimination and the narrow mindsets of the society.
According to Mahatma Gandhi, “If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family.” Our predominant patriarchal system doesn’t provide enough chances for women to have higher education even if they wish. Girls should be motivated to take up higher education. Universal education for all below 14 years should be strictly implemented. There is an urgent necessity of framing gender sensitive curricula at all stages of primary education to address sex-stereotyping menace.
Women should be allowed to work and should be provided enough safety and support to work. Legislatures such as Equal Remuneration Act, Factories Act: Constitutional safeguards such as maternity relief, and other provisions should be strictly followed. Poverty eradication policies need to be implemented. Macro economic policies would help in this drive. Through economic empowerment women’s emancipation could be realized.
Dowry still remains the major reason for all the discrimination and injustice shown to women. Dowry has always been an important part of Hindu marriages. Not only among Hindus, its evil tentacles are now spreading to other religions also. Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961(Dowry Prohibition Act), it continues to be highly institutionalized.
It is ridiculous to see that even among highly educated sections, the articles of dowry are proudly exhibited in the marriage as a status symbol. The practice of dowry abuse is rising in India. The most severe is “bride burning”, the burning of women whose dowries were not considered sufficient by their husband or in-laws. Most of these incidents are reported as accidental burns in the kitchen or are disguised as suicide. It is evident that there exist deep-rooted prejudices against women in India.
Cultural practices such as these tend to subordinate women in our society. Dowry is one of those social evils that no educated woman will own up with pride; still many are adhering to it, why? Women should be more economically empowered and should be educated properly regarding the various legal provisions such as Section 498ACrPC, protection from domestic violence etc. only then only this evil menace could possibly be eradicated from Indian social system.
True empowerment will only be reached when women take part actively in the decision making process of our country. Women Reservation Bill that entitles to provide 33 per cent reservation in Parliament is a bill of utmost importance. The success of 73rd & 74th amendment which reserves certain number of seats for women in the local bodies should be an encouragement for the Bill to be passed at least in this current session.
Mainstreaming and women’s empowerment is central to human development. Empowerment of women could only be achieved if their economic and social status is improved.
This could be possible only by adopting definite social and economic policies with a view of total development of women and to make them realize that they have the potential to be strong human beings.
The various articles of our constitution enshrine principle of gender equality. We started giving special attention to the causes of women by the fifth five-year plan. For considering the grievances and preventing the atrocities against women a National Commission for Women (NCW) was set up in 1990.
But despite all these measures there should be a strong determination among every man that every woman in this country should be honoured. Only then empowerment in its true meaning will be realized.
Swami Vivekananda had said “That country and that nation which doesn’t respect women will never become great now and nor will ever in future” and in pursuit of making India a great nation, let us work towards giving women their much deserved status
As Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru said if you educate a man you educate an individual, however, if you educate a woman you educate a whole family. Women empowered means mother India empowered.
