Sex and Gender Inequality in India - Essay Example

The Question dealt in the course is- Nationalist politics once held out to Asian women the promise of modern and equal relations between genders. That promise has now been proved false. Discuss with reference to one or more Asian nations. Sex and Gender Inequality in India The course deals with an important issue of sex and gender inequality in Asian countries like India. It has been observed that since decades, politicians and national leaders in India have been claiming modern and equal relationships between genders. However, keeping in mind today’s scenario in India, most of these claims have proven to be false. This essay deals in length about the current gender and sex scenario in India. It also covers the progress of sex and gender status in India and where it stands today in comparison to 50 years ago. The course also talks about various privileges and provision provided for women in the country. An attempt has been made to analyze how much Asian countries have been able to live upto the promises and agenda of equality in sex and gender. In the course, i will be focusing on the sex and gender scenario in India. This essay will deal with various roles of women in Asian countries, their status versus men, women sexuality, various religious beliefs, and practices concerning women in these Asian countries. The essay intends to focus at similarities as well as diversities and their influence on sex and gender role including women birth, and female foeticides, women empowerment, etc. The course also highlights the different in sex and gender in India. Since many years, sex and gender has been a major area of concern for developing Asian nations like India. In ancient times, women were considered a curse. Having a girl child in family was like a punishment for the mother who was tortured by her family and husband. If at all she was left alive than she was barred from all basic rights like education or going out of the house. Girl child was confined to the boundaries of the house, made to cook, and married at a very young age to any boy or man as considered suitable by her family. This was a vicious cycle for any girl born in countries like India. Not only this, women or girl was considered as a mere object of sexual fulfillment and home and kids care. India believed and followed Sati System during ancient ages that implied that a woman’s husband died, she was supposed to burn herself alive in her husband’s deathbed. For women where sati system was not followed, windows were made to live a life worst than being dead. Their hair were cut and made to live in a secluded room away from everyone even her own family or kids. Even if a girl became widow at a very young age, she was deprived of right to live and there was no question of her getting married again. A widow woman was expected to live a secluded life, all alone. With growing modernization and minds, becoming more liberal and modern there has been a huge difference in the way women is treated today. In today’s time women is empowered to study, take up careers and live life on their own terms. India has a huge number of rich and famous women who have been actively involved in the economic growth and development of their respective countries like Indiara Gandhi , Sonia Gandhi in India and Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. These are just one or two names out of the sea of names of women in India and Pakistan working for the empowerment of nations and the world as a whole. Be it any profession today, women are working neck to neck with men. However, the question is this complete picture of changing sex and gender scenario in Asian countries. The answer is big “ No”. There has been a big fuss about equality of sex and gender in these countries. A lot is discussed about women empowerment and their rights in these nations. However, the bitter truth is that women in large part of counties like India are still caged in the shackles of old age norms and orthodox culture. In rural areas of the countries girl child is still considered a burden. To give an insight into how true are political claims of equality in genders, I have included a small example of female foeticides in India On July 23, 2007, Orissa (a growing State in India), Police recovered 30 polythene bags stuffed with female fetuses and the body parts of newborn baby all females. Repeatedly it has been proved that aborting female fetuses is active in India as it was some 50 years ago. So where is the question of modernization and women empowerment as claimed by politicians? According to a study conducted by UNICEF, a considerably higher percentage of boys are born now than 10 years ago in more than eighty percent of Indian cities Here are some facts and figures to support Unicef study: Female infanticide occurs in 80% of states and the worst affected states include wealthiest areas. In most of the states the ratio of girls born to boys is nine hundred and twenty seven girls for every 1,000 boys. The overall infant mortality rate across the country is 60/1,000, which is indeed shocking. Another glaring issue that falsifies the politicians’ claim of equality in gender and sex in India is the number of dowry deaths in 21st Century. It is no more an ancient era but modern period where a woman is working and successful in all fields where a man can work. A woman can be a pilot, doctor, engineer, software engineer, and anything under the sun. Still the number of dowry deaths happening in the country is not only shameful but also shocking. According to Government, figures there were a total of 5,377 dowry deaths in 1993, an increase of 12% from 1992 () As per the survey of the National Crime Bureau of the Government of India in 1995, there were about 6,000 dowry deaths reported every year, A recently studies police report states that dowry deaths had risen by 170 percent in the decade to 1997. And the more shocking fact is that out of every 100 dowry death accused husbands and in-laws, 60 percent go free without being convicted. In most of the cases accused are released for the want of substantial evidence and the dowry death is winded up as a suicide or accident cases most of the times. The claim in some of the other Asian countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran is even worse where even in 2008, girls cannot study or go out of the house. They are treated as mere commodities that are many times sold of to men thrice their age for a petty amount. Actually several such cases have been found in India as well where illiterate or impoverished families often sell their daughters to men of thrice their ages for the sake of money. In Asian countries like India that boost of rich cultural values and respect for women, there is sharp contrast between the states of women. There are examples of empowered women who are big celebrities and earn fame globally on the other hand there are several examples of women being raped, murdered everyday. Even the educated and modern women in India occupy only marginal positions as compared to men. Given below are simple stats of women in different fields in the country. Many a times Indian leaders have been quoted saying that Gender is Western Concept and is not required in India. Political leaders say that India is the home of mother goddess and there does not exist any space for things like gender differences. Indian history quotes of many Indian goddesses and women rulers. India is always associated with cultural values where women is always respected and honored. However, above given national survey and police reports are quite contrary to these claims. India feels proud to say that it is the first country to give women right to vote. Indian constitution guarantees equal right to men and women however, it still has the most shocking figures of female foeticides, rapes, and suicides. The official statistics reveal a picture that is quite contrary to claims that Indian leaders and constitution claims. In most countries, women outnumber men but in India, the case is reverse. In the year 1991, for every 1000 men there were only 927 women. This is simply because a large percentage of women die even before reaching adulthood, either at the time of birth, or before birth for a large number. Majority of women in India are anemic and malnourished. They live life in a state of nutritional stress. In many Indian families, till today, women, and girls are subjected to nutritional discrimination-eating least and at last, when rest of the entire male members are through with their food. In fact, the average Indian girl become pregnant at a very young age of 22 and has a very little control over her reproductive health and fertility. As compared to 60.5 percent, men only 50 percent of Indian women are literate. Far fewer girls than boys go to school in typical Indian scenario. Women are under-represented in decision-making and government decisions. At present, less that eight percent of Parliamentary seats, less than six percent of cabinet positions, less than four percent of seats in the Supreme court and High court are occupied by men. Till date, women are discriminated against men in claims of hereditary property. Therefore, throughout their lives, women have to face violence inside and outside the house. Various records from police show that every 26 minutes a woman is molested in country, raped in every 34 minutes and sexually harassed every 42 minutes, kidnapped every 43 minutes and killed every 93 minutes. Indian Women in Public Gaze Portrayal of Indian women and women’s issues in the media also very well indicates the position Indian women in the society. A media survey conducted a couple of years ago showed that space for women’s issues was marginal in the television news. According to a survey conducted by Center for Advocacy and Research in the year 1998, women occupied only 14 percent share in the total programmes versus men who had an overreaching press. In addition, in press and electronic media, men were represented in diverse roles while women were also presented in traditional feminine roles. The survey also revealed that there was no specific code for addressing women’s issues and were always treated in an ad-hoc and unstructured manner. On a positive note, Indian women claim the biggest pie on soaps and serials in Indian television. According to a survey conducted on popular serials in Indian television, showed that women are working outside, have independent personalities, and want to create their own identities. However, these depictions also have some disturbing aspects. Indian women in Media A study of two most popular English newspapers in India carried out in the year 1999 revealed that women occupy a marginal space in print media. Leaving apart the exception of advertisements, or social events or crime news, there is hardly any presence of women on the front page of newspaper. But on occasions like women day, a whole issues dedicated to women is printed and than the issues is forgotten for the whole year. Shockingly, cricket news occupies twenty percent more news than women’s issues. The constitution of India Guarantees to all Indian women: Equality before the law as per Article 14 and gurantees no discrimination on the basis of race, caste, sex, place of birth as per Article 15 (1).Constitution also has a special provisions to women made in favor of men and children under Article 15(3). Constitution also assures equality of employment opportunities under Article 16 of the State. Unfortunately, not many of these things hold true in Indian scenario. Biologically women are the stronger sex and in societies where men and women are treated equally, women outlive men. Considering this fact there should be at least 103-105 women for every hundred men. However, in India the case is reverse. According to the 1991 census, there are only 927 women for every 1000 men. With the sole exception of the State of Kerela, every city has fewer women as compared to men. According to Indian Nobel laureate Amrayta Sen, Indian with its present population of one billion, has to account for almost 25 million missing women. The State of Haryana and Punjab, despite if high per capital income had 865 women for every 1000 men and 971 women for 1000 men in Orissa. Shockingly, with increasing modernization, female to male ration has become worse in past seventy years. This clearly shows that women in India are still given a second treatment to men. It shows that every stage of their life from the stage of being conceived to being a daughter, wife, or mother, women is always discriminated and deprived of her basic rights at every stage. Ironically, in comparison to educated class, women in tribal societies have a higher status with a number of 973 women for every 1000 men. This figure is higher than all other caste groups put together. This, in spite of fact that tribal communities have lower levels of health, literacy or access to any so called modern society. But the fact cannot be denied that India is still continuously working towards achievement of human rights and strengthening of women’s position in the society. The last decade has been witness to increase in respect and space for women- because of affirmative actions and measures taken upto by NGOs and government. Not to forget, that woman’s awareness and fight for their rights have lot to do with the changing scenario. However, keeping current figures in mind, India still has a large way to go. This is because gaps still remains wide. While women are emerging strong and confident and in control of their lives with guts and capability to raise their voice for their rights and demands, the other side of coin shows women who are still deprived of even basic rights like education, abused and harassed continuously through out their lives. It is difficult to figure out if the glass is half-full or half empty. Conclusion The essay addresses a a critical question- Nationalist politics once held out to Asian women the promise of modern and equal relations between genders. That promise has now been proved false. The studies establishes that if developing Asian countries like India has to progress at a pace of equal to other developed nations, Indian need to make sure that girls and boys are treated equally at all stages of life. Till the time women and men are treated equally, until life is made safe for the Indian woman, the country remains morally under siege. The mission for India should not be only an end to female foeticides, all sort of violence that women are subjected to. References No end for female foeticides in India: Female Foeticide 24 July, 2007, viewed 13th Oct 2007 Dowry in India: Indiachild.com: Copyright 2000-2004; viewed 13th Oct 2007 http://www.indianchild.com/dowry_in_india.htm> Amanda Hitchcock: Copyright 1998-2007: Rising number of dowry deaths in India: World Socilast Web site: viewed on 13th Oct 2007 < http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/jul2001/ind-j04.shtml> Kalyani Menen Sen, AK Shivkumar; 2001: Women In India- How Safe How Equal: Unicef: Viewed on 13th Oct 2007 < http://www.un.org.in/IMAGES/kmsbk_1-22.pdf> Gender and Media in South Asia: SAFMA Regional Workshop; Kathmandu; June 26-27 2004, Viewed on 13th Oct 2007 < http://www.southasianmedia.net/conference/Gender_and_Media/safma_workshop.htm> Representation of issues in news and current affair programmes on television; 2000; Center for Advocacy and Research; viewed on 13th October Jean, Dreze, and Sen Amrayta (1995); “India: Economic Development and Social Opportunity”; viewed on 13th Oct 2007; Oxford University Press, Delhi The Probe Team (1999); “Public Report on Basic Education”; Oxford University Press, Delhi, Viewed on 13th October United Nation Development Programme (1999); “ India: Common Country Assessment”, New Delhi United Nation Development Programme (2000); Human Development Report 2000”, Oxford University Press, New York Visaria, Leela 1999. “Violence against Women in India: Evidence from Rural Gujarat: A summary Report of Three Studies”; International Center for Research on Women, Washington DC Voluntary Health Association of India and World Health Organisation. 2000. 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