Gender Inequality in India: An In-Depth Analysis and The Legacy of Savitribai Phule

Gender inequality in India has been persistent issue and also the result of historical/cultural/economic factors. While progress has been made over the last few decades, the nation continues to face a range of issues that contribute to this inequality. One of the most important things we want to be aware of to fight gender gap is the dominant causes of it. The efforts of historical personalities such as Savitribai Phule also provide great lessons and inspiration for contemporary work.

Introduction Gender inequality is one of the major issues all over the world and it varies from country to country. The constitution of India ensures equality for men and women in all the fields (Article 14, Article 15(3), 15(4), Article 39( b), Article 39( c), Article 42). Despite this, there are many aspects of life in which men and women are treated differently in our society. There are various reasons behind this, here are main ones that are responsible for gender discrimination in India.

Cultural and Social Norms

Patriarchy: With male dominance and control over women being entrenched in Indian society, patriarchal values often take precedence. This is true, from family affairs to business, but it is a fact that most of the decisions are made by men.

D: Son Preference: They want child not matter how, and if still born they don’t seem to take care much. The belief that sons will look after their parents while they are old and continue their family line complements this bias.

Marriage practices: The tradition of dowry and arranged marriages persist, with the bride’s family often financially burdened, as women become commodities in the marriage market.

Economic Factors

Gender Inequality in the Labor Market: Women face a high degree of discrimination in hiring and are frequently paid less than men for the same work. They are also underrepresented in leadership and better-paying jobs.

Property Rights: In numerous regions, women have no or little rights to inherit property or land which causes economic dependency and vulnerability.

Poverty: Poverty affects women disproportionately, making them more vulnerable to marginalization and restricting their access to education, healthcare, and other basic services.

Educational Disparities

Access to Education: Girls are often pulled from school to assist with chores and may also be married off at an early age. Consequently, women have less literacy shares compare to men.

Education: Even if girls have access to education, it is often of a lower quality; and they are less likely to continue into further education.

Legal and Institutional Barriers

Despite several laws aimed at protecting women’s rights in India, they are often poorly implemented. These include failing to address domestic violence, sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.

Political Representation: Women are poorly represented in political institutions.

Healthcare and Nutrition

Maternal Health: India continues to contend with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with large numbers of women unable to access essential health care services before and around the time of childbirth. Nutritional deficiencies Women and girls tend to eat less nutritious food than men and boys, leading to higher rates of anemia and worse health.

Savitribai Phule and Its Contribution

Savitribai Phule (1831-1897) is a name in Indian and international history for all times as a great social reformer, a pathbreaking educator, and a fighter against gender injustice. Her life and work provide valuable perspective about the challenges and solutions to gender equity.

Advocacy of Education for Women

First Woman Teacher: Savitribai Phule became the first woman teacher in India and was instrumental in founding the first girls’ school in Pune in 1848. A revolutionary achievement, in a culture where teaching girls was seen either as unnecessary or detrimental.

Advocacy for Education: She, along with her husband, Jyotirao Phule, established numerous schools for girls and advocated for the belief that education was a basic right for everyone, regardless of caste or sex. They faced opposition and backlash, but they pressed on, laying a foundation for those to come.

Confronting Caste and Custom

Critique of the caste system: Savitribai Phule vehemently spoke against the caste system that eventually impairs women’s rights as girls from lower castes face a double whammy. She campaigned for the rights of under represented groups in society, including women and Dalits.

Social Reforms: Kamala Nehru also introduced several social reforms like starting a home for widows and the construction of a well for untouchables, breaking the oppressive social customs and discrimination that existed in the then society.

Literature and Activism

Poetry & Writings: Savitribai Phule was a prolific poet and wrote many poems through which she highlighted the condition of women and the need for social reform. Her poetry frequently dealt with questions such as child marriage and widowhood as well as the need for education.

Organisational Leadership: She worked to establish the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth),which sought to combat social evils and promote equality.

Empowerment through Education

Promoting Self-Reliant Attitude: Savitribai Phule believed that the key through education was to apply the self-realien or Empowered Education. She called on women to be independent thinkers and leaders, reimagining the idea that women were subordinate to men.

Social Work: In 2016, she participated in two major initiatives for several weeks to help people affected by the Kerala floods and the Tamilnaadu droughts. Her activism empowered and motivated countless women to fight for their rights.

Because, full circle even, in 2023, when you get caught up on the legacy and contemporaneous impact of the season on those it focused on.

This is an excerpt from our Latest Issue newsletterSign up to get the best of The New Yorker in your in-box every day. Her focus on education as an instrument of empowerment serves as the basis for many initiatives today. Her work inspires organizations and programs to provide educational opportunities for girls and women.

Additionally, her commitment to fighting for the rights of marginalized communities has inspired many young activists and leaders who are striving to break down the systems of caste and gender discrimination. The work she did and the life she led reminds us that we can foster change in our world through education, activism and community.”

Conclusion

Opportunities and provisions are not gender-neutral and both have been given in the favour of man even today in the 21st century. There are various factors to the status of women in a society, from cultural, economic, education, legal to health-related — and one cannot ignore the role of personalities like Savitribai Phule in the field of education and social reform, to empower women and bring in change against societal norms that stood their way. India can take great leaps towards gender equality and a better society for all by following in the footsteps of Savitribai Phule, Byron and other pathbreakers.