Introduction:
The work opportunities available for men and women are not equal.
Because of the demands of the family and society, a woman has to make many sacrifices.
Moreover, many job opportunities are considered to be more relevant for men than women.
Fewer opportunities and rigid expectations:
If we are asked to have an image of a nurse, a scientist and a teacher in our mind; the result is a female for nurse and teacher; and a male as a scientist.
This is because this is what we commonly see.
Moreover, every job requires certain characteristics in a person.
A nurse is supposed to be very patient and soft; hence we always expect a nurse to be a female.
On the other hand a scientist is supposed to be extraordinarily intelligent; a trait often associated with males in the society.
Presuming some roles for men and some for women is also because of the roles played by girls and women in the family and society.
Since people believe in stereotypes, many girls do not get the same encouragement and support from the family for taking up studies in engineering and medical fields.
In fact girls are expected to get married once they finish school.
We live in a society where children are pressurized by the people around them. The pressure could be from
Adults of the family
Other children of the same age group
Boys are forced by the elders in the family to take up full time mainstream jobs thus discouraging them from pursuing their passion in the field of art, music, etc.
Learning for change:
Going to school is an important part of our lives.
When we see more and more children joining school, it seems to be very natural to go to school.
But in the earlier days, the skill of reading and writing were known only to a few.
There were also lots of superstitions attached to educating women.
For example two centuries ago it was believed that educated women would bring ill luck to their husbands and hence they would become widows!
Children used to learn the skills and activities in which their family was engaged.
There was extreme gender bias in the earlier days.
In communities, where the male child was taught to read and write, girls were not allowed to learn the alphabet.
Even in families where skills like pottery, weaving, craft, etc. were taught, the contribution of the females was only supportive and not main.
For example regarding pottery, women collected mud and prepared the earth for pots.
But they did not operate the wheel. Hence they were not seen as potters.
Many new ideas about education and learning emerged in the nineteenth century.
Schools became more common.
Many communities that were earlier not sending their children to school started sending them to school for formal education.
There was lot of resistance regarding educating women.
With a lot of effort of many women and men, schools were opened for girls.
Females struggled to read and write.
Breaking Stereotypes:
Lakshmi Lakra:
27 – year old Lakshmi Lakra from a poor family in a tribal village in Jharkhand is the first woman engine driver for Northern Railways.
Ramabai (1858-922):
She championed the cause of women’s education.
She was given the title ‘Pandita’.
This was because she could read and write Sanskrit.
She never went to school.
She learnt to read and write from her parents.
She set up a Mission (which is still active today) near Pune in 1898 where poor women and widows were encouraged to become literate and independent.
Rashsundari Devi (1800-1890):
Her autobiography in Bangla titled Amar Jiban is the first known autobiography written by an Indian woman.
She used to secretly take out pages from the books of her son and husband.
She learnt by matching the letters/words with the ones she remembered/heard during the course of her days.
Through her own writing, she could express and let the world know about women’s lives in those days.
Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain:
She knew how to read and write Urdu but was not allowed to learn Bangla and English.
She learnt these with the help of her brother and sister.
She became a writer and wrote a remarkable story titled Sultana’s Dream in 1905.
In 1910, she also started a school for girls in Kolkata, which is still functioning today.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT II
Schooling and education -The present scenario:
Many boys and girls attend school today.
But there still remains a difference in the education levels of boys and girls.
The drop-out rate of girls is very high especially in rural areas.
This is due to the circumstances and the attitude of the family and society wherein girls are expected to take care of the house and their siblings and elders.
It is also due to inadequate facilities at school like availability of toilets.
The 2001 census also found that the rate at which Muslim girls leave school is higher than that of Dalit (officially called Scheduled Caste or SC) and Adivasi (officially called Scheduled Tribe or ST) girls.
While a non-Muslim girl stays in school for around four years, a Muslim girl leaves school as early as after three years.
Reasons for dropping out of school – Dalit, Adivasi and Muslim communities:
Lack of proper schools and teachers: In many parts of our country especially rural and poor areas proper schools and regular teachers are not available.
Inaccessible: If the school is not close to people’s homes, and buses or vans are not available for transport, people will not be willing to send their girls to school.
Unaffordable: Many people are poor and unable to afford the cost of education. In such cases boys are given preference and girls are retained at home.
Discrimination: Discrimination and resultant harassment by teachers and classmates is also a reason for dropping out. An example is the Dalit writer, Omprakash Valmiki’s experience (as mentioned in chapter 1).
Women’s movement:
Now women and girls have a right to go to school.
There is a change in the scenario that existed many years ago.
This change has not happened overnight.
It is a result of the continuous struggle and efforts by women individually and collectively. This struggle is called the Women’s Movement.
Many women’s organizations from different parts of the country as well as individual women are a part of this movement.
The movement has the support of many men also.
Even in other spheres like legal reforms, violence and health; the condition of women has improved.
Various strategies and methods are used for:
Spreading awareness
Fighting discrimination
Seeking justice
Some of the strategies are as follows:
Campaigning – Any series of action or events that are meant to achieve particulars results is called campaign.
The impact of the campaigns is as under:
Passing of new laws:
New laws have been passes as a result of the campaigns.
In 2006, a law regarding domestic violence was passed.
This law gave legal protection to women who faced physical and mental torture at home.
Guidelines against sexual harassment:
In 1997, the Supreme Court passed guidelines to protect women from sexual harassment at workplace and within educational institutions.
Amendment in dowry laws:
In the 1980s, there was a nationwide campaign against dowry deaths.
Raising awareness:
The first step in addressing any issue is to raise public awareness about it.
The women’s movement did the same and spread the message through street plays, songs and public meetings.
Protesting:
When any violation against women takes place, the women’s movement raises its voice against it.
Some popular and effective ways of drawing public attention to injustices are public rallies and demonstrations.
Showing Solidarity:
Showing solidarity with other women and causes is also a part of the women’s movement.
Women hold up candles to show solidarity between the people of our country and Pakistan.
Every year, on August 14, many people gather at Wagah border and hold a cultural programme.
Candle light vigils; to protest against brutal cruelty shown to women are also very common.
Keywords:
Domestic Violence -The physical and mental violence that women face within their homes is called domestic violence.
Stereotype – When we believe that people belonging to a particular religion, community, gender etc. have certain traits and can do only a certain type of work, we are creating a stereotype.
Dowry Deaths – The cases of murder of young brides by their husbands and in-laws due to greed for more dowries is called dowry death.
Sexual Harassment – A behaviour (either physical or verbal) that is of sexual nature and against the wishes and dignity of a woman is called sexual harassment.
