Women Issues

Answer : Democracy implies equality for all human persons, men and women. As against this basic notion of democracy, what is normally seen is that women are excluded from different walks of life, more visibly in Politics. The U.N. observes that women constitute “world’s largest excluded category”. For the attainment of true democratic spirit, better political participation of women shall be ensured.

The foundation of political participation of women was laid down during the national movement. The transfer of power from British to Indian hand gave women opportunity to participate in democratic process. Large numbers of legal, social and economic measures have been taken up by the Independent government of India to raise the status of women in India.

Post independence women continued to play a significant role in less conventional activities such as environmental movements, anti-alcohol agitations, peace movements and even revolutionary activities, which equally affect power relationships as they have the capacity to influence the state. Yet, politics proved to be a very inhospitable terrain for women and continues to be the male bastion where entry of women is severely restricted. Representation of women in parliament and state assemblies remains dismally low.

The Contemporary analysis of Indian political scene depicts glaring gender disparity across the spectrum and tiers of government. In India, nine out of 10 legislators are men. While Indian politicians are eager to talk about women’s empowerment and the political legacies of India’s female politicians like Sushma Swaraj, Indira Gandhi or Pratibha Patil, these women remain largely anomalies in the Indian political landscape rather than the norm. As of 2014, women make up only 11.8 percent of the Indian Lok Sabha and 11.4 percent of Indian Rajya Sabha. This shows how women remain underrepresented in state-level and national-level decision-making bodies.

The barriers to entry for female politicians are much higher as they contend with multiple other surface and structural issues. Prevailing cultural attitudes regarding gender roles, domestic responsibilities, female illiteracy, lack of confidence or finances and the threat of violence, are just some of the obstacles women face.

One way to combat this disparity is through quotas. The visible rise in women’s participation at the local government level post 73rd and 74th amendment act, which reserved one-third of the seats for women, is a testimony of efficacy of quotas.

While the reservation for women is only for 33 per cent of the seats, women make up 46 per cent of the elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions, exhibiting active participation and leadership at local government levels. This increased representation of women at the Panchayat level has made these women leaders a role model for girls. In addition, it has a positive impact of reducing gender disparity and increasing girls’ enrolment in schools. However, the debate over giving preference to merit and elimination of proxy-leaders who effectively surrender their powers to their unelected husbands and fathers is also vital.

The participation of women in politics is not only a step towards women empowerment and gender parity but also has many positive outcomes as substantiated by global studies by United Nations and various think tanks. Female representatives report a higher economic growth than what male legislators do. Also, women are more effective in completing infrastructure projects like road projects, houses, etc. Women Panchayat leaders are more likely to invest in priority areas for women like sanitation, drinking water facilities, safety measures, etc. because they understand and share these priorities. There is also a perceptible increase in new women-owned establishments after the introduction of quotas at the lowest level.

However, the situation at the national level is not up to the mark. The Women’s Reservation Bill, which proposes 33% quota for women in lok Sabha and state assemblies, has still not seen the light of the day. Moreover, major political parties do not have wider representation of women within the party structure and women form only about 10% of their total strength.

The time has come to tap the unrealized potential of India’s women politicians and give them wider representation across all the levels of governance. The need of the hour is for the major national political parties to give more seats to meritorious female members so that they get a fair chance to prove their mettle in the political arena. Also, various targets under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals can only be realized with gender parity and women empowerment. Greater political participation of women is a progressive step in that direction.

A better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected too. India must also strive to become a better democracy apart from being the largest democracy of the world.

Answer : India has one of the fastest growing youth populations in the world. Girls below 19 years of age comprise one-quarter of India’s rapidly growing population. In spite of India’s reputation for respecting women, to an extent to treat her as a goddess, the moment a baby is born, the first thing comes to mind is “boy or girl?” as the differences are beyond just being biological. This article examines the significance of various psychological constructs and psychosocial issues that are important in the life of a “girl” baby born in our country.

India is a country of demographic diversity. There exist differences in the lifestyles of people of different regions, communities, cultural backgrounds, urban-rural habitats, etc. Similarly, the psychological development of a child differs in various contexts.In India, the birth of a boy is a time for celebration, while the birth of a girl - especially a second or subsequent daughter - is often perceived as crisis.Three-quarters of the population of India still resides in rural areas where the problems related to girl child are predominant. Contrary to this, female foeticide seems to be more in urban areas owing to the technical advances. Despite the hue and cry about women liberation, the 2011 census gives the shocking sex ratio of 900:1000 among urban population showing the ground reality.

Here in India as the girl starts growing, she gradually gets exposed to a set of rules, defining appropriate feminine behaviour in a given culture, which is known as “gender norm.” She likes playing with dolls rather than trucks, and starts mimicking the role of a mother. Up to this stage, girl’s understanding of gender is still limited and based on very concrete rules like girls having long hair or wearing frocks/skirts. As she grows further, gender constancy brings an understanding that even changing the outward physical appearance of a person does not change their underlying sex category.

Though the process of gender socialization begins when children develop a gender identity, at the age of 2½–3 years, actual gender-typing does not begin until children achieve gender constancy at age seven. At that point, children begin to actively select from their environment the behaviour that they see as consistent with their gender. The basic idea is that once a girl sees herself and others as gendered, she gets self-motivated to engage in feminine behaviour, and to model herself on other people she identifies as women in her environment.

In India, early marriage of girls has received religious and social sanctions. Despite the laws increasing the legal age of marriage to 18 for girls, there are strong cultural pressures on parents to marry daughters early. In the existing social scenario in India, vulnerability is a product of inequality, low status, and discrimination, and of the patriarchal authority unleashed on children, especially the girl child.

India has one of the fastest growing youth populations in the world. Girls below 19 years of age comprise one-quarter of India’s rapidly growing population. Unfortunately, the majority are out of school and have limited choices available for the future. They are caught in the cycle of early marriage, repeated pregnancy, and poverty. Industrialization, liberalization, and urbanization, and female foeticide have brought about some obvious changes in stereotyped concepts of masculinity and femininity, affecting household composition, residence patterns, specific kinship relationships, and male and female attitudes and behavior. Family and society together can lead girls toward the positive psychology of increasing optimism, strong social connections, and healthy self-confidence.

Answer : Harassment is one of the biggest problems facing our schools, sporting events, and businesses today. It is very rare that a significant amount of time goes by without some kind of reminder that harassment is a social problem. Harassment is a growing problem in government agencies, schools, sporting associations, and the many businesses of the world; however, many corporations are now adopting new anti-harassment policies to try to counteract this growing problem.

The definition of harassment is any unwanted or inappropriate sexual attention. Harassment can take place in many forms which can include touching, looks, comments, or gestures. A key part of sexual harassment is that it is one sided and unwanted. There is a great difference between harassment and romance or friendship, since those are mutual feelings of two people. Often harassment makes the victim feel guilty, but it is important for the victim to remember that it is not their fault; the fault lies totally on the person who is the harasser.

Harassment is a major problem in public schools, colleges, and universities. Surveys on college campuses show the number of respondents reporting to have been sexually harassed ranges from 40-70 percent. However, contradictory to popular beliefs, only two percent of campus harassment cases involve a professor demanding sex in return for a good grade. Most cases involve male and female students. Junior high and middle schools have shown the biggest problems with sexual harassment mainly because of their immaturity and out-of-control hormones. As for in the high schools, usually students don’t think anything about it when harassment happens, but many schools are now cracking down on it.

From time immemorial, workplace relationships have been controlled by the rules and regulations of the employer. Workplace relationships can result in cases of sexual harassment, conflict of interest and hostile work environment. Workplace relationships usually lead to favoritism. This results to a hostile work environment and discrimination. Not until recently, workplace relationships have been allowed but under strict policy guidelines. The employees sign forms pertaining interpersonal relationship. This therefore, protects the integrity of the company increase a case occurs.

Sexual harassment occurs when sexual contact is the only form the employee can get his or her benefits. This includes salary, promotion and continual of employment in the company. A sexual harassment complaint can only be valid if the offense is severe and influential to the working condition of the victim. The sexual harassment case report must have purposely interfered with the person’s thinking, performance and working environment.

With people increase in awareness of their rights, from sexual harassment in the workplace and exercising the rights makes it very important for employers to understand the terms “Sexual Harassment”. The employers have also known the company’s legal liabilities and steps taken to prevent sexual harassment measures. Sexual harassment can be prevented in the workplace. This is by employers creating a workplace where all the employees treat each other with respect, understand and embrace their differences.

Sexual harassment does not discriminate white or blue collar employments. This vice happens in all companies. The best method to deal with it is the immediate report of any form of sexual harassment to as per the chain of command. Sexual harassment is not allowed by the law as the same laws that disallow gender discrimination also forbid sexual harassment. Sexual harassment affects the victim’s psychology greatly.

Workplace relationships can go sour, leading to a harassment claim from the bitter individual. This is a liability to the company. Therefore, companies must enforce strict measures and policies as pertaining workplace relationships.

This is because workplace relationships can have an impact on the company. Although workplace relationships have been allowed, professionalism within the workplace must be maintained by the couple.

Answer : Sportswomen bringing laurels to the nation has not just been a matter of pride for Indians but also encouraged girls to break the gender stereotypes and take up sports. Here are some Indian sportswomen who are currently making India proud.

Sania Mirza’s maiden women’s doubles Grand Slam title at Wimbledon earlier this year and two other doubles titles prior to her win with Martina Hingis has established Sania Mirza as the most dominant female Indian athlete in the country. She is currently at a career-best No 1 WTA rank in doubles, the first Indian female to achieve the feat. Sania, who is set to receive the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna for her exploits in women’s tennis, is only the second Indian tennis player after Leander Paes to be named for country’s top sporting honour. Paes had been bestowed the honour way back in 1996 after his bronze medal in the Atlanta Olympics.

Saina Nehwal is the first women in India’s sporting history to reach the World No 1 rank in Badminton. Prakash Padukone was the last Indian player to have reached the numero uno status nearly 35 years back. India’s sporting landscape is already a male dominated phenomenon with cricket being the country’s most followed sport. However, the range in the earnings from cricket for professionals is huge with the men earning more money compared to women.

Saba Anjum is a former India hockey forward and the member of the gold-winning 2010 Commonwealth Games team.

Mithali Raj is the first woman from India and Asia to score a double hundred in Tests. She held the record for the highest score in Women’s Tests - 214 against England, 2002 - that stood for 19 months.

19 year old P. V. Sandhu became the first Indian women to win a medal in World Badminton Championships, in 2013.

Then Arunima Sinha is first Indian amputee to climb the Mt. Everest. A former national football and volleyball player, she lost her leg after she was pushed from a running train while resisting an attack from thieves in 2011. And last but not the least Mary Com has been the poster child for Indian woman in sports for a long time now. The five time world champion has proved that a sportswoman’s career need not be bogged down by pressures of family commitments.

Answer : A number of arguments have been raised in defense of military policy that bans women from combat roles. Below is an overview of, the pros and cons, the key arguments put forth in support and against the enlisting of women soldiers into combat units.

There are female servicemembers who have proven themselves to be physically, mentally, and morally capable of leading and executing combat-type operations; as a result, some of these Marines may feel qualified for the chance of taking on the role. In the end, my main concern is not whether women are capable of conducting combat operations, as we have already proven that we can hold our own in some very difficult combat situations; instead, my main concern is a question of longevity. Can women endure the physical and physiological rigors of sustained combat operations, and are we willing to accept the attrition and medical issues that go along with integration? - Captain Katie Petronio, US Marine Corps, served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.

On the other hand the (principles) of leadership and team building apply equally to women as to men. As long as you protect qualification standards and give no impression that anyone is getting a free ride, integration, while not without bumps, will be much less dramatic than people envision. ~Major Eleanor Taylor, Canadian Military and the first woman to lead an infantry company in combat.

As combat duty is usually regarded as necessary for promotion to senior officer positions, denying female personnel this experience ensures that very few will ever reach the highest reaches of the military and so further entrenches sexism. Women have to be given the same opportunities as men, in the army in order to have the same opportunities they have to be exposed to the same risks.

In the modern world of combat (Afghanistan, Iraq), all women serving in the military are exposed to “front-line risks”. Support for women serving in the armed forces has not wavered as warfare has changed, a clear sign that the necessity of women serving in combat is recognized.

Answer : Woman is the magnificent creation of god, a multi faceted personality with the power of benevolence, adjustability, integrity and tolerance. She is companion of man, gifted with equal mental faculty, a protector and provider, the embodiment of love OUR WOMEN have a great part to play in the progress of our country, as the mental and physical contact of women with life is much more lasting and comprehensive than that of men.

Really women are less selfish and more dedicated to duty and have much patience than men by nature. In order to make optimum use of our vast womanpower, we must liberate Indian woman of many social taboos. However, mere legislation cannot emancipate the lot of our women. This needs a radical change in our mental make up and our social structure. For this, we shall have to foster a social emancipating spirit in our everyday life.

The conservative male chauvinistic attitude shall have to give way to liberalism. It can be said with a sense of pride and confidence that the future of women in India is quite bright and prosperity will be safe in their hands.

Modern women have risen far above the domestic drudgery. They are educated and aware enough to deal with any situation competently. In the present times, they are no longer the inanimate objects. They have struggled hard to establish the identity of their own. They possess enough strength and self-confidence in a brave new world. It reminds one of Lord Byron, who said, “There is a tide in the affairs of women God knows nowhere!” In the present chaotic world, only women can handle any difficulty with patience and perseverance.

Women run to extremes, take advanced measures for the progress of the country with their power of mental strength and extraordinary talent. Women have occupied a pivotal position today and have achieved eminence in different fields. In the present times, several women’s organizations are working for the enlightenment of women of India.

Despite hurdles like male chauvinism and indifference towards them, women have proved their worth as teachers, administrators, officers, entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, nurses, and computer scientists and almost in all the spheres of activity contributing to social transformation and nation building. Now, the women in India are heading towards advancement and by dint of their devotion, dedication and determination, women like Mother Teresa, Ramadevi, Bhagini Nivedita, Indira Gandhi and many more others played a vital role in the transformation of the nation socially.