Gender Discrimination

Women and men are equally important for the growth and development of individual and
social lives. The women play the important role as mother and the same makes it unique.
However, careful analysis of Indian society indicates that the situation is not good for
women folk. The sex ratio of male and female in the India population has been changing
and becoming unfavourable towards women. In the Indian society women are considered
major contributors to family and society. We have gods and goddesses both and one of
the incarnation of lord Shiva is Ardhanareeshwar, which is made of half male and half
female in its constitution. Unfortunately this equality and prominence tells an incomplete
fact. The women are also subjected to discrimination in learning, dowry deaths and
exploitations of various kinds which are very common. In fact the women are becoming
targets of atrocities of many types. The same is manifested in discrimination against them
from very early period. The incident of infanticide, early marriage, emphasis on domestic
activities and lessor emphasis on education and career have made women’s lives full of
problems. They are discriminated against from early childhood. The Indian dependence
on others (e.g. parents, husbands) becomes fate of the majority of the women folk. The
pattern of discrimination against women varies across rural, urban and tribal areas. They
are assigned diverse responsibilities and treated as relatively weaker and less competent.
This image is still prevailing in various sections of the society. It is reflected in the
discriminatory practices in the family such as distribution of work, food and social activities.
The girl child is usually burdened with responsibilities that are beyond her capacity. Such
exploitations function as obstacles in the process of development and growth of the girl
child.
When a girl child matures and becomes an adult she is often found to be physically weak
and mentally constrained. They are neither able to realize their potentials nor able to
contribute to the mainstream of society. Their contributions are often limited to family and
that too are ignored.
However, some Indian women have been able to overcome the barriers in their path and
became successful in many walks of life. In this connection one can mention the names of
Pandita Rama Bai, Sarojini Naidu, Indira Gandhi who emerged as leaders at national
level. The provsion for education, legal provisions about the age of marriage and reservation
for women in various walks of life has contributed to change in their situation. Today the
presence of women in various occupations and public offices is much more prominent than
what it used to be during earlier periods. However, the Indian society has still to go a long
way as for as gender equality is concerned.