Gender inequality in India

It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved -Swami Vivekananda

Presented by :DIVYA.S

1st MADepartment of Studies and Research in

EnglishTumkur University

WOMEN

Women are drawers of water, hewers of wood, labourers and preparers of food, bearers of children, educators, health care providers, producers and decision-makers.

Although they are central to caring for families and communities, to production and reproduction, they are accorded unequal status.

WOMEN

Throughout the world the are overworked and undervalued.

Their subordination makes it more difficult for them to cope with the many demands made upon them whether of physical, social, or emotional nature.

INDIA

Some questions ???

Why only Sita had to give Agni Pariksha and not Lord Rama?

Why do only sisters, daughters, mothers and the wives have to do fasting for the good of their fellow men and not the other way round?

Why the Dulha walk ahead of Dulhan during marriage phera?

Why can’t boys bring dowry like the girls do?

Why can’t a girl inherit the property of her father?

Gender Disparity

From ancient to present Women in ancient India were held in

high esteem The position of a woman in the

Vedas and the Upanishads was that of a mother (maata) or goddess (Devi).

In the Manusmriti, woman was considered as a precious being

In the early Vedic age, girls were looked after with care.

The practice of polygamy deteriorated the status of woman

Sati system

Gender Disparity

In the medieval period, the practices of purdha system, dowry and sati came into being

With the passage of time, the status of woman was lowered.

After the development of science and technology, female foeticide is being practiced on a large scale. This has led to a drop in the female ratio.

According to the census 2011, the sex ratio in India is 940 females to 1,000 males. Dowry have become common.

Female infanticide practices in few areas

Indian widow

Violence on women

Indian Housewife

Infanticide

Sex ratio940/1000ReasonsMale Heir for the family Huge dowry Continued financial support to

girl childPovertyDomestic violence Caste system

Malnutrition

ReasonsThe UN estimates that 2.1

million Indian children die before reaching the age of 5 every year – four every minute

Mostly from preventable illnesses such as diarrhoea, typhoid, malaria, measles and pneumonia.

Every day 1,000 Indian children die because of diarrhoea alone.

At work

Working environmentUnequal wagesUndignified treatmentWorking in odd hoursSexual harassmentHigher working hoursEngaged in harmful industries Occupational hazards working

roughly twice as many hours as men Nearly 27 percentage are accounted

by unpaid activities.

At Work

Violence against women Forced in to subordinate position Every 42 minutes a sexual

harassment occurs. Every 43 minutes a woman

kidnapped. Every 93 minutes a woman is burnt a

very dowry. Pre quarter of reported rapes involve

girls under the age of 16 years.Restricted out-side participation Trafficking / selling of girl child Every 26 minutes women is molested. Every 34 minutes a rape take place.

Economic Constraints Kept as dependantsNo equal property rights - As

against lawLoans of men is paid back by

womenEconomic uncertaintyDenial in inheritance of

properties to orphaned / deserted

Lack of Education

74.04% only, male 75.96% female 54.28%

Poor literacy – gender gap in literacy rate

No higher education – up to Higher secondary

Discriminative socialization process

Customary practices In household activities only

(boys not allowed)Restricted to play Isolation / separation in

schools/public placesRestricted to move freely

Detrimental cultural practicesAfter marriage – husbands are

dominatingDominance from In-laws family /

membersNever / rarely considered for any

decision makingCan not support her parentsLimitations in continuing relationships

with brothers / sisters / relativesChild / Early marriagePatriarchal attitudesNot able to continue girl/boy friends

friendship after marriage

Child Marriage

Social Advancement of women

Self AdvancementAdvancement as a groupAdvancement of communityEconomic advancementPsychological advancementSocial advancementPolitical advancementEducational AdvancementTechnological advancement

Strategies for advancement of women

LiteracyFormal Education

Give greater employment opportunity

Reservation / expenditure or provision of services/ special provision like construction.

All rights, legal measuresConsolidate the basic literacy skills

at speaking, reading, and writing and problem solving at the time.

Sustain the learning environment

Continuing educationWomen learners educate their children.Human rights educationTo take control of their circumstancesAchieve their own goals, helping

themselves, enhance their quality of lifePolitical participationKnowledge on all development activitiesHealth care / NutritionProblems of early marriageMother and child health care… etc

Collaborators of Social advancement of women

NGOs Policy makers Local leaders Information disseminators Health care providers Teachers Family members

THANK YOU

A nation's progress and prosperity can be

judged by the way it treats its women folk

Men must recognize and accept the fact that

women are equal partners in life

-Divya.S