Status of Women in Society

The World Inequality Report 2022 stated that labour income in India is shared between men and women in the proportion of 82% for men and a mere 18% for women. Position of women in society today is precarious as they face various challenges in education, health, domestic life, political leadership, safety in public spaces and at the workplace. Efforts are being made since independence to attain the Constitutional mandate of equality for all. However there is entrenched patriarchy and intersectional challenges which women face. Governmental policies and laws along with social awareness is the way to achieve true equality for all women.

India is a patriarchal society which means that it is male dominated and women are oppressed. There is a sexual division of labour in a patriarchal society based on sex and gender. Further, these issues are magnified for women differently based on their caste and class positions, i.e. these challenges are intersectional. The higher the caste, the more control over the agency and economic participation of women is noticed. Institutions of arranged marriage, child marriage, taboo over divorce or widow remarriage are all means of control of women.

Status of Women in Indian society can be ascertained with a few key parameters -

• The sex ratio of women in India as per the Census of 2011 is 940 females per every 1000 males. This points to sex selective abortion of female child before birth. The National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5) also pointed to a 929 sex ratio at birth,indicating sex selective abortions.
• Literacy rate in India has jumped to 77% overall however there arestark regional disparities.
• Political participation of women in the Parliament has peaked at only 15% in the 17th Lok Sabha of 2019, well below the global average of 24.6%.
• Health of women in India is also precarious with 57% women having anaemia, as per the NFHS-5. Violence against women is rising as NFHS 5 shows that nearly a third of women in India have experienced physical or sexual abuse.

In India today, apart from the Nairs (of Kerala),tribes in Lakshadweep and Khasis & Garo tribes (of North east) all other communities practice patrilineal descent. This means that property passes through the male child, and is not bequeathed on women. Further,patrilocality is practiced i.e. women, upon marriage, move to the husband’s home. This is why women were excluded from inheriting so that no property is passed to their husband’s family. These patriarchal rules of society are enforced by extra legal bodies like Khap Panchayats headed by men from dominant castes.

Women are socialised, i.e. the exposed to society’s norms and brought up, differently than boys. This upbringing perpetuates throughout life creating unequal roles for women and men in the society. The two genders are stratified i.e. socially ranked based on norms and superiority which effects the benefits they get from society. So while girls are relegated to domestic chores so that they grow up to be dutiful wives, boys are encouraged to pursue a career so that they can earn money. This leads to lower self esteem for women and sets them up for a life of submission and indignation. It is evident in following practices:-

• Sex selective abortions using pre natal sex determination technology like sonograms.
• Biases against abilities of women and discrimination against them in workplace e.g. women are not chosen to work on factory floors or not permitted to work night shifts etc.
• Preference for female child comes are the evil of dowry is prevalent where parents of the daughter have to give dowry and are left without a caretaker in their old age.
• The familial name passes on through boys only.

• The World Inequality Report 2022 stated that labour income in India is shared between men and women in the proportion of 82% for men and a mere 18% for women. During the pandemic, there were reversal in female wage rates as well.
• Low Workforce Participcation: Since 1990, the Indian economy has grown more than 10 times however, the female workforce participation has fallen from 30% in 1990 to 19% in 2021. While no doubt access to education has increased, it is confounding why women are reducing from the workforce. This is explained through greater burdens of domestic work and social stratification.
• Feminization of agriculture is happening in rural areas as men move to cities for opportunities. So while more than 70% of rural women are agricultural workers, only 14% of them own the land.
• Political participation of women has improved at the Panchayat level since introduction of 1/3rd reservations through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act however it has not led to actual empowerment of women. Proxy politics is being witnessed where the male relatives are ruling on behalf of the female elected official.
• Safety Challengs: Women are also not safe in public and experience groping, eve teasing, molestation and even rape. The lastest National Crime Records Bureau statistics for the year 2022 show a 4% rise in crimes against women. A third of the cases in 2022 against women were of cruelty by husband while the second highest crime was that of abduction and kidnapping.

Jawaharlal Nehru said that,“to awaken the people, it is women who must be awakened; once she is on the move, the village moves and the nation moves”.

• Multidimensional Push: Women empowerement is a process of multidimensional alleviation of condition of women enabling them to overcome discrimination and prejudice in a patriarchal society. It is essential to ensure development of families, communities and our nation.
• Active Citizens: Nobel Laurate Amartya Sen has said that empowerment will transition women from passive recipients of welfare to dynamic promoters of social transformation.
• Demographic Dividend: Through education, employment and ownership women gain the ability to contribute to the economic development of the country.
• Tackling Poverty: Increased participation of women in the workforce is key to reduce female wealth gap and poverty.
• Inclusive Politics: Increased political participation will directly impact developmental decision making in the country.
• Changing Attitudes to Change Society:This can be achieved through welfare mechanisms but also requires sustained campaigning to ensure change in mindset and dismantling of prejudice. Local level efforts like use of radio, Nukkad Nataks and including influential local leaders to promote women empowerment are the way to go.

Legislative and policy measures are being taken to ensure welfare and protection from discrimination. These include:-

• Constitutional Provisions: Equality and non discrimination in Articles 14-16. Further, Directive Principles guide legislature to ensure equal pay for equal work (article 39A), securing humane working conditions and maternity relief (article 42) and there is a Fundamental Duty to renounce practices derogatory to women under article 51A(e).
• Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam: It is the Women Reservation Act passed by the Parliament recently in 2023. Its aim is to ensure 1/3rd represention for women in the Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. The Act also provides reservation for the women in reserved categories. The Act will remain in force for 15 years after commencment.
• One Stop Centre Scheme: to provide shelter, police desk, legal and medical aid to female victims along with a 24x7 helpline for those in distress.
• Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK): Scheme to empower rural women through integrating and disbursing information of existing schemes.
• Work Women’s Hostels:setup to provide safe boarding to women with day-care facilities.
• Ujjawala Scheme: Centrally Sponsored Scheme for prevention of trafficking in women and rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration & repatriation for victims.
• Gender Budgeting: Gender senstive budgets of ministries to ensure resources are diverted for development of women.
• Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: under which giving, abetting or taking dowry has been made a cognizable and non-bailable offence.
• Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 amended in 1976: prohibits marriage of girls below the age of 18 and boys below the age of 21.
• Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005: criminalises abuse (physical, emotional, sexual and economic) by not just husband but also his family against their partners (both wives and live-in relationships).
• Social Security Code, 2020 provides Maternity Benefits under law for female employees.
• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013: ensures safe workplace for women by mandating redressal mechanisms for tackling sexual harassment.
• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: campaign to end female foeticide and boost female education.

The discrimination against women continues from the ‘cradle to the grave’ and is seen in denial of their right to education, nutritious food, medical care or problems of dowry and sexual harassment. As India strives to become a developed country by the year 2047, it cannot do so without its women. Efforts are being taken to ensure complete and holistic development and participation of women through various developmental initiatives.