Women in India
“Yatra naryastu pujyante,
ramante tatra Devata”
This popular Sanskrit shloka says gods reside where women are worshipped, and if the above words are true, India is certainly not where gods reside. A nation entrenched in patriarchal norms, India remains an unsafe haven for its women. In the global sex ratio ranking, India languishes at 112th place, with a count of 924 females per 1000 males. These troubling statistics of the 21st century stand as a stark testament to the widespread prevalence of female infanticide. How can we envisage the survival of women in a society that denies them even the chance to be born?
While women’s education has made strides over recent decades, India’s female literacy rates, however, still linger at very low levels. These numbers are despite the Indian government’s launch of numerous initiatives advocating female education, whose progress remains painfully sluggish. More women are pursuing higher education, but the condition is still far from satisfactory, as higher education is still sought as not relevant for women as very few people support the idea of women working and earning if the family can survive on the income of its male members. Those who are able to work and pursue their dreams face different obstacles, mainly in the form of inequality of payments, unsafe working environments and lack of growth opportunities.
Regrettably, women’s healthcare echoes a similar tale of neglect. A considerable segment of society remains oblivious to menstrual hygiene. In rural and semi-urban parts of the country, menstruating women are deemed unclean and dirty and are thus deemed untouchable during their cycles. Annually, around 23 million girls drop out of school due to inadequate menstrual hygiene and facilities — this includes the scarcity of sanitary products and an absence of sensible menstrual education. Nearly 60,000 cases of cervical cancer deaths are reported every year in India, two-thirds of which are due to poor menstrual hygiene.
Despite major flaws in healthcare and education, women’s safety remains the biggest issue in India. 1 rape case is reported every 15 minutes in India, with approximately 35,000 cases being reported every year. A large number of cases remain unreported, and out of the reported ones, 85% lead to charges and only 27% to convictions. A recent study disclosed that in 98% of the cases, the rapist is someone known to the victim. Issues like marital rape are not even discussed.
Incidents of catcalling, eve teasing and online harassment are so common that I don’t even know a single woman in my life that has not faced one of these (if not all) in her life. There are so many other crimes against women that we fail to discuss, like domestic violence, human trafficking, witch hunting, honour killing etc. Almost all of these problems are because of the notions created by society. Women are not seen as humans with emotions and intelligence but as objects of pride and service to society.
The troubling practice of victim-blaming has deep historical roots. The story of goddess Sita exemplifies this narrative: society’s rejection of her due to her abduction by the demon king of Lanka. Even her passage through the fire ordeal, demonstrating her chastity, could not convince her sceptics. Tired of defending herself, Sita departed from this unjust world. Sita’s tale echoes a resounding message: even in Ram Rajya, prosperity leaves if women aren’t honoured. As the embodiment of Devi Lakshmi, her fiery trial failed to sway doubters, leading her to forsake an unjust world.
Change must begin within ourselves. While governmental legislation and initiatives are essential, the status of women will only improve when we reshape our collective mindset. This shift, however, cannot materialize overnight.
The education system warrants a more resolute commitment to gender equality and feminism. Affordable access to sanitary pads must extend to rural and semi-urban locales. Education about menstruation should transcend gender lines and reach all students. The social security system must prioritize safer streets, and the government’s attention must extend to bolstering internet security.
As responsible citizens, we must raise our voices and champion the cause of making India a better place for all its inhabitants. We cannot solely depend on the government to rectify our predicaments. The government mirrors the populace it represents. We must be the architects of the transformation we aspire to see in society.
