Studying world history and society would not be complete without tackling one of the oldest civilizations in the globe. India’s culture and history could be traced back from the Mesopotamian era. At present, it is still known as a country filled with countless stories and fascinating traditions. The country is also known for establishing the hierarchy of men and women. Men are usually given the role of extreme importance while women are to stay at home and take care of their children and the house. If this would be considered in the modern world, it is a form of discriminatory treatment and a violation of women’s rights. At present, Indian women are adapting to their newly found power to be educated and stay in control. However, traditions die hard as not all are aware of their newly established rights. It is this problem on why I decided to pick this topic for my research. For this paper, I intend to the discuss the representation of women in India in relation to their practice and social profile. A discussion regarding the different Indian traditions for women will also be written in clear hopes that it will explain the story behind the role of women in the country.
India is currently considered as one of the densely populated countries around the globe. In a recent study, India’s population is currently 1,189,172,906 and is next to China in terms of their population. Most of the people in India are males with an average of 617,039,156 while women comprise the remaining half with 572,133,750. In terms of the current rate of life expectancy, education and unemployment; it is clear that the numbers have been influenced with the norms on how women are treated in the country. In terms of life expectancy, Indian women live longer than men as they could live up to 68 years old as compared to 66 years old for Indian men. Indian men are more knowledgeable than Indian women since 73.4% of males could read and write while 47.8% women could read and write. Unemployment wise, Indian women are more likely to become unemployed than Indian men, but, the differences are not that high with 10.4% and 10.8%. Given the current study, one could see that Indian women are still not aware of the rights available to them in the 21st century. But, in comparison to its former state 15 years ago, it may seem that the situations of Indian women are better than before. Many women had no access in schools, employment and in basic health services that could prolong their life .
The statistics of Indian women in the given study and the general concept of how they are treated is due to India’s long tradition. Religion plays a crucial part in determining the status of Indian women in the country. Hinduism and Islam are two of the most prominent religions in India, and their traditions have been embedded to day-to-day activities and up to their role in society. The status and role of Indian women is dependent on the political, economic and social capacity of the community in the early years especially in the colonial period. It is also through these years that the political and economic spectrum influenced all Indian communities and has changed the interpretation of the Islamic doctrine on women. Due to changes in the political and economic sphere, arguments between the Hindus and the Muslims have arisen in relation to the issue on women’s rights. Three issues had been raised when it came to the topic of women: the preservation of women’s rights in the constitution, the right to gain access to divorce and the destruction of a mosque. The latter issue could have the same reaction from the men as much as it would affect women, but, there is still a lack of support in improving women rights. These three issues have remained to be unsolved despite the efforts of changing the political and the constitutional politics set by the country. Upon India’s independence from the British rule, the political, social and economic changes influenced the creation of the Indian state known today. But before any changes could happen in the current position of all Indian women, the public has waited for the changes brought by the independence to their communities before they could act .
Both Hinduism and Islam had the same concept regarding the role of women. Most of their concepts about women are borrowed from one another as seen in the early records of India. Hindu men believed in the Muslim tradition known as the purdah where women are kept behind the curtain away from the public. Hindus believed that this would protect Hindu women from the gaze of foreigners. In the Hindu Indian concept, they believed that this tradition will exhibit their prestige and nobility. Some believe that this is practiced because it is a means to protect women and their purity. It is with this belief that Indian women had to wear scarfs to cover their heads and faces in the start of the Gupta era. In the Vedic period, Indian women are seen in high regard and are noted as members of the nobility.
Upon the Muslim period, it did not change the lives of most women in India as the Purdah was practiced more in the high caste or class than the lower caste. In relation to this, the lower-classes had a more egalitarian concept on gender as both men and women worked together in fields. The customs of Muslims were also not as different from the Hinduism tradition especially in the tradition of sati or widow burning. But, it is noted that Muslim women had more access to services and items open to them as compared to the Hindu women. Muslim women were permitted to file for a divorce under the grounds that it is acceptable in terms of the community. Once divorce is set, Muslim women are granted the right to remarry which was something Hindu women are not allowed to do so. But, the most crucial role Indian women portray whether they may be Muslim or Hindu is the fact that they are to produce children for their husband. Male offspring is more preferred than female offspring not only because they would succeed the head of the family, but, because they are not as financially demanding as compared to a daughter. Having a daughter in the Indian setting would require the family to pay for the dowry when the daughter gets married. The daughter also has to transfer all her assets to her husband’s family upon marriage. Some Indian and Muslim families often leave the women at home due to their responsibility to provide and cater to the husband and to the family. Nevertheless, women are considered of similar status when it comes to the religious pantheon. Such examples to this religious rank of women are the mother-goddess which was revived in the Gupta era and the Hindu female goddess Devi, goddess of fertility and wish-granting.
Aside from the religious aspect which affected the image of Indian women in the community, there is also the case of social norms attached to the Indian women. One of which is their capacity to contribute to the community can also be cited as a reason for their low status. In the Hindu and Muslim tradition, women are seen to be unable to contribute to economic and social development once they are outside the home especially once they reach puberty. A testament to this is the Northern Indian Hindu and Muslim women who the norms that they are only allowed to do home-based and unpaid work. Girls who have reached their puberty period are often pulled out of schools, and are married off immediately. In one study, at least 45% of the population lives in Northern India, and this shows how many communities follow these practices regarding women. In these states, unmarried women were only 11% in the region of Uttar Pradesh, 13% in the region of Rajasthan, 17% in the region of Bihar and 31% in the region of Madhya Pradesh. In China, where the same numbers can also be seen in its statistics, a large number of its working force is unmarried teenage girls which have migrated from other countries.
The next social norm attached to the status of women in India especially to those who are unwed is their deviant nature. In India, marriage is mandatory since it must be hand in hand with domestic activity. Traditionally, this is correct as most religions and nations around the globe often see women as the domestic one and a life-time goal they can attain. For Indians, the failure to get married would ruin the name of the woman’s family and affect the woman’s siblings from getting married. This will also see them as a laughing stock for the community since they have an unwed child. In some cases wherein women become widows or have attained the right to get a divorce, Indian culture sees them as witch-craft and must be purged away from their communities. This has been proven in the regions of Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Orissa wherein widows were attacked because of this cultural norm regarding their single status.
In a more detailed sense, marriage is a social norm that introduces Indian women into a variety of roles they have to play. Since marriage is often required to be as early as the girl turns 15 years old, Indians see this as a common trait in all social groups whether in the country or outside the country. This also emphasizes that the girl is ready to become responsible in household activity and assistance to their husbands. This is the foremost reason why Indian women are illiterate. Some families would require their son’s wife-to-be to have no educational background or at least know minor things. Educational preferences are usually different per social class, but it can be noted that the woman must not be higher than that of her husband’s degree and educational attainment. Most marriages in India are arranged, and religion has their own tradition upon the preparation and after the ceremony. While marriage is allowed in Muslim communities, it is not allowed in Hindus especially from those of the highest caste. Interreligious marriages are also considered being illegal even for those who have been allowed for divorce. Dowries are also a sign that wives would be depended on their husbands now that they are married.
The last social norm is that they are seen as materials to be thrown away should their husbands die before them. This is usually seen in the case of Indian Hindu women as they are disinherited from any inheritance their husband will be leaving to his family. On 2005, this restriction is abolished with the ratification of the inheritance law for Hindu women. Considering all these social norms, from the religious to the legal influences, this shows that Indian women are forced to be economically and physically depended on their husbands since they could not do it on their own. These norms are then strengthened by the policies enacted by the government. With the pressure set upon Indian women, some of these women would undergo into abortion once they bear a female offspring.
At present, Indian women who have been able to access the services which were forbidden to them before now understand the roles and rights they could portray in the country. Some educated women are now involved with non-government organizations. Indian women, through these NGOs, help others to understand what they must do in cases of marital rape, sexual harassment, sexual harassment, domestic violence and other gender related incidents that may fall upon them. This transition can now be seen in the rural setting as more policies promoting women’s rights are being enacted. It is still a fledging concept, but the possibilities of its capacity to succeed are endless .
These social norms, which have depicted the century old image of women to society, will still remain as a tradition not easily forgotten in the Indian society. Even if there are actions done to protect the rights of women, the image is firmly stuck in the minds of the people. Damages are also irreplaceable since numerous generations of Indian women had already been forced to partake in this century old tradition. Due to India’s densely populated region and its impoverished states, it may take a while before Indian women would open their minds for this change. The situation of Indian women teaches others a valuable lesson: each person must be given equal rights and chances to contribute to society. Hindering them would not only leave them in the dark, but it would leave them clueless on the things that would help them develop.’
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Works Cited
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Kaminsky, Arnold and Roger Long. India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2011. Print.
