Women in India have been under a social paradox. Our civilizational values and the leadership of women signify the importance of women in our society, but on the other hand, Patriarchy and its associated evils present a complex challenge spanning across time and space.
India ranks 140/156 in Gender Gap Index, has one of the lowest parliamentary participation (14%), shares a significant proportion of global health burden and declining Labour force participation.
Temporal Challenges faced by women:
1. Ancient Times: Decline of the position of women, practice of Sati originated and women were considered as the 5th varna (status similar to Shudras).
2. Medieval Times: Social ills like sati, female infanticide, women prisoners in Harem, polygamy prevalent.
3. Modern age: Indian Renaissance slightly improved women status. However, deep rooted patriarchal system continued to persist.
4. Contemporary times: Low political participation, gender bias in employment, shadow pandemic, feminization of agriculture and old age.
Spatial Challenges faced by women:
1. Reduced role in family, society due to reduced decision making and financial authority-a consequence of patriarchy.
2. Geographical divide: males migrating to cities while women stay back at home to take care of family.
3. Regional Disparity: North India vs South India debate on socio-economic indicators
4. Restrictive access to public spaces, offices and institutions due to movement curbs and unsafe public behaviour.
5. Far worse-off status of women from tribal, minority and marginalized communities who face a double burden of caste and class-based discrimination.
There is a need for multi-layered intervention to fight these challenges. Reservation for women in jobs, safe cities, community policing, empowering NGOs, SHGs, granting 33% reservation in legislatures and sustaining women centric schemes like BBBP, Stand-up India etc. are a few measures. It is by targeting the artificial barriers that limit women we can help in their empowerment and realisation of their true potential.