WOMEN MOVEMENTS

WOMEN MOVEMENTS 

Introduction

1. Started by liberals like Raja ram Mohan Roy, Ishwarchand Vidhyasagar
2. Legislations by British govt
1. Widow Remarriage Act
2. Prevention of Sati Act
3. Sharda Act
3. Gandhian movement brought consciousness in women
4. All India Women Conference
1. Achievement was Sharda Act 1929 and Lady Hardinge College
5. Phases after independence
1. Phase1: up to 1970s
1. Aparna Mehta: Grey years of women movement
1. Greater activism before independence
2. Unnecessary to do against indigenous govt was the philosophy
3. Constitution of India is revolutionary document
2. Phase 2: 1970s-80s
1. Phase of revival and activism
2. UN declared 70s as decade of women
3. GoI set up committee to enquire status of women in India
4. Report: Towards Equality- 1974
5. Shocking facts
1. Declining sex ratio
2. Gender based violence
3. Discrimination
4. Declining participation of women in political an economic sphere
6. Recommended National Commission for Women
7. Growth of women organisations including women muslim organisations like Majlis, Awaaz-i-nipwaan, organisation of dalit women like- All India dalit women conference
8. 80s was full of activism
9. Prominent issues
1. Increasing no of dowry deaths
2. Mathura rape case
3. Sati at Deorala
4. Shah Bano judgement
10. Approach of govt changed from development to empowerment
11. Gender based budgeting
12. Women related components in 6th FYP
3. Phase 3: 1990s
1. New trend emerged
1. Growth of feminist movement
1. Name based on radical feminism like Saheli, Vimochana, Manushi, Jagoree
2. Started getting divided on caste and religion, lost solidarity
1. Due to similar change in Indian polity
6. Overall assessment
1. Madhu Kishwar: only achievement is some legislations
2. Neera Desia and Usha Thakkar: movement face following challenges
1. Challenge to identity
2. Issues are not just women issues
3. Never presented any charter on demand
4. Division on caste and religion lines

 

Short notes on Women Reservation in Parliament and Assemblies

1. Pt Nehru : Opposed reservation
1. Compromises merit, can't be rolled back
2. Sarojini Naidu: Opposed reservation
1. Impact confidence of women
3. Govt Committee
1. Towards equality Report 1974
1. Opposed reservation in parliament and assemblies, favoured in local bodies
2. Wrong to think that man can't represent issue of women
4. Ila Bhatt- SEWA
1. Opposes women reservation
2. Govt should  focus on economic empowerment
5. Shirine Rai: feminist scholar
1. Opposes reservation
2. Doesn't necessarily lead to improvement. eg- Pakistan assembly
6. Prominent women politicians favour like Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj, Brinda Karat
7. Ministry of Panchayati Raj study on effect of reservation shows positive effect
8. Lawia Keenan: feminist scholar support women reservation
1. Women reservation has been stagnant
2. All men are also not on the basis of merit in parliament
3. Social environment restricts women election

 

Conclusion

1. Needed
2. Make democracy inclusive
3. Other requirements are economic empowerment, educational empowerment