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Give an account of the role played by women's organisations and movements in issues related with gender in India.
In the end of 19th century, women in India suffered disabilities like Child Marriage, Polygyny, sales of girls for marriage, restrictions on widow remarriage & girl education etc. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was the founder of Brahmo Samaj (1828), launched a movement in 1856 for the rights ofRead more
In the end of 19th century, women in India suffered disabilities like Child Marriage, Polygyny, sales of girls for marriage, restrictions on widow remarriage & girl education etc. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar who was the founder of Brahmo Samaj (1828), launched a movement in 1856 for the rights of widow remarriage and also promoted women education. Raja Ram Mohan Roy launched several movements to abolish Sati Pratha which led the British Government in 1829 to declare the practice of Sati System as a punishable offence. Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwar, the ruler of Baroda state worked for abolition of social evils such as Child Marriages and Polygyny. Many other social reformers like Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Rani Laxmi Bai, Anne Besant and many more promoted social and political rights of women.
Some women organisations such as Banga Mahila Samaj and the Ladies Theosophical Society fought for the modern ideas and rights of the women at local level. But the pioneering work was done by those organization which functioned at national level. Eg. Bharat Mahila Parishad, Bharat Stree Mahila Mandal, Women’s Indian Association etc. These organizations spread awareness and reforms for Women Education, Women Empowerment, Social Welfare of Women, Hindu Laws reforms etc.
See less‘India is often seen as a land of contrasts where tradition and modernity coexist where Indian women are often showcased as emblematic of this coexistence.’ Critically Analyse the Statement in the context of ‘new women’ in India.
India has often been defined by its contradictions rather than homogeneities. In the 21st century, one of the remarkable contradictions has been marked by the coexistence of tradition and modernity. Indian traditions have been shaped by its history and culture spanning over two millennia. ModernityRead more
India has often been defined by its contradictions rather than homogeneities. In the 21st century, one of the remarkable contradictions has been marked by the coexistence of tradition and modernity. Indian traditions have been shaped by its history and culture spanning over two millennia. Modernity on the other hand a handiwork of westernisation and globalization has infused new ways of living and being. This infusion has been most remarkable since the LPG reforms of the 1990s. Globalisation’s cultural face has introduced new dimensions to India.
Land Of Contrasts
New Women Of India
The feminist movements and the modern idea of gender equality had resulted in the emergence of New Women in India. The ‘new woman’ in India has been defined by forces of modernity and change. This can be understood from the following processes:
New Women As Emblem Of Contrasts
However, the emergence of the new women is marked by both the new and the old, by both traditions and modernity. She stands at the crossroads of these two opposing forces and has to reconcile the two in her personal and public conduct This contradictory coexistence can be seen in the form of
However, tradition and modernity are not universally and consistently contrarian values. They can and must coexist. The need is to subvert the underlying forms of physical and non-physical violence perpetrated against women by the two forces. The constitutional commitment of equality, justice and liberty complement legislations like Right to Education, Sexual Harassment at workplace act, Dowry Prohibition Act etc. to enable new women of India to truly own “half the sky”.
See lessAnalyse the factors behind the changing status of women in contemporary India.
The principle of gender equality has been enshrined in the Indian Constitution, in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also authorizes the State to adopt measures for the empowerment of women. ChangingRead more
The principle of gender equality has been enshrined in the Indian Constitution, in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties, and Directive Principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also authorizes the State to adopt measures for the empowerment of women.
Changing Status Of Women In Contemporary India
Factors Responsible For Changing Status Of Women
Though gender inequality in India has been a known phenomenon and struggle has not ended. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2019-2020 measures the extent of gender-based gaps in economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. India dropped four places, from 2018, to take the 112th rank in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2019-2020. In the health and survival parameters, India’s performance is dismal, ranking 150th out of 153 countries. Hence, though India is witnessing a change in the status of women, it has to simultaneously struggle for ending violence and discrimination, attaining empowerment, equality, and access to women in all the spheres.
See lessAnalyze the factors that hinder women's participation in the formal workforce and suggest measures to enhance women's employment opportunities.
In Society, which is largely male dominated, for the position of women in society. Not only men, even most of the women internalize their position in the society as a fair description of their status through the ages. These generalizations apply to some degree to practically every known society in tRead more
In Society, which is largely male dominated, for the position of women in society. Not only men, even most of the women internalize their position in the society as a fair description of their status through the ages. These generalizations apply to some degree to practically every known society in the world.
1. Women’s lack of access to higher education: The lack of access to higher education had effectively excluded them from the practice of well paid and high status occupation.
2. Women’s Role: Women play various roles in their lifetime ranging from mother to that bread winner but are almost always subordinated to make authority, largely excluded from formal workforce or high paid occupation.
3. In India: Even in our Indian society where women goddesses are worshipped, women are denied an independent identity and status.
4. Unequal Treatment: Occupational inequality is the unequal treatment of people based on gender, sexuality, height, weight, accent or race in a workspace. When researchers study trends in occupational inequality they usually focus on distribution or allocation pattern of groups accross occupations for example:- the distribution of men compared to women in a certain occupation.
5. Domestic Violence: Living in this generation where still women are going through domestic violence and are not be able to raise voices are also one of the biggest reasons of women hindrance in workforce participation.
See lessTo bridge the gender gap and improve the future of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), a multi-stakeholder approach is required. Discuss.
In India, 43% of the total graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are women, which is one of the highest in the world, but only 14% become scientists, engineers, and technologists, thus creating a huge gender disparity in workspace. India ranks second in the world's topRead more
In India, 43% of the total graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are women, which is one of the highest in the world, but only 14% become scientists, engineers, and technologists, thus creating a huge gender disparity in workspace. India ranks second in the world’s top 20 countries with the highest number of women Tech CEOs. But even with 1501 female CEOs, the rate is just 5.01% of the total 29,748 tech companies.
The under-representation of women in STEM starts from school and results from deep-rooted social discrimination, social norms, biases, and expectations as given below:
Thus, in order to bridge the gap in gender inequality and improve the future of women in STEM, it will take a collective effort from the government, industry leaders, academia, and society:
Though the government has taken initiatives like Vigyan Jyoti, Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) etc. various socio-economic hurdles need to be overcome to utilize the potential of women in STEM.
See lessWorkplace gender inclusivity in India is skewed against women due to a range of cultural and gender biases existent in the society. Discuss. Also suggest socio-legal measures to address this issue.
Women are central to all of the SDGs, with many targets specifically recognizing women's equality and empowerment as both the objective, and as part of the solution. SDG-5 specifically aims to "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls". Despite several global initiatives, gender incluRead more
Women are central to all of the SDGs, with many targets specifically recognizing women’s equality and empowerment as both the objective, and as part of the solution. SDG-5 specifically aims to “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.
Despite several global initiatives, gender inclusivity at the workplace in India is skewed against women. The number of working women in India rose to 20 percent in 2019 but fell to 18 percent in 2020, widening the prevailing gender gap in the Indian workforce, estimated to take 132 years to close fully.
This is due to multiple factors:
Though laws and judicial pronouncements have been made to address the challenges pertaining to gender inclusivity at work, there is need for socio-legal measures as follows:
While laws provide a foundation for combating gender discrimination, companies and organizations must take proactive steps to create an inclusive workplace that values diversity and promotes gender equality.
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