INTRODUCTION

The presence of dynamic interaction between gender, health and

development, create a growing concern by national and international
governments and communities. Gender based discriminations and
violence are to stay unless there is long term commitment and shared
action among various sectors including at the community level. Thus
it is timely and no wonders for making the gender issues information
available at the grass-roots level where the Health Extension Workers
will be posted.
The gender issues depicted here are not only the review of literatures
but also the result of observations of Gender based issues in real
situations and continuing effort for better ways of addressing it at the
grass roots level.
The status of women is the position women have as a group, in
different fields of societies. It is known that most women in the world
are the poorest of poor. They are excluded from access to and control
over the resources (money, land, time, information, technology,
health, materials… etc.).

The economic, social and political status of women has direct

bearings on the level of fertility in any society. Where women’s roles
are exclusively defined in terms of house hold management and
matrimonial duties as in the case of Ethiopia they are subjected to the
expectation that they replenish the race by bearing a large number of
children and assume full responsibility for maintaining them almost
single handedly. Since women are by and large economically
dependent on men, the decision to have children and to decide on
properties is totally rested in the hand of husbands.
Impact of Gender Inequality

The biggest problem we’re facing is that a lot of people still see gender
inequality as a women’s issue. However, by gender, we refer to all genders
including male, female, transgender and others.

When we empower all genders especially the marginalized ones, they can
lead their lives freely. Moreover, gender inequality results in not letting people
speak their minds. Ultimately, it hampers their future and compromises it.

History is proof that fighting gender inequality has resulted in stable and safe
societies. Due to gender inequality, we have a gender pay gap. Similarly, it
also exposes certain genders to violence and discrimination.

In addition, they also get objectified and receive socioeconomic inequality. All
of this ultimately results in severe anxiety, depression and even low self-
esteem. Therefore, we must all recognize that gender inequality harms
genders of all kinds. We must work collectively to stop these long-lasting
consequences

Causes of Gender Inequality in India

Gender inequality is a pervasive issue in India, impacting Indian women and
girls in a variety of ways. While there are many causes of gender inequality,
some of the most common include:

Poverty
Given all the development and recent rise to prominence, we often forget that
India is still one of the poorest countries in the world, and it is one of the
biggest reasons that lead to gender inequality in India. Despite the availability
of education in rural areas, families prefer sending their boys to school rather
than the girls of the family, which is one of the biggest disadvantages.

Patriarchal Setup in our Indian Society

Since time immemorial, India has been an extremely patriarchal society. The
patriarchal setup in Indian society contributed to the fundamental inequality
between men and women. As women were considered a part of the
household belonging to their father or husband, they were unable to get a say
in any matters concerning their own development or that of the community at
large.

Lack of Education or Illiteracy

The disparity between the literacy rates of men and women in India is a
known issue. Some regional states have higher disparity, while some other
states have better disparity. The problem is not that there are few literate
women in India, but rather the problem is the lack of awareness among
women to use their rights.

Lack of Awareness Among Women

One of the major causes of gender inequality is the lack of awareness among
women about their rights and their ability to achieve equality. This lack of
awareness is often due to the prevailing cultural and social norms, which
dictate that women should be subservient to men. It is important to break
down these barriers and help women become more aware of their rights so
that they can demand equality.
Social Customs, Beliefs and Practices
The views of society, customs and cultural practices play a big role in keeping
women at lower places in the society – refusing them opportunities, which are
generally provided to men, who are considered the dominant ones in India.
Addressing these causes is critical to achieving gender equality in India.
Gender inequality
Gender inequality is a persistent problem in societies
worldwide, resulting in injustice, deprivation, agony, and pain
for oppressed genders. Here are some highlights regarding the
plight of oppressed genders.

Infographics/Data regarding gender inequality :

• Globally, women make up only 24% of parliamentary seats and

hold less than 5% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies.

• Women earn approximately 77 cents for every dollar earned by

men globally.
•
• 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual
violence.
Status of Women – From Ancient India to Present Time Period
1. In ancient India, women were held in high esteem and the position of a
woman in the Vedas and the Upanishads was that of a mother (maata)
or goddess (Devi). In the early Vedic age, girls were looked after with
care.

2. Then practice of polygamy deteriorated the status of woman and in the

medieval period, the practices of purdah system, dowry, and sati came
into being.

3. With the passage of time, the status of woman was lowered. After the
advancements made in relevant science and technology, it led to the
misuse by practising female foeticide on a large scale. This has led to a
drop in the female ratio. According to the census 2001, the sex ratio in
India is 927 females to 1,000 males. Check out the detailed information
on the Sex Ratio on the given link. And then dowry has become
common and started Female infanticide practices in few areas. Read in
detail about Female Foeticide on the linked page.

4. In many parts of India, women are viewed as an economic liability

despite contribution in several ways to our society and economy. The
crime graph against women is increasing at an alarming rate. The
condition of an Indian widow is quite deplorable. Read in detail about
the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act on the linked page.

5. At home, the woman’s contribution towards home as a housewife is not

recognized.

6. Domestic Violence, Rape, Sexual Exploitation, molestation, eve-

teasing, forced prostitution, sexual harassment at workplaces, etc are a
common affair today and in some cases, it’s too tragic that it gets global
attention.
• Check out the following links for relevant information-
• Violence against Women – RSTV Big Picture
• Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO)
• Sexual Harassment at Work Place
• Right Against Exploitation

7. The major reasons for this inequality are identified as the need for a
male heir for the family, huge dowry, continued financial support to a girl
 child, poverty, domestic violence, farming as a major job for poor and
the caste system. Read about the following for detailed information –
• Poverty – A Social challenge
• Caste System
8. At work, the disparity is visible through a different working environment
for women, unequal wages, undignified treatment, sexual harassment,
higher working hours, engagement in harmful industries, occupational
hazards, working roughly twice as many hours as men and a nearly 27
percentage of women are accounted by unpaid activities.

9. Violence against women is also prominent in India. As per some reports

every 42 minutes sexual harassment occurs, every 43 minutes a
woman is kidnapped and every 93 minutes a woman is burnt for dowry.
And by the pre-quarter of reported, rapes involve girls under the age of
16 years. Every 26 minutes a woman is molested and every 34 minutes
a rape take place.

10. Poor health care is another attitude towards women which makes them
a vulnerable section of the society. You can read more on –
• Vulnerability due to Caste
• Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections in India

11. Lack of education in women has lead to poor levels of literacy. Read
about Rural illiteracy among girls on the given link. Also, read
about School education and Literacy on the linked page.

12. The discriminative socialization process is another aspect of inequality

towards women which leads to customary practices, more involvement
in household activities only (boys not allowed), restricted to play,
isolation, separation in schools and public places and restrictions to
move freely.

13. Detrimental cultural practices like after marriage husbands dominating

the family, dominance from In-laws family, members, never or rarely
considered for any decision making, limitations in continuing
relationships with brothers, sisters, relatives, child or early marriage,
patriarchal attitudes and not able to continue girl or boy friendship after
marriage are also contributing factor to the inequality.

Ideology of Women Towards Gender Inequality:

 Many women are actively fighting against gender inequality and
advocating for equal rights. They challenge traditional gender roles
and fight for equal opportunities in various fields, including
education, employment, and politics.

Movements Against Gender Inequality:

Several movements have emerged to address gender inequality,
including the following : -

1. Feminism :- A social and political movement advocating for

gender equality and challenging patriarchal norms.

2. Me Too Movement :- A movement that aims to raise awareness

about sexual harassment and assault, encouraging survivors to
share their experiences.

The #MeToo movement gained worldwide attention as women

shared their experiences of sexual harassment and assault. The
movement aims to bring about systemic change, challenge power
dynamics, and promote accountability for perpetrators.

Discrimination at Different Places :-

Gender discrimination is prevalent in various settings, including the
following:-
• Home :- Unequal division of household chores and
traditional gender roles.

• Workplace :- Gender pay gap, limited access to leadership

positions, and workplace harassment.

• Education :- Gender stereotypes, unequal access to

education, and limited representation in certain fields of study

Reference of Gender Inequality with chapters

 • Kamala Das and "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" :
Kamala Das, an Indian writer, depicted the struggles and
aspirations of women in her literature. In her poem "Aunt Jennifer's
Tigers," Das explores themes of gender inequality, societal
expectations, and the longing for freedom and empowerment.

• Kamala Das: The Voice of Indian Women's Quest

for Liberation :-
Kamala Das's autobiographical verse reflects her journey as a
woman in a patriarchal society. Through her writings, she expresses
her desire for liberation, breaking societal norms, and finding her
own voice.

Memories of Childhood:-
Without specific information about "Memories of Childhood," it is
difficult to provide relevant insights. However, childhood
experiences shape individuals' perceptions of gender roles and can
influence their attitudes towards gender equality

Steps that can be taken to minimize

Gender inequality
1. Bringing Change in Mindset :-
Changing the mindset of people requires education, awareness,
and fostering a culture of respect and equality. Promoting gender-
sensitive education, challenging stereotypes, and promoting
inclusive policies are crucial steps towards mindset transformation.

2. Strict punishment should be handed out to people promoting

female foeticide.

3. Raising awareness about women rights and increasing access to

education through schemes such as Beti Bachao and Beti
Padhao.
4. EMPOWERMENT AGAINST GENDER STEREOTYPING:-

Accurate presentation of women’s image in media and their

positive role as media persons in transforming perceptions.

5. Promotion of property rights including land rights and control

over financial and economic assets, access to credit support for
entrepreneurship development.
6. Promoting girl child education programmes in rural areas.

7. Promoting the responsibilities equally on both male and female

like parenting or guiding.

8. Inspiring women and girls to join and attend male dominant

courses like marine forces science etc. special educational
programme should be included with the aid of e-learning.

CONCLUSION
Women are treated as second-class citizens in India, and the
situation is getting worse. The country’s record on gender equality is
 dismal. According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF),
India ranked 134th out of 145 countries for gender parity in 2018,
down from 130th in 2017.
Without a doubt, this is a wake-up call for all of us. We all have to
join hands and help women overcome these discrimination crises.
We need to create awareness among Indian women about their
legal rights. There are various organisations that work towards
creating awareness about women’s rights and equality, like Care
India.
We need to support such organisations vigorously working to
provide women with equal opportunities and rights. Additionally, we
need to bring about a change in the mindset of people, especially
men, who still believe that women are inferior to them.
We need to inject the concept of women’s empowerment into
everybody’s minds.
Majorly, we have to work on five main concerns-
• Give women access to education just like men

• Give women opportunities to be in power and achieve economic

success.

• Stop the violence and sexual assault against women.

• End child marriages

• Aware women about women’s rights in India

By focusing on these five major points, we can hope to achieve

equality between men and women in our society. It is neither difficult
nor impossible; we all can do it, together.