Change in Status of Women Essay Example

exceptions rather than the norm.

Despite the level of development in our society, it is unfortunate that women are commonly perceived as being at a disadvantage and linked to negativity. This sad truth persists universally, with discrimination and harm towards women prevalent in most present-day societies where male dominance prevails. Women often face objectification and commodification, expected to serve males and older females while lacking substantial rights. Regardless of their economic status, throughout history, women have been victimized.

Evidence from ancient Indian literary texts such as Veda Vyasa's Mahabharata and Valmiki's Ramayana demonstrates the significant and superior position of women in society compared to men. These texts highlight how women were responsible for bringing down powerful kingdoms and rulers. For example, Queen Draupadi played a crucial role in the defeat of the Kauravas in the epic Mahabharata, as they mistreated her. Likewise, Ravana met his demise when he abducted Sita and attempted to force her into marriage in Valmiki's Ramayana.

In ancient times, different Goddesses were created to promote reverence towards women. The worship of Ardhanareeshwar, a deity representing both masculinity and femininity, was highly esteemed. Women had the option to have multiple husbands and widows could choose to remarry or leave their current husbands. In Vedic society, women actively participated in religious ceremonies and tribal assemblies such as sabha and vidata. While there is no evidence of women being secluded from domestic and social matters, they relied on their male relatives for support throughout their lives. Although monogamy was common, polygamy was not as prevalent. Child marriages were nonexistent during this period.

During ancient times, women had the freedom to

select their husbands through a marriage known as Swayamvara. However, as time passed, the status and role of women underwent changes. In the later Vedic period, they lost their political rights and were excluded from participating in assemblies. The prevalence of child marriages increased. Despite still being inferior in position, women's circumstances were not as dire as during periods like the Gupta period. The medieval era in India presented numerous challenges for women due to multiple foreign conquests.

The introduction of foreign conquerors, like Muslims, to India brought their own culture along. In this culture, women were seen as belonging to their father, brother, or husband and lacked independence. This belief system gradually influenced the local Indian population, causing them to treat their own women similarly. Moreover, as a response to the brutal Muslim invaders, the indigenous Indians aimed to safeguard their women from harm. However, this desire for protection resulted in diminished freedom and social standing for Indian women. The invaders practiced polygamy and would take any woman they desired and add her to their "harems".

Indian women started wearing 'Purdah', a veil that covers their whole body, to protect themselves. Nevertheless, this tradition had negative consequences for their independence as it limited their movement and caused a decrease in their status within society. As a result, girls began to be seen as burdens who needed protection from outsiders and extra care, while boys were considered self-sufficient providers who did not require the same level of attention. This created a harmful cycle where women faced disadvantages.

The changes led to the rise of various issues, including Child Marriage, Sati, Jauhar, and

restrictions on girls' education. Sati, also called Sahagaman, refers to a ritual where a wife dies on her husband's funeral pyre. Some Hindu scriptures promote the belief that women who perform this ritual will go straight to heaven, making it an esteemed tradition. At first, women had the choice to participate in Sati but those who did were highly revered in society. It was seen as a preferable option compared to living as a widow due to the difficult circumstances faced by widows in Hindu society.

Jauhar, a custom similar to Sati, involved mass suicide in Rajput societies. During this practice, wives would self-immolate while their husbands were still alive. When the Rajput clan faced the imminent threat of being killed by the enemy, women would gather and set themselves on fire in a large pyre. Simultaneously, husbands would participate in the final battle known as "Shaka" to protect the honor of both women and the entire clan. Another prevalent practice in medieval India was child marriage, where girls were married off at a young age of 8-10.

They were denied education and treated as mere objects. They were referred to as "Dhol, gawar, shudra, pashu, nari, ye sab tadan ke adhikari," which means that animals, illiterates, lower castes, and women should be subject to beatings. Consequently, women were equated with animals and forced into early marriages. Widow remarriage was heavily restricted in medieval India. Widows were not considered human beings and faced numerous limitations. They were expected to live a pious life after their husbands' deaths and were excluded from any celebratory events. In some instances, widows even had their heads shaved.

The Purdah system, also known as the veil, was a prevalent custom in medieval Indian society aimed at safeguarding women from invading foreign rulers. Nonetheless, it imposed limitations on women's freedom and impeded their capacity to remarry. In medieval India, education for girls, especially within Hindu society, lacked formality but concentrated on instructing household tasks. Nevertheless, Vatsyayana, an Indian philosopher, emphasized that women were anticipated to excel in various arts like cooking, spinning, grinding, medicine, and recitation.

Devadasis were women dedicated to temples in Southern India. They were known as 'Devadasis', meaning servants of god. These women lived a life of celibacy and had all their needs provided for by temple grants. They spent their time in the temple, worshiping god through singing and dancing. Some kings even invited temple dancers to perform in their courts for the enjoyment of the courtiers. As a result, some Devadasis became palace dancers, known as Rajadasis.

India gained independence in 1947 and enacted a Constitution in 1949 to ensure equal rights for its citizens. Since then, the country has implemented several initiatives to empower women from diverse communities. Indian women have made substantial contributions since Independence, actively engaging in fields such as education and society, thus contributing to national progress.

People from different fields, including education, politics, media, art and culture, service sectors, science and technology, have engaged in various activities. Nevertheless, numerous individuals in developing nations continue to be stuck in poverty, malnutrition, hunger, and disease. Despite differing living conditions in regions like Africa (35 percent), Asia (116 percent), and Latin America (4 percent), a significant number of schools still face

severe protein calorie malnutrition.

About 66% of pregnant women in developing countries experience nutritional anemia, a condition closely associated with increased maternal and infant mortality rates. Inadequate maternal and child healthcare services, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to safe drinking water contribute to this problem. In India, the main objective of health policy is to enhance healthcare services and improve the overall health of the population. However, despite notable advancements in certain domains, women's health has largely been overlooked.

Estimates indicate that both rural women (80%) and urban women living in poverty (80%) in India encounter restricted availability of medical care. In comparison to other regions, the country exhibits a unique decline in sex ratio, which decreased from 972 females per 1000 males in 1991. Indian women have a shorter life expectancy than their counterparts in developed nations, with a disparity of about 15-20 years. Additionally, their life expectancy consistently remains inferior to that of Indian men. On average, women in India experience eight pregnancies during their reproductive period.

India has a relatively high maternal mortality rate compared to other developing nations. In developed countries, stillbirths and male child deaths occur at higher rates than female child deaths. However, in India, the death rates for females are actually higher than those for male children. The problem of women trafficking, particularly involving women and children, has become an increasingly concerning issue on a significant scale due to globalization.

Despite the secretive nature of trafficking, it is believed that the scale and severity of this issue, particularly involving women and children, has increased. Available data for certain countries suggests that within the last

decade, around 20,000 women from Bangladesh have been trafficked into Pakistan at a rate of 200-400 women per month. In 1994, India witnessed approximately 2,000 cases of trafficking involving women and girls. Additionally, each year between 5,000-7,000 Nepalese women and girls are estimated to be trafficked into India.

After India, Hongkong is the second-largest market for trafficked Nepalese women. In Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Goa, and West Bengal - which have a combined population of 360 million people - government officials witnessed numerous cases of sex trafficking. They recorded 964 incidents and conducted 379 rescue operations, leading to the freedom of 1,653 victims. Additionally, they apprehended 1,970 traffickers (including 856 customers) and successfully convicted 30 individuals involved in sex trafficking. Their efforts also included rehabilitating 876 victims and providing training to 13,490 police officers and prosecutors. However, in Mumbai authorities managed to prosecute ten cases of sex trafficking but did not obtain any convictions in the year 2008.

During the reporting period in Andhra Pradesh, prison sentences ranging from 10 to 14 years were given to eleven traffickers. In Tamil Nadu, the state government reported that in 2008, a total of 1,097 offenders engaged in sex trafficking were arrested; however, there is no available information regarding the number of prosecutions and convictions for trafficking during that specific time frame. Additionally, Pune accomplished its inaugural conviction for sex trafficking in 2008. Despite these endeavors, both central and state governments have predominantly overlooked addressing the involvement of public officials in sex trafficking and forced labor.

Reports suggest that corrupt law enforcement officers in India assist the transportation of sex trafficking victims, protect brothels that exploit these

victims, and provide protection to traffickers and brothel keepers to avoid legal consequences. India did not reveal any prosecutions, convictions, or sentences for trafficking-related offenses committed by government officials during the reporting period. Irrespective of their social class, religion, tribe, caste, or age, women in India face domestic violence. The Hindu caste system systematically oppresses a substantial portion of women in Indian society.

Women in Indian society who are part of lower castes, marginalized cultures, or tribal groups face dual oppression based on both gender and caste or class. The degree and intensity of this oppression vary depending on the social and economic status of girls and women in India. Like in other societies, cases of domestic violence often go unnoticed as women choose to stay silent for various reasons. In Indian society, a woman's status is determined by her husband's position. To break the cycle of violence within the family, a woman would have to give up her limited rights.

Living in poverty and hardship poses a major challenge for families who want to escape violence. In 1983, India passed a law that bans domestic violence. This law defines cruelty as any conduct that can cause serious harm to a woman, harassment intended to force the woman or her family to surrender their possessions, or mistreatment of the woman because she is unable to contribute more money or assets to her spouse.

The court identifies various forms of cruelty that can be punished, including but not limited to depriving the woman of food, coercing her into engaging in sexual acts, frequently excluding her from the house, preventing her from seeing her

children, causing physical and/or emotional harm, confining her to the home, mistreating her children in front of her, and denying paternity of their offspring. Additionally, the legal system acknowledges another form of domestic abuse where a husband blackmails his wife with divorce unless she provides an adequate dowry during marriage. The issue of dowry presents a significant concern regarding domestic violence and may even result in homicide.

Although banned in 1961, the tradition of dowry continues to prevail and has surpassed social classes. It originally served as a monetary gift from the bride's family to cover wedding expenses and was mainly practiced in upper-caste households.
Likewise, women worldwide face severe consequences as a result of HIV/AIDS. They confront laws, cultural norms, and traditions that aim to control their bodies and personal relationships. These societal standards wrongly associate women as the main carriers of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), commonly known as "women's diseases."

The 1998 national family health survey focused on increasing awareness about AIDS and prevention among married women aged 15-49, acknowledging their heightened vulnerability. It is important to note that NACO dedicates approximately 34 percent of its funds to activities related to information, education, and communication. According to the NFHS-2 data, there is a lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and preventive measures in the general population, particularly among women. The data reveals that 60 percent of ever-married women aged 15-49 were not informed about AIDS. In urban areas, none of the women had any awareness of AIDS, while in rural areas only 30 percent had knowledge about it.

Women, especially young adolescents and women in their early twenties, have a higher incidence

of HIV/AIDS infection compared to men. This is mainly due to societal norms that promote early marriages and pregnancies while discouraging the use of condoms. Additionally, women face greater vulnerability to these diseases as a result of factors such as rape, sexual abuse, coercion, engaging in sexual activities with older men for personal gain, and exploitation by teachers.

HIV/SIDS is often linked to women who exchange sex for drugs or money, increasing their chances of contracting HIV. The dowry system in India is a widespread problem and sometimes substitutes the inheritance that a woman would receive from her parents. Even though it's officially prohibited, incidents of dowry deaths are frequently covered in Indian newspapers. In certain areas, the amount of dowry demanded is directly connected to the groom's social status, creating significant challenges for lower-class families.

The issue of dowry in some cases causes women to either remain unmarried or become concubines if their families are too impoverished to offer a dowry. This custom originates from the traditional Indian perspective on women and is further influenced by religion, leading to the decline in women's status. Dowry problems persist across India, despite laws attempting to regulate dowry and associated violence having minimal effect on its actual practice in many instances.

In India, the number of dowry deaths has significantly increased over the years. In the early 1980s, there were about 400 cases per year, but by the mid-1990s, this number had risen to around 5,800 annually. Currently, it is alarming to know that a dowry death happens every 93 minutes in India. This is considered to be the most severe consequence of dowry-related

issues and also contributes to promoting female foeticide. The field of medical technology has made positive progress in healthcare services, benefiting millions of people. An example of such progress is a low-cost and easily accessible test that can determine a newborn baby's gender. However, misuse of ultrasound imaging techniques has led parents to selectively choose their child's sex.

The misuse of modern technology is disheartening, especially in a society with a prejudice against female children. In the 1970s, India introduced an advanced reproductive technology that initially aimed to diagnose genetic deformities in unborn babies through amniocentesis. However, doctors in India prioritized using this technique for sex determination due to the country's obsession with having male offspring. As a result, numerous sex determination clinics rapidly emerged throughout the nation.

Doctors are providing hope for couples who want to have a son, resulting in a decline in the number of girls due to sex selective abortion. Every year, millions of female fetuses are brutally killed by their parents using advanced prenatal diagnostic techniques. It is unfortunate that these techniques for determining gender are now available even in remote areas. This has further exacerbated the existing gender gap in different aspects of our social and economic lives. It is a technological revolution with a regressive impact.

Addressing the issue of NRI marriage victimizing women is crucial due to its widespread occurrence in Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. The number of fraudulent marriages involving NRIs has been increasing in these regions, causing physical and mental distress for affected women. Media outlets regularly report numerous cases each month, while the National Commission for Women (NCW) receives multiple complaints

from deceived women residing abroad. NRI brides endure deceit, infidelity, broken promises, and unreasonable dowry demands. They also grapple with additional obstacles like divorce, abandonment, and child abduction.

According to the National Commission for Women (NCW), approximately 15,000 women in Punjab have been abandoned by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). In Gujarat, which has a significant NRI population, there is also a high number of abused women who need assistance. These women are particularly vulnerable while living abroad and often lack financial support, leaving them with no one to turn to during times of crisis. The increasing prevalence of NRI-Indian marriages due to globalization has made it challenging for the bride's parents in India to verify the qualifications and background of potential NRI grooms.