Political Diary
New Delhi,
12 October 2021
Her
“Modern” Story
ARE TIMES
CHANGING?
By
Poonam I Kaushish
Last week India was agog over one of
its favourite topics: Indian women. A subject which are netagan feel they hold Ph.Ds. The latest to elucidate was Karnataka
Health Minister, “Lots of modern women in India
want to stay single. Even if they get married, they don’t want to give birth.
They want surrogacy. This is not a good
development.”
Questionably, is
there a paradigm shift in women’s thinking? Can one generalize by making a
sweeping statement? Not at all. On the obverse, is a woman’s primary role to
procreate and be a mother? How many women have this choice despite the
Constitution guarantying women equality, no discrimination by State, equality
of opportunity, equal pay for equal work?
On the surface it
appears everything has been done for women. Yet, there is a social tumult in
the air. Undoubtedly what the Minister said is partly true of a “modern”
educated and working woman who demands a level playing field economically and
socially. Who is not encumbered by the typical mindset of “it’s not the done
womanly thing expected of her”. If she is shouldering equal responsibility as
her male counterpart why should he not share household chores too?
She no longer
considers herself a silent spectator in this dynamic world situation, but feels
an urgent obligation to action and role-contribution. Making plain her intent
on breaking away from hackneyed traditions, warped social thinking and double
standards of morality, acquiring a tremendous zeal to secure what she calls ‘lost
rights.’
And therein lies the dichotomy.
Modern India vs Asli Bharat. In the
former a woman is given equal opportunity in education, employment, is a bread
winner and adds productive value capital to her family. Yet, she fares
conservative when it comes to social mores as parents want their girl to
“settle down” marry and raise a family. A husband still wants to “control” his
working wife. Primarily because running a home, cooking, cleaning and raising a
family is the paramount role of a woman, like his mother did.
In the latter poor
and uneducated woman is a symbol of status and prestige whose seclusion and
supervision are essential to maintain the family unit’s purity and cohesion. An
object of pleasure to satiate her husband, bear children and do household
chores. Sadly a large section of women do not have the rights over their bodies
and are viewed as sex objects, and mince-meat for male lust camouflaged as
human animals to either comply or reconcile to battling it out at every level.
Clearly, in a society
which lives with the regressive mindset that freedom and equality for women
tantamount to promiscuity, we swing between two extremes. One where a girl
child is bad news and nurtured on a “conform” paranoia: Not rock the boat, be
fearful of what lies around the corner and subjecting her to countless
restrictions in the name of women’s protection. Whereby fathers make rules,
husbands enforce them, male bosses reiterate them hence speaking out against
someone’s wrong doing is tough.
A girl raped by a
male relative in locked at home, told to keep quite to avoid repercussions on
the facetious pretext of ‘what will people say’ and ‘nobody will marry you.’
Several women who face sexual abuse at work stay quite to avoid further
harassment and unwanted attention. Or are hesitant to speak out fearing they
will be dubbed ‘loose charactered’ at best or ostracized at worst. Either way
the damage is done. Getting married and
raising kids is the core of female existence. Sic.
Shockingly, the
National Crime Records Bureau reveals crime against a woman is committed every
minute, rape every 5 minutes, dowry death occurs every 77 minutes and cruelty
committed by either husband or relative occurs every 9 minutes. Any wonder our
high rate of female infanticides and sex-selective abortions.
Remember, Southern
star Khushboo who faced lawsuits over her remarks on pre-marital sex, “no
educated man should expect his bride to be a virgin” and “young people who had
premarital sex should use condoms”. Or tennis star Sania Mirza’s effigy being burnt
for advocating safe sex. Both labeled ‘anti-social’ and their remarks
interpreted as attack on the integrity of women.
Perhaps it has
something to do with our patriarchal lineage and misogynistic culture. See our
chauvinistic Mantris. Recently,
Maharashtra Minister was certain sale of liquors would increase if they are
given women's names ‘Bobby’-‘Julie’, ex-Uttarakhand Chief Minister Rawat blamed
“women in ripped jeans and running towards nudity” for rising cases of moral
turpitude, a Bihar leader advised women to carry condoms and accept rape, a
Rajasthan Minister blamed advent of TVs and mobiles for “fast” girls read loose
morals, a Haryana khap leader said eating
Chinese chowmein caused rape, another counseled women to get ‘godfathers’ who
can “make them” professionally. Sic.
Paradoxically, it is
not legal or constitutional shortcomings but minds of men and women that are
the decisive factors in India's social predicaments. Traditional attitudes and
rigid customs or just wilful denials of human rights still beset women and the
reformative Acts remain largely ‘paper tigers,’ either not accepted or out of
reach of most women for lack of awareness about their existence and or
application.
Women problems are
unique. They face deep-rooted prejudices in social relationships. They generally
don’t have equal status in marriage, dowry system is rampant, clandestine
bigamy and child marriages persist in contravention of laws with complete
impunity. Malnutrition rates are exceptionally high among adolescent girls,
pregnant and lactating women with repercussions for children's health. Violence
against women, especially sexual violence, is of serious concern. The female
literacy rate is 60.6% less than the male literacy rate 81.3%. Far fewer girls
than boys are enrolled in school and many girls drop out.
Nevertheless, several
women have occupied various senior positions in Government: Prime Minister, Lok
Sabha Speaker, Governors, Ministers, Parliament, State legislatures, panchayats,
municipal councils, corporations, ambassadors, administrative, judicial,
educational and professioi services etc. They have voted in polls with great
gusto tipping the scales in politics.
Time now for our
education system needs to emphasise the importance of gender equality, women’s
dignity and eradicate the typical male mindset. We need to change our approach
to women, their role in family structure and society. One option is radical
feminism to make a social impact including safety of women which should be an
important article of faith with people, society and Government. Alongwith equal opportunity and independence of thought
and action.
A revolutionary change
is needed. The Constitution has given equal rights to women. Merely mouthing
platitudes of freedom will no longer work. We need cry a halt to women being treated
as chattels, playthings of voyeuristic men or dismissed as ‘too manly.” Will
women continue to constitute the weaker gender? Will we break new ground and
unshackle women? A time to introspect and say Times Indeed Are Changing! ----
INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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