status of women in society

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CURRENT STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIA

According Indias constitution, women are legal citizens of the

country and have equal rights with men (Indian Parliament). Because of

lack of acceptance from the male dominant society, Indian women suffer

immensely. Women are responsible for baring children, yet they are

malnourished and in poor health. Women are also overworked in the field

and complete the all of the domestic work. Most Indian women are

uneducated. Although the countrys constitution says women have equalstatus to men, women are powerless and are mistreated inside and outside

the home.India is a society where the male is greatly

revered. Therefore women, especially the young

girls, get very little respect and standing in this

country. The women of the household are

required to prepare the meal for the men, who eat

most of the food. Only after the males are finished

eating, can the females eat. Typically the leftover

food is meager, considering the families are poor

and have little to begin with. This creates a major

problem with malnutrition, especially for


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pregnant or nursing women. Very few women seek medical care while

pregnant because it is thought of as a temporary condition. This is one

main reason why Indias maternal and infant mortality rates are so high.

Starting from birth, girls do not receive as much care and commitment

from their parents and society as a boy would. For example a new baby girl

would only be breast fed for a short period of time, barely supplying her

with the nutrients she needs. This is so that the mother can get pregnant as

soon as possible in hopes of a son the next time (Coonrod).Even though the constitution guarantees free primary schooling to

everyone up to 14 years of age (Indian Parliament), very few females

attend school. Only about 39 percent of all women in India actually attend

primary schools. There are

several reasons why families

choose not to educate their

daughters. One reason is that

parents get nothing inreturn for

educating their daughters.

Another reason is that all the

females in a household have the

responsibility of the housework.

So even though education does

not financially burden the family, it costs them the time she spends at

school when she could be doing chores. In addition, even if a woman is

educated, especially in the poorer regions, there is no hope for a job. Most

jobs women perform are agricultural or domestic which do not require a

formal education. Another reason girls are not educated is because families

are required to supply a chaste daughter to the family of her future

husband. With over two-thirds of teachers in India being men and students

predominately male, putting daughters in school, where males surround

them all day could pose a possible threat to their virginity (Coonrod).Because women are not educated and cannot hold a prestigious job,

they take on the most physically difficult and undesirable jobs. A typical

day for a woman in an agricultural position lasts from 4am to 8pm with


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only an hour break in the middle. Compared to a mans day, which is

from 5am to 10am and then from 3pm to 5pm. Most women are

overworked with no maternity leave or special breaks for those who are

pregnant. Plus women do the majority of the manual labor that uses a lot of

energy compared to the men who do mostly machine operating (Coonrod).

Even though women work twice as many hours as men, the men say that

women eat food and do nothing. This is mainly because the work the

women perform does not require a lot of skill and are smaller tasks.

STATUS OF WOMEN IN INDIA

In previous times, the status of women in India was inferior than men in the practical life. However,

they had a higher status in scriptures. They are considered as the perfect home maker in the world.

With their incomparable quality of calmness of their mind, they can easily handle even toughest

situation. Indian women are completely devoted to their families. Theyre preached in the names ofGoddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga, Parvati & Goddess Kali.

Their condition remains unchanged even during the modern times with only little changes. In India,

women were never given any right of liberty & equality. Their condition becomes even worse when

they gave birth to girls. Men treated them in a humiliated manner. They were not only permitted not

to step outside their house but also abstained from being educated.


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They were also supposed to eat after their husbands or even sometimes to eat their husbands

leftovers. Women were prohibited from prohibited from taking external matters as well as domestic

matters. They were under the influence of their parents before marriage & their husband after

marriage. However, their status varied a lot depending on the period which they were living us

illustrated below:

WOMEN STATUS IN THE ANCIENT INDIA

Its said during the ancient India, women enjoyed equivalent status & rights like their males

counterparts. In addition they were properly educated in the early Vedic period. These references

are available from the works of Grammarians such as Katyayana and Patanjali. Women also had the

freedom to select their husbands. This system was known as Swayamvar. In fact during this time,

women had superior position than the males.

WOMEN STATUS IN MEDIEVAL INDIA

The status of women in India deteriorated during the medieval period with the entrance of the

Muslims. Several evil practices such as female infanticide, sati and child marriage were practiced

during this period. Purdah was introduced to the society. Women were also forced to practicezenana. Polygamy was also common during this period. Women also excelled in literature, music

and arts. They were also rulers during this period.

Some great-women rulers were Razia Sultana who was the only women-monarch to-rule-the throne

of Delhi, Nur Jahan, Gond queen Durgavati who ruled for fifteen years before she was defeated in a

battle by Ali emperor Akbars. Nur Jahan is still considered as the most effective ruler by the society.

In spite of these powerful women, the condition of poor women remained the same. At this time girl

were forced to get married at a very tender age. The society also practiced Sati where women were

forced to jump over the burning bodies of their husbands during funerals. The southern India also

practiced Devdasi tradition where girls were forced get married to trees or deity.

WOMEN STATUS IN MODERN INDIA

During this time there was a little development in the women status. There were many women

reformers in India who worked for the uplift & betterment of their female counterparts. The begun of

Bhopal discarded the purdah & fought in the revolt of 1857. Their education was elevated and

English was introduced during this period. Various female writers emerged in the society.


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Image Courtesy: unwomensouthasia.org

In the modern time, women in India were given freedom & right such as freedom of expression &

equality as well as the right to be educated. Various prestigious positions at this period were held by

women. Theyre enjoying the ladies first facility in different fields. However, some problems such as

dowry, domestic violence, sex selective abortion, female infanticide are still prevalent.Preventive

measures needs to be taken to ensure that women are empowered in India.

HOW CAN WOMEN BE EMPOWERED?

SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT

Women are educated about the social benefits including awareness about the existing social

problems in the society, good recognition & image in the family & community, role in making

important decision in their family, plan & promote better education for their children, taking care of

health of the aged and the children just to mention a few.

Women are also allowed to participate in political and public life. Therefore, they are given a chance

to serve the community including fighting for the basics amenities & welfare needs of the village

community such as:

Safe drinking water Public sanitation

Street light

Chance to help the weaker people like disable and the aged

EMPOWERING INDIAN WOMEN BY EDUCATION

Most women are given a chance of finishing their education to the degree level. They are

discouraged from getting married and raising a family when they are young. There are number of
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women education grants that offer help to women from poor background in order to give them a

chance to be educated.

Therere various scholarships that benefits women in India to achieve their career by going back to

school or various training institutions where they can further their education. Also, manyNGOs in

India offer support to women in order to benefit them in education. The government of India is also

setting aside funds that are used to empower women & other initiatives that will empower them.Women who have the desire to improve their lives are allowed to take these grants from the

government and NGOs to empower themselves with the help of their spouses or without for single

mothers to get education to the degree level, post graduates, PHD just to mention a few. These

grants for women get most supports from different companies after realizing that women can

perform better than men if they are well educated and equipped.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

The government of India set aside some reasonable amount of money which women who have

business ideas can borrow in order to start businesses. Women are encouraged to start small

business in order to have their own source of income thus they become independent. Various non-

governmental organizations also offer financial support to women in India and encourage and teachthem how they can be making their own money by starting various business activities.

The status of the women in India has greatly improved and there are many women who are holding

high position in the government offices. This has proved that women can be even better than men if

they are given an opportunity. Women are given equal opportunity like their male counterparts by the

government.

Women in India

The status of women in Indiahas been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia.[4][5]

From

equal status with men in ancient times[6]

through the low points of the medieval period,[7]

to the promotion

ofequal rightsby many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful. In modern India, women

have held high offices in India including that of the President,Prime Minister,Speaker of the Lok

SabhaandLeader of the Opposition. As of 2011, theSpeaker of the Lok Sabhaand theLeader of the

Oppositionin theLok Sabha(Lower House of the parliament) were women. However, women in India continue

to face atrocities such as rape, acid throwing, dowry killings, forced prostitution of young girls.[8][9][10]

According

to a global poll conducted byThomson Reuters,India is the "fourth most dangerous country" in the world for

women,[11][12]

and the worst country for women among theG20countries.[13]

Historical practices[edit]

Traditions such as sati, jauhar, and devadasi among some communities have been banned and are largely

defunct in modern India. However, some instances of these practices are still found in remote parts of India.

The purdah is still practised by Indian women in some communities, and child marriage remains prevalent

despite it being illegal under current Indian law.

Sati
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Sati is an old, almost completely defunct custom among some communities, in which the widow was

immolated alive on her husband's funeral pyre. Although the act was supposed to be voluntary on the

widow's part. It's practice is forbidden by the Hindu scriptures inKali yuga,the current age.[23]

However

during theislamic invasion of Indian subcontinent,this practice revived, as rapes, abduction were

commonly carried out by the Islamic invaders.[24][25]It was abolished by the British in 1829. There have

been around forty reported cases of sati since independence.[26]

In 1987, theRoop Kanwarcase in

Rajasthan led to The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act.[27]

Jauhar

Jauhar refers to the practice of voluntary immolation by wives and daughters of defeated warriors, in

order to avoid capture and consequent molestation by the enemy. The practice was followed by the

wives of defeatedRajputrulers, who are known to place a high premium on honour. Evidently such

practice took place during the Islamic invasions of India.[28]

Purdah

Purdah is the practice among some communities requiring women to cover themselves so as to

conceal their skin and form from males. It imposes restrictions on the mobility of women, curtails their

right to interact freely, and is a symbol of the subordination of women. It is noted that Indian women

had to purdah in the Islamic Kingdoms in Indian Subcontinent, as result of fear, that they would be

kidnapped by the Muslim invaders.[24]

Devadasis

Devadasi is often misunderstood as religious practice. It was practised in southern India, in which

women were "married" to a deity or temple. The ritual was well-established by the 10th century

A.D.[29]By 1988, the practice was outlawed in the country.[30]

Independent India[edit]

Women in India now participate fully in areas such as education, sports, politics, media, art and culture, service

sectors, science and technology, etc.[7]

Indira Gandhi,who served asPrime Minister of Indiafor an aggregate

period of fifteen years, is the world's longest serving woman Prime Minister.[36]

The Constitution of India guarantees to all Indian women equality (Article 14), no discrimination by the State

(Article 15(1)), equality of opportunity (Article 16), and equal pay for equal work (Article 39(d)). In addition, it

allows special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women and children (Article 15(3)), renounces

practices derogatory to the dignity of women (Article 51(A) (e)), and also allows for provisions to be made by

the State for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief. (Article 42).[37]

Feminist activism in Indiagained momentum in the late 1970s. One of the first national-level issues that

brought women's groups together was theMathura rape case.The acquittal of policemen accused of raping a

young girl Mathura in a police station led to country-wide protests in 1979-1980. The protests, widely covered

by the national media, forced the Government to amend the Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedure Code, and
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the Indian Penal Code; and created a new offence, custodial rape.[37]

Female activists also united over issues

such as female infanticide, gender bias, women's health, women's safety, and women's literacy.

Since alcoholism is often associated with violence against women in India,[38]

many women groups launched

anti-liquor campaigns inAndhra Pradesh,Himachal Pradesh,Haryana,Odisha,Madhya Pradeshand other

states.[37]

Many Indian Muslim women have questioned the fundamental leaders' interpretation of women's

rights under the Shariat law and have criticized thetriple talaqsystem.[21]

In 1990s, grants from foreign donor agencies enabled the formation of new women-oriented NGOs. Self-help

groups and NGOs such asSelf Employed Women's Association(SEWA) have played a major role in the

advancement of women's rights in India. Many women have emerged as leaders of local movements; for

example,Medha Patkarof theNarmada Bachao Andolan.

The Government of India declared 2001 as the Year of Women's Empowerment (Swashakti).[21]

The National

Policy For The Empowerment Of Women came was passed in 2001.[39]

In 2006, the case ofImrana,a Muslim rape victim, was highlighted by the media. Imrana was raped by her

father-in-law. The pronouncement of some Muslim clerics that Imrana should marry her father-in-law led to

widespread protests, and finally Imrana's father-in-law was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The verdict was

welcomed by many women's groups and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.[40]

In 2010 March 9, one day after International Women's day, Rajya Sabha passed the Women's Reservation Bill

requiring that 33% of seats in India's Parliament and state legislative bodies be reserved for women.[41]

Timeline[edit]

The steady change in their position can be highlighted by looking at what has been achieved by women in the

country:

1848:Jyotirao Phule,along with his wifeSavitribai Phule,opened a school for girls in Pune, India.

Savitribai Phule became the first woman teacher in India.

1879:John Elliot Drinkwater Bethuneestablished the Bethune School in 1849, which developed into

theBethune Collegein 1879, thus becoming the first women's college in India.

1883:Chandramukhi Basuand Kadambini Ganguly became the first female graduates of India and

theBritish Empire.

1886:Kadambini GangulyandAnandi Gopal Joshibecame the first women from India to be trained

inWestern medicine.

1905: Suzanne RDTatabecomes the first Indian woman to drive a car.[42]

1916: The first women's university,SNDT Women's University,was founded on 2 June 1916 by thesocial

reformerDhondo Keshav Karvewith just five students.

1917:Annie Besantbecame the first female president of theIndian National Congress.

1919: For her distinguished social service,Pandita Ramabaibecame the first Indian woman to be awarded

theKaisar-i-Hind Medalby theBritish Raj.

1925:Sarojini Naidubecame the first Indian born female president of the Indian National Congress.

1927: TheAll India Women's Conferencewas founded.
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1944:Asima Chatterjeebecame the first Indian woman to be conferred theDoctorate of Scienceby an

Indian university.

1947: On 15 August 1947, following independence, Sarojini Naidu became the governor of theUnited

Provinces,and in the process became India's first woman governor.

1951: Prem Mathur of the Deccan Airways becomes the first Indian woman commercial pilot.

1953:Vijaya Lakshmi Panditbecame the first woman (and first Indian) president of theUnited Nations

General Assembly

1959: Anna Chandy becomes the first Indian woman judge of a High Court (Kerala High Court)[43]

1963:Sucheta Kriplanibecame theChief Minister of Uttar Pradesh,the first woman to hold that position in

any Indian state.

1966: Captain Durga Banerjee becomes the first Indian woman pilot of the state airline,Indian Airlines.

1966:Kamaladevi ChattopadhyaywinsRamon Magsaysay awardfor community leadership.

1966:Indira Gandhibecomes the first womanPrime Minister of India

1970:Kamaljit Sandhubecomes the first Indian woman to win a Gold in theAsian Games

1972:Kiran Bedibecomes the first female recruit to join theIndian Police Service.[44]

1979:Mother Teresawins theNobel Peace Prize,becoming the first Indian female citizen to do so.

1984: On 23 May,Bachendri Palbecame the first Indian woman to climbMount Everest.

1989: JusticeM. Fathima Beevibecomes the first woman judge of theSupreme Court of India.[45]

1997:Kalpana Chawlabecomes the first India-born woman to go into space.[46]

1992: Priya Jhingan becomes the first lady cadet to join theIndian Army(later commissioned on 6 March

1993)[47]

1994: Harita Kaur Deol becomes the first Indian woman pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), on a solo flight.

2000:Karnam Malleswaribecame the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal (bronze medal in

the2000 Summer Olympicsat Sydney).

2002:Lakshmi Sahgalbecame the first Indian woman to run for the post of President of India.

2004:Punita Arorabecame the first woman in theIndian Armyto don the highest rank of Lieutenant

General.

2007:Pratibha Patilbecomes the first woman President of India.

2009:Meira Kumarbecame the first woman Speaker of Lok Sabha, the lower house in Indian Parliament.

Culture

Asari(a long piece of fabric wound around the body) andsalwar kameezare worn by women all over India.

Abindiis part of a woman's make-up. Despite common belief, the bindi on the forehead does not signify maritalstatus; however, theSindoordoes.

[48]

Rangoli(or Kolam) is a traditional art very popular among Indian women.
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atibha_Patilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratibha_Patilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meira_Kumarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meira_Kumarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meira_Kumarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameezhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameezhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameezhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindoorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindoorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindoorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangolihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangolihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangolihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-48http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindoorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindi_(decoration)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwar_kameezhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meira_Kumarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratibha_Patilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punita_Arorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi_Sahgalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Summer_Olympicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnam_Malleswarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-47http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-46http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalpana_Chawlahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-45http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Fathima_Beevihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Everesthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachendri_Palhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-44http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Police_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiran_Bedihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Gameshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamaljit_Sandhuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Magsaysay_awardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamaladevi_Chattopadhyayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Airlineshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Uttar_Pradeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucheta_Kriplanihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-43http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assemblyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_General_Assemblyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijaya_Lakshmi_Pandithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Provinces_of_Agra_and_Oudhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Provinces_of_Agra_and_Oudhhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctorate_of_Sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asima_Chatterjee


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Education and economic development

According to 1992-93 figures, only 9.2% of the households in India were headed by females. However,

approximately 35% of the households below the poverty line were found to be headed by females.[49]

Education[edit]

Though it is gradually increasing, the female literacy rate in India is less than the male literacy rate.[50]

Far fewer

girls than boys are enrolled in school, and many girls drop out.[37]In urban India, girls are nearly on a par with

boys in terms of education. However, in rural India girls continue to be less well-educated than boys. According

to the National Sample Survey Data of 1997, only the states ofKeralaandMizoramhave approached universal

female literacy. According to scholars, the major factor behind improvements in the social and economic status

of women in Kerala is literacy.[37]

Under the Non-Formal Education programme (NFE), about 40% of the NFE centres in states and 10% of the

centres inUTsare exclusivelyreservedfor females.[citation needed]

As of 2000, about 300,000 NFE centres were

catering to about 7.42 million children. About 120,000 NFE centres were exclusively for girls.[citation needed]

According to a 1998 report by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the chief barriers tofemale educationinIndia are inadequate school facilities (such as sanitary facilities), shortage of female teachers and gender bias

in the curriculum (female characters being depicted as weak and helpless).[

Workforce participation

Contrary to common perception, a large percentage of women in India work.[52]

National data collection

agencies accept that statistics seriously understate women's contribution as workers.[37]

However, there are far

fewer women than men in the paid workforce. In urban India, women participate in the workforce in impressive

numbers. For example, in the software industry 30% of the workforce is female.[53]

In the workplace women

enjoy parity with their male counterparts in terms of wages and roles.

In rural India in the agriculture and allied industrial sectors, females account for as much as 89.5% of the labour

force.[49]

In overall farm production, women's average contribution is estimated at 55% to 66% of the total

labour. According to a 1991 World Bank report, women accounted for 94% of total employment in dairy

production in India. Women constitute 51% of the total employed in forest-based small-scale enterprises.[49]

One of the most famous female business success stories is theShri Mahila Griha Udyog Lijjat Papad.In

2006,Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw,who founded Biocon, one of India's first biotech companies, was rated India's

richest woman.Lalita D. Gupteand Kalpana Morparia were the only businesswomen in India who made the list

of the Forbes World's Most Powerful Women in 2006. Gupte ranICICI Bank,India's second-largest bank, until

October 2006[54]

and Morparia is CEO of JP Morgan India.

Land and property rights

In most Indian families, women do not own any property in their own names, and do not get a share of parental

property.[37]

Due to weak enforcement of laws protecting them, women continue to have little access to land

and property.[56]

In fact, some of the laws discriminate against women, when it comes to land and property

rights.[57]
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The Hindu personal laws of 1956 (applying to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains) gave women rights to

inheritances. However, sons had an independent share in the ancestral property, while the daughters' shares

were based on the share received by their father. Hence, a father could effectively disinherit a daughter by

renouncing his share of the ancestral property, but a son would continue to have a share in his own right.

Additionally, married daughters, even those facing marital harassment, had no residential rights in the ancestral

home. Thanks to amendment of the Hindu laws in 2005, women now have the same status as men.[58]

In 1986, the Supreme Court of India ruled thatShah Bano,an elderly divorced Muslim woman, was eligible for

maintenance money. However, the decision was vociferously opposed by fundamentalist Muslim leaders, who

alleged that the court was interfering in their personal law. TheUnion Governmentsubsequently passed the

Muslim Women's (Protection of Rights Upon Divorce) Act.[59]

Similarly, Christian women have struggled over years for equal rights in divorce and succession. In 1994, all

churches, jointly with women's organisations, drew up a draft law called the Christian Marriage and Matrimonial

Causes Bill. However, the government has still not amended the relevant laws.

Crimes against women

Police records in India show a high incidence of crimes against women. The National Crime Records Bureau

reported in 1998 that by 2010 growth in the rate of crimes against women would exceed the population growth

rate.[37]

Earlier, many crimes against women were not reported to police due to the social stigma attached

torapeand molestation. Official statistics show a dramatic increase in the number of reported crimes against

women.

Acid Throwing

A ThomasReutersFoundation survey[60]

says thatIndiais the fourth most dangerous place in the world for

women to live in.[61]

Women belonging to any class, caste, creed or religion can be victims of this cruel form of

violence and disfigurement, a premeditated crime intended to kill or maim permanently and act as a lesson toput a woman in her place. In India, acid attacks on women

[62]who dared to refuse a man's proposal of

marriage or asked for a divorce[63]

are a form of revenge. Acid is cheap, easily available, and the quickest way

to destroy a woman's life. The number of acid attacks have been rising.

Child marriage

Child marriagehas been traditionally prevalent in India and continues to this day. Historically, child brides

would live with their parents until they reached puberty. In the past, child widows were condemned to a life of

great agony, shaved heads, living in isolation, and being shunned by society.[35]

Although child marriage was

outlawed in 1860, it is still a common practice.[65]

According to UNICEFs State of the Worlds Children-2009 report, 47% of India's women aged 2024 were

married before the legal age of 18, rising to 56% in rural areas.[66]The report also showed that 40% of the

world's child marriages occur in India.[67]

Domestic violence[edit]

Main article:Domestic violence in India

The number of incidents ofdomestic violenceis higher among the lower Socio-Economic Classes (SECs).[citation

needed]The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 came into force on 26 October 2006.
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Dowry[edit]

Main articles:Dowry,Dowry death,andDowry law in India

In 1961, the Government of India passed the Dowry Prohibition Act,[68]

making dowry demands in wedding

arrangements illegal. However, many cases of dowry-related domestic violence, suicides and murders have

been reported. In the 1980s, numerous such cases were reported.

[52]

In 1985, the Dowry Prohibition (maintenance of lists of presents to the bride and bridegroom) Rules were

framed.[69]

According to these rules, a signed list should be maintained of presents given at the time of the

marriage to the bride and the bridegroom. The list should contain a brief description of each present, its

approximate value, the name of who has given the present, and relationship to the recipient. However, such

rules are rarely enforced.

A 1997 report claimed that each year at least 5,000 women in India die dowry-related deaths, and at least a

dozen die each day in 'kitchen fires' thought to be intentional.[70]

The term for this is "bride burning"and is

criticized within India itself. Amongst the urban educated, such dowry abuse has reduced considerably.

Female infanticide and sex-selective abortion[edit]

Main article:Sex-selective abortion and infanticide

In India, the male-female sex ratio is skewed dramatically in favour of males, the chief reason being the high

number of females who die before reaching adulthood.[37]

Tribal societies in India have a less skewed sex ratio

than othercastegroups. This is in spite of the fact that tribal communities have far lower income levels, lower

literacy rates, and less adequate health facilities.[37]

Many experts suggest the higher number of males in India

can be attributed to female infanticides and sex-selective abortions.

Ultrasound scanning constitutes a major leap forward in providing for the care of mother and baby, and with

scanners becoming portable, these advantages have spread to rural populations. However, ultrasound scans

often reveal the sex of the baby, allowing pregnant women to decide to abort female foetuses and try again

later for a male child. This practice is usually considered the main reason for the change in the ratio of male tofemale children being born. In 1994 the Indian government passed a law forbidding women or their families

from asking about the sex of the baby after an ultrasound scan (or any other test which would yield that

information) and also expressly forbade doctors or any other persons from providing that information. However,

in practice this law (like the law forbidding dowries) is widely ignored, and levels of abortion on female foetuses

remain high and the sex ratio at birth keeps getting more skewed.[71]

Female infanticide (killing of girl infants) is still prevalent in some rural areas.[37]

Sometimes this is infanticide by

neglect, for example families may not spend money on critical medicines or withhold care from a sick girl.

Continuing abuse of the dowry tradition has been one of the main reasons for sex-selective abortions and

female infanticides in India.

Rape[edit]

Main article:Rape in India

RapeinIndiahas been described byRadha Kumaras one of India's most common crimes against

women[72]and by theUNs human-rights chief as a national problem.[73]In the 1980s, women's rights groups

lobbied formarital rapeto be declared unlawful, as until 1983, the criminal law (amendment) act stated that

"sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under fifteen years of age is not rape".
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ia#cite_note-69http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-kamat_faq-52http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_India#cite_note-68http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_law_in_Indiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_deathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Women_in_India&action=edit&section=17


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Marital rape is still not a criminal offence.[72]

While per-capita reported incidents are quite low compared to other

countries, even developed countries,[74][75]

a new case is reported every 20 minutes.[76][77]

New Delhi has the

highest rate of rape-reports among Indian cities.[78]

Sources show that rape cases in India have doubled

between 1990 and 2008.[79]

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 24,206 rape cases were

registered in India in 2011, although experts agree that the cases of unreported sexual assault is higher.[80]

Sexual harassment[edit]

Eve teasingis a euphemism used for sexual harassment or molestation of women by men. Many activists

blame the rising incidents of sexual harassment against women on the influence of "Western culture". In 1987,

The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act was passed[81]to prohibit indecent representation of

women through advertisements or in publications, writings, paintings or in any other manner.

Of the total number of crimes against women reported in 1990, half related to molestation and harassment in

the workplace.[37]

In 1997, in a landmark judgement[ambiguous]

, the Supreme Court of India took a strong stand

against sexual harassment of women in the workplace. The Court also laid down detailed guidelines for

prevention and redressal of grievances. The National Commission for Women subsequently elaborated these

guidelines into a Code of Conduct for employers.[37]

Trafficking[edit]

The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act was passed in 1956.[82]

However many cases oftraffickingof young girls

and women have been reported. These women are either forced into prostitution, domestic work orchild

labour.

Justice system[edit]

In 2013 India's top court investigated on a law graduate's allegation that she was sexually harassed by a

recently retired Supreme Court judge.[83]

Social opinions[edit]

In the wake of several brutal rape attacks in the capital city of Delhi, debates held in other cities revealed that

men believed women who dressed provocatively deserved to get raped; many of the correspondents stated

women incited men to rape them.[84][85]

Health[edit]

Main article:Women's health in India

The average female life expectancy today in India is low compared to many countries, but it has shown gradual

improvement over the years. In many families, especially rural ones, girls and women face nutritional

discrimination within the family, and are anaemic and malnourished.[37]

Thematernal mortalityin India is the 56th highest in the world.[86]

42% of births in the country are supervised in

Medical Institution. In rural areas, most of women deliver with the help of women in the family, contradictory to

the fact that unprofessional or unskilled deliverer lacks the knowledge about pregnancy.[37]

Eve teasing[edit]

Eve teasingis aeuphemismused inIndiaand sometimesPakistan,Bangladesh andNepal[87][88]

for

publicsexual harassment,street harassmentor molestation of women by men, with Eve being a reference to

the biblicalEve.[89]
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Family planning[edit]

The average woman living in a rural area in India has little or no control over becoming pregnant. Women,

particularly women in rural areas, do not have access to safe and self-controlled methods of contraception. The

public health system emphasises permanent methods like sterilisation, or long-term methods like IUDs that do

not need follow-up. Sterilization accounts for more than 75% of total contraception, with female sterilisation

accounting for almost 95% of all sterilisations.[37]

Sex ratios[edit]

India has a highly skewed sex ratio, which is attributed to sex-selective abortion and female infanticide affecting

approximately one million female babies per year.[90]

In, 2011, government stated India was missing three

million girls and there are now 48 less girls per 1,000 boys.[91]

Despite this, the government has taken further

steps to improve the ratio, and the ratio is reported to have been improved in recent years .[92]

Sanitation[edit]

In 2011 a "Right to Pee" (as called by the media) campaign began inMumbai,India's largest city.[93]

Women,

but not men, have to pay to urinate in Mumbai, despite regulations against this practice. Women have also

been sexually assaulted while urinating in fields.[93]Thus, activists have collected more than 50,000 signatures

supporting their demands that the local government stop charging women to urinate, build more toilets, keep

them clean, provide sanitary napkins and a trash can, and hire female attendants.[93]

In response, city officials

have agreed to build hundreds of public toilets for women in Mumbai, and some local legislators are now

promising to build toilets for women in every one of their districts.[93]
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status of women in society

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