It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved -Swami Vivekananda Presented by : DIVYA.S 1 st MA Department of Studies and Research in English Tumkur University
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.
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.
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?
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
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
Sex ratio 940/1000 Reasons Male Heir for the family Huge dowry Continued financial support to girl child Poverty Domestic violence Caste system
Reasons The 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.
Working environment Unequal wages Undignified treatment Working in odd hours Sexual harassment Higher working hours Engaged in harmful industries Occupational hazards working roughly twice as many hours as men Nearly 27 percentage are accounted by unpaid activities.
At Work
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.
Kept as dependants No equal property rights - As against law Loans of men is paid back by women Economic uncertainty Denial in inheritance of properties to orphaned / deserted
74.04% only, male 75.96% female 54.28% Poor literacy – gender gap in literacy rate No higher education – up to Higher secondary
Customary practices In household activities only (boys not allowed) Restricted to play Isolation / separation in schools/public places Restricted to move freely
After marriage – husbands are dominating Dominance from In-laws family / members Never / rarely considered for any decision making Can not support her parents Limitations in continuing relationships with brothers / sisters / relatives Child / Early marriage Patriarchal attitudes Not able to continue girl/boy friends friendship after marriage
Self Advancement Advancement as a group Advancement of community Economic advancement Psychological advancement Social advancement Political advancement Educational Advancement Technological advancement
Literacy Formal Education Give greater employment opportunity Reservation / expenditure or provision of services/ special provision like construction. All rights, legal measures Consolidate the basic literacy skills at speaking, reading, and writing and problem solving at the time. Sustain the learning environment
Continuing education Women learners educate their children. Human rights education To take control of their circumstances Achieve their own goals, helping themselves, enhance their quality of life Political participation Knowledge on all development activities Health care / Nutrition Problems of early marriage Mother and child health care… etc
NGOs Policy makers Local leaders Information disseminators Health care providers Teachers Family members
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