Position of Women In the Modern Indian Society
Introduction
- Women from different sections of the society are placed in very different situations in modern India. Some women are entering new fields and achieving the same feats as men, while some girls are being killed even before they are born. In earlier times women were seen only in the household, but this expectation is changing slowly, as they are coming to the fore and challenging traditional mindsets.
- The modern Indian society, impacted by globalization and influenced by values of equality and liberty, seems to have accepted a more elevated position of women.
- Main theme of the essay: The position of women in our society is determined by contradictory values, concerns, and forces. While there is great improvement in their position, when we compare it to that of men, there is a long way to go before equality is achieved.
Body
Areas where position of women is equal to men
- When it comes to political rights, the Indian Constitution grants equal position to men and women, such as the right to vote, to contest elections, and to citizenship.
- Women and men are considered equal in law. They enjoy equal rights and privileges and all rules apply to them equally. In fact, some legal provisions, such as the law against dowry, seek to improve the current position of women in society.
- Some may also argue that in jobs, salaries, and other economic opportunities women enjoy equal position as men, bur this can be contested as there is hidden discrimination against women employees while hiring, offering salaries, etc.
Areas where the position of women is unequal to men
- Women enjoy lower status than men in many cultures and families when it comes to deciding whom to marry, inheriting property, and getting equal pay for equal work among other things.
- If we look at development indicators such as health, educational achievements, and wealth/income, it is clear that Indian women fair worse than Indian men. This points towards systemic bias against women in the society.
- Women face higher levels of violence, unfair treatment in society, and unequal access to resources when compared with men.
Factors that affect the position of women
- Cultural bias against girls and preference for sons majorly undermines position of women in private as well as public sphere.
- Like most modern societies, Indian society is patriarchal and this leads to unequal position of women although that is being challenged and changed.
Future of women’s position in India
- The future for women looks positive in modern India if we compare their position vis-a-vis men at the time of independence to now. Women have better access to education, health, and opportunities than before even though not equal.
- The government has played an important role in hastening the process of women’s empowerment through various acts, schemes, and provisions, such as reservation in local panchayats, but it needs to continue aggressive efforts to give equal position to women.
- The cultural attitude towards women in India is changing with changing times, as women are getting educated, proving their mettle, and showing that they can be positioned equal to men if they are given the same opportunities.
Conclusion
- Women in modern Indian society enjoy equal position as men in many areas such as politics, economics, and legal rights, although in many areas they are still not treated equal to men.
- Patriarchal society, cultural preference for sons, and systemic bias against women have undermined their position in the society for a long time.
- The future looks bright for women in modern Indian society as government initiatives are helping them overcome prejudice and society attitudes are changing. Women are proving to be capable of being equal to men, as they get more opportunities.
Notes
- Keywords: position, women, modern Indian society
- It is a straightforward topic with many examples and arguments to be given, so choose and organize your content with care and set your essay apart with uncommon examples.
- Note that the crux of the topic lies in analysing the position of women vis-a-vis the position of men. We cannot talk about one without the other; so the essay should address this aspect clearly and adequately.