Examine the causes behind the shifting status of women in modern 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
- Indian society today is marked by the force of modernity sanctioned by the constitution, for example, the pursuit of equality of status and opportunity. This is seen in universal adult franchises for example. However, this coexists with the traditional pulls of caste-based discrimination where lower caste people are denied fair opportunities. For example, they continue to be disproportionately employed in prohibited jobs like manual scavenging.
- Contrasting trends of a near 100% enrollment rates at primary level education coexists with the existence of child marriage. The future of our children is defined by contrasting forces of education and the barriers of traditions.
- Similarly politics in India today is marked by the modern template of development-based politics. For example, 2020 Delhi assembly elections were pursued on the grounds of development in health, education, and infrastructure. On the other hand, the influence of caste and religion continues to have a disproportionate influence on electoral calculations across the country.
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:
- The new Indian woman is defined by her aspirations of being more than a person defined with relation to her partner or family. She seeks to be defined independently, as a full person. Individualism is the leitmotif of her modern avatar.
- Economic empowerment and independence is a defining force that has enabled her to break several glass ceilings. She has more economic opportunities and seeks an equal role in all economic spheres.
- In society, the new woman seeks a more equal voice rather than being a voiceless disempowered individual. This can be seen in new forms of emerging feminist movements in India: for example Pinjra Tod movement in Universities.
- The new Indian woman seeks greater political participation, manifested in the highest number of women parliamentarians in India through the 17th Lok Sabha elections.
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
| MODERNITY | STATUS QUO |
| Educational opportunities have increased for young girls with a near-zero gender enrollment gap at primary level. | The gender gap widens with progressive levels of education owing to greater barriers to schooling that girls face due to social norms and deeply ingrained gender stereotypes correlated with biological factors such as adolescence. |
| The traditional neglect of women’s health has been overcome by a special focus on their nutrition and maternal health care through schemes like the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious “take-home ration” of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000. | However, neglect of women’s nutritional needs is a norm rather than an exception. This is seen for example in the fact that 51% of women in the age group 15 to 49 are anaemic in India. |
| Further, while the glass ceilings of the professional world are shattered keeping up with modernity, for example through decisions like granting permanent commission to women in the Army | However, it is also true that women continue to be a disproportionate part of care based services like teaching, nursing etc. Thus women are still stereotyped as caregivers. Across Nifty-500 firms, only 15% of board members were women in 2019, data sourced from NSE Infobase shows. While among CEOs, less than 5% were women. |
| In keeping up with modernity, employers seek gender-balanced recruitment today. Women are sitting on the board of directors of big MNCs. | Though economic opportunities have increased, sexual harassment at the workplace remains a commonplace phenomenon, revealed poorly in the #Metoo movement. The Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act also suffers from inefficiencies like a lack of a system to ensure if Internal complaints committee are mandatorily formed within an organisation. |
| Today, in their personal lives women have achieved greater autonomy in decision making, especially about marital and reproductive choices. | However, the scar of honour killings for alleged loss of family honour continues to make headlines regularly. A famous case has been the Manoj Babli honour crime case. |
| In the political sphere, the new women of India are constitutionally promised 33% reservation in PRIs and Urban Local Bodies. The current Lok Sabha has the highest number of women representatives. | However, they continue to be politically disempowered by the phenomena of what Sudha Pai calls “Sarpanch Patis”. Aligning with patriarchal traditions this phenomenon ensures power is eventually exercised by their spouse rather than the elected women leader. |
| Access to religious places, and fair justice in terms of personal laws is another aspect where women have achieved great success in recent times. The Sabarimala judgement has smashed the notions of impurity and triple talaq judgement has restored the honour and dignity of women in personal spheres. | However, the continued social friction, huge societal backlash following this judgement and lack of strong legislative provision like Uniform civil code makes these gains a mere mirage. |
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 less
The changing status of women in contemporary India is influenced by several interconnected factors: Education: Increased access to education has empowered women, leading to higher literacy rates and greater participation in professional fields. Educated women are more likely to challenge traditionalRead more
The changing status of women in contemporary India is influenced by several interconnected factors:
Overall, while progress is notable, achieving gender equality remains an ongoing effort requiring continued advocacy and systemic change.
See less