Gender equality and social reality: An Indian perspective

Human civilization has progressed and it is being claimed that women in this post modern era are on equal footing with their counterpart males, but ground reality seems different. From many perspectives women in South Asia find themselves in subordinate positions to men and are socially, culturally, and economically dependent on them. Women are largely excluded from making decisions, have limited access to and control over resources, are restricted in their mobility, and are often under threat of violence from male relatives. Sons are perceived to have economic, social, or religious utility; daughters are often felt to be an economic liability because of the dowry system. In India, abetments of 73 and 74 in constitution is belong to the participation of women in Panchayat and urban local body in which 33 percent reserved for the women seat in local bodies of government. But reality is different in India where men play a key role in decision making after the elect of their wife. Women faces lots of problem in which sexual harassment, human trafficking, domestic violence and discrimination in family and social life. Education always plays important role in awareness of their right and role in the society but in the south Asian country especially Muslim country women are far away from education. Lack of education many women are imprisoned, suppressed as well as killed on the name of honour or to control female sexuality in many South Asian countries. Exploitation is both structurally and functionally caste in every society in its different shades. It is manifestation of historically unequal power relations and division of labour which had led to domination over and discrimination of women by men. Education for women is controversial topic for men dominant society where people asked that why need to education for women.

Educational Administration Theory and Practice Journal, 2024

This paper delves into the intricate relationship between men and women within the Indian societal framework, focusing on historical and sociological perspectives. Despite the universally accepted principle of gender equality, Indian society reflects a complex interplay of socioeconomic conditions, policies, practices, and cultural norms that have historically positioned women in subordinate roles. The paper provides a chronological examination of the status of Hindu women from the Vedic period (1500 BCE-500 BCE) through to the end of British rule in 1947, highlighting key aspects of their lives, including childhood, education, marriage, divorce, and property rights. The paper examines practices such as child marriage, dowry, and female infanticide, emphasizing their impact on women's societal roles and opportunities for education. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on legislative efforts made during British rule to address these issues and their limited success due to persistent societal biases. In conclusion, the paper underscores the importance of recognizing the historical and cultural dimensions of gender inequality to effectively address and dismantle the structures that sustain it.

The rationale for selecting the topic is to study the existing relations between sex ratio and various socio-economic factors in order to understand social exclusion and gender relations. The present study makes an attempt to study the various dimensions involved in understanding the gender differences in India, since the birth of a child. In light of the current situation, the paper focuses on the social exclusion in terms of gender relations. Social exclusion is significant to study and understand the processes involved in it. With this, possible inclusive measures can be identified and suggested for gender equality in the society. The study will also consider the socio-cultural and economic conditions as they have a bearing on various processes of the society. 2. Background: The Sex ratio in India is 933 females per thousand males (Census 2001). The number reflects the socio-cultural and economic conditions that prevails in the politico-historical and geographical set up. A varied sex ratio can be seen across the regions and communities. It also varied with the socio-economic conditions with in a community. There are several factors those are affecting the sex ratio in India. The socio-cultural factors on one side and the economic factors on the other side contributing for the sharp differences in gender relations. These differences are reflecting not only the socio-cultural and economic conditions but also the political initiatives, government and administrative measures.

Social Work Chronicle, 2017

An individual is a human first, neither man nor woman. God has gifted the humanity different sex to construct the society and to help everyone perform their roles effectively. It is the human being who differentiated sex in terms of social, biological, and physical constructs and developed a new terminology 'gender' to assign different positions and roles to each sex. This differentiation in terms of role allocation, access, availability, and control over resources gave birth to inequalities primarily affecting women. The present paper attempts to locate these inequalities and gender gaps in terms of development variables and suggest few measures to address gender inequalities. The significant literature reflects that gender equations are mostly safeguarding men. Women secured vulnerable positions everywhere including education, healthcare, political representation, workforce participation, and decision-making. These findings are alarming because sixty-nine years of our democracy could not bring any significant change in the lives of many women. This calls for conscious and collaborative efforts from each one of us.

Gender inequalities are reflected in the daily realities of women " s and girls " lives including: the disproportionate number of women among those living in poverty. In India women are worshiped as devi but still deprived of basic human rights. In spite of constituting half of the population, they are considered as marginalized group and second-class citizen. The United Nations ranks India as a middle-income country. Findings from the World Economic Forum indicate that India is one of the worst countries in the world in terms of gender inequality. In order to uplift her status and to give her an egalitarian atmosphere we must consider her a human first and then we should provide all the rights given to human being. The present paper will use secondary data from newspapers and various authentic organizations as base of analysis. The paper will investigate various aspects of gender inequality prevail in India. The paper will also suggest some remedies for the upliftment of status of women in society.

In India the condition of women was appalling during independence. The deprivation of women in getting the similar level of opportunities relating to education, health, decision making as men due to prevalence of patriarchal society and socioeconomic backwardness in India put women at a backstage. After independence Indian planners and policy makers recognized the problem and framed variety of policies and programs to provide women equal status as men. But since after six decades of Indian planning after making various efforts Indian women are still at a backstage than men on various aspects specifically health and educational opportunities. Under this backdrop, this paper tries to evaluate the status and position of women in India in the light of some important gender –related as well as health related indicators. It makes a comparative analysis of different states of India in the attainment of the indicators. The indicators chosen cover wide spectrum of status of women. The analyses is also done regarding inequalities and the resulting loss in human development index that forces India to pose a sorry figure in comparison to other developed countries. The paper is divided into four parts; the first part looks into the background of the problem. The second part presents a wider view on the inequalities and gender discrimination prevalent in India. The third part gives a brief view of the comparison of India with the other countries excelling in human development index. Finally, the fourth part presents concluding observations and policy recommendations.

Research on humanities and social sciences, 2018

Now a day gender inequality is a great problem in the world. This problem has developed the poverty in particularly, in the developing country. Seeing to its importance the present study was arranged to critically review the inequality in the world between men and women. The study based on secondary data. Total 17 past studies were downloaded from the net and critically reviewed each study 20 times and analyzed the situation. The review explains that women have treated very bad and the men is considered superior in the world society and women is only regarded as the caretaker of the home and no share in land is giving to them in inheritance. On the birth of son the people fire for congratulation while on the girl, parents express grief at their home. When male child is born, the status of the mother confirmed as a wife in the family. In food, education and health etc attention is paid to son while daughters are ignored. The quota in government employment is less than the men while wage and salary is also less than them. Economically men are considered stronger than women. The number of seat in the parliament is less than the female in the world. In European countries the gap between male and female is less however in Asian Countries gap is high. There are 16 countries of the world Turky, Pakistan, Saudia Arabia, Iran etc the women population is higher than the men while due rights are not given to them in country politics. The study further explains that in Pukhthun culture women is gifted as compensation in the time of dispute settlement. There are few lag behind the bar which not allow female for education. The society focus on purda and consider co-education problematic for their girls. However on the other side poverty is also a great hurdle which not affords the cost of the education to send their daughters to school. Security is the third option in the developing countries which make terror for parent to not send their daughters to colleges or schools due to sexual harassment and honor killing. Islam has focus on female education and told that if possible they will have to go to China for getting education while women are tortured everywhere in the world and do not give due attention to their rights. On the basis of problems the study recommend that to multiply female colleges and schools ; provide free education to girls and facilitate good security to girls and boys in the world particularly in the developing countries: Give due share to them in their land according to law. Without equality the development of the world is impossible.

From the inception of life itself, women are being discriminated against men as reflected by the unequal sex ratio in India. Missing women (gender gap) and literacy gap in the majority of Indian states and even in Kerala, Lakshadweep, Goa and Tripura, the so called most literate States/U.Ts of India reveals the extent of marginalisation. A paltry share in representing the country in its national parliament, lesser work participation rate and greater vulnerability in employment mirrors their exclusion in case of resource sharing, participation and well being. Higher mortality rates, poor nutritional status, greater sterilisation rates, little information about HIV/AIDS and growing crimes against women are the key features of their life and well-being. Till date ‘Say’ in their own families or the decision making power is a day dream for women narrating the saga of the quality of life being led by them in India.

Gender-based inequalities in India translate into greater importance being placed on the health and empowerment of males than of females. In India, health and population indicators that are driven by gender differences include sex ratios at birth, infant and child mortality by sex, and low ages at marriage for women. At the household level, dis-empowerment of women results in less access to education, employment, and income, and power and freedom of movement. Considering all these fact, India and its society has a mammoth task of empowering women to provide them the basic needs and to prepare them for a safe and productive future.

Women as a category and South Asia as a region for analysis brings up the issue of heterogeneity vs. homogeneity HDSA, 2000). South Asian women and their status is being assessed here to highlight the similarities in the conditions faced by women despite the diversities stemming from class, religion, culture and locality. This assessment is undertaken on the basis of a select set of quantitative indicators regarding their work, survival, health, education and political participation. The issues considered here to highlight the gender inequalities that constrain women from their legitimate claims to participate in and benefit from development in South Asian countries are limited by the availability of data i , quantifiability and comparability across countries.

Internationl Journal of Applied research, 2021

The last census was a centre of debate throughout the country and abroad among the sociologists and population demographers. The centre of the debate was enumeration of caste would interfere with the 'integrity' of the population count or raise the feeling of inequality. But what revealed from census 2011 provisional data was more shocking and unexpected. The child sex ratio (CSR) which has dropped from 927 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 to an all-time low of 914 in 2011. Practices leading to fewer girls in the 0-6 age group have been spreading more thinly. The circle is widening in most of the states and union territories. It was shame for the humanity in the world of liberalization, multiculturalism and feminism. This is an important indicator for existing inequality between men and women and their low status in Indian society. Perhaps, no one pretend the murder of girl child in the country before and after they born, is on the rise. Census 2011 also reported the female gain in literacy more than men. Instead of increase in female literacy rate over two decades their social status is not increasing as desired. Moreover, with the increase in literacy, the child sex ratio declines. It seems that education has not brought wisdom. It seems that 'knowledge' has played evil by strengthening by patriarchy mindset in the Indian society.

Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 2014

The Indian society has been, from the ages, an exemplary society in terms of dichotomy practiced towards what is claimed and what is manifested. The issue of "Gender Inequality" is the concern of this paper. Sociologically, the word gender refers to the socio-cultural definition of man and woman; the way societies distinguish men and women and assign them social roles. The distinction between sex and gender was introduced to deal with the general tendency to attribute women's subordination to their anatomy. For ages it was believed that the different characteristics, roles and status accorded to women and men in society are determined by sex, that they are natural and therefore not changeable. Gender is seen closely related to the roles and behavior assigned to women and men based on their sexual differences. As soon as a child is born families and society begin the process of gendering. The birth of the son is celebrated, the birth of a daughter is an unwelcomed incident; sons are showered with love, respect, better food and proper health care. Bringing up a daughter is considered like "watering a plant in someone else" courtyard". All these differences are gender differences and they are created by society. It stems not only from pre-existing differences in economic endowments between women and men but also from pre-existing gendered social norms and social perceptions. Many developing countries including India have displayed gender inequality in education, employment and health. India has witnessed gender inequality from its early history due to its socioeconomic and religious practices that resulted in a wide gap between the position of men and women in the society. This is despite the fact that India has had women as its constitutional and executive heads in the past. This paper attempts to explain the status of gender inequality in the Indian context. The paper contends that education might be an effective tool to bridge the gap of this gender inequality provided that there should be willingness to manifest what is theoretically discussed and preached.

In western world it is not unnatural to equate power with the masculine but in India strength and power are described by a single word " Shakti " which is the personification of divine feminine power and is worshipped as " The Great Divine Mother ". In ancient India women enjoyed the important and equal status in life. Gender in religion, education or politics didn't exist but after the invasion of mughals in medieval period various ill practices like purdah (practice of secluding women from public),harem(a place where women picked up by mughal invaders were kept for sexual pleasures), jauhar (mass suicide by women for protecting their sanctity from the mughal invaders),restrictions on girls' education, treatment of women as the property of father, brother or husband, child marriages, restrictions on remarriages etc. crept into the Indian society which gradually deteriorated the status of Indian women and modern day India is now counted among the south Asian nations where sons are preferred over daughters and both are raised differently for various reasons. This research paper is an attempt to study and compare the social status of women by examining the variables-sex ratio, literacy, health, women's empowerment and gender based violence in six big state economies of India.