History

Download as docx, pdf, or txt
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 14

CHANGING NATURE OF GENDER IN INDIA

Submitted by: ISHITA

Batch 2022-27, BA LLB.

Division E

PRN:2201223088

Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA

Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune

In

September 2022

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Pooja Kapoor


(Course in Charge, History)
ABSTRACT
In a complex society like India, women's standing isn't always constant.
Due to financial constraints, the traditional responsibilities of women
have recently undergone some adjustments, and efforts have been made
to demonstrate how committed women are to the overall advancement
and progress of society. It is possible to gauge the position of women in
India by looking at the social context, cultural norms, and value systems.
These factors shape people's perspectives and establish the roles and
places of women in society.
Institutions like inheritance, wedding, family, work, education, customs,
conventions, and values are just a few of the many that make up a
society. They give men and women an ideological and moral foundation
for their rights, obligations, positions, and responsibilities. This research
paper's primary goal is to comprehend how women's standing has
changed throughout Indian society.
INTRODUCTION
Social divisions are a constant feature of human civilisation. And one
such example is gender division. While Men held the responsible for
earning, women were responsible for home making and heir
reproduction. A historical look at early Indian culture demonstrates a
declining trend in women's status. Women's status in ancient Times were
not on an equal basis with men.
Women were only thought of as wives and mothers. Since time
immemorial, Indian women have been considered inferior to men. The
Indian patriarchal society has never allowed its women to work outside
the four walls of the kitchen!

Research Objective
The main object of this research paper is to trace and understand that
what all problems and difficulties had to be faced by Indian Women in
Past and how the position of women has evolved and changed over time
from Ancient India to the present times

Research Methodology
This research paper is based on secondary research, for which I
consulted several books, journals, and articles.
I used the secondary, qualitative research methodology for the research
paper, and I primarily gathered resources from the online journals
websites offered to us by the college.

Women in Ancient India


The mother divinity was glorified in India's ancient Indus valley
civilisation, according to evidence. It is stated that during the Rig Vedic
era, the relevance of women was valued, particularly in religious events.
Dowry was non-existent of in Rig Vedic society. However, Marriage was
widely seen as a gift.
The women enjoyed a respectable place in the home. Sati existed, was
prevalent at this time period but it was only available to warriors. In
specific conditions, widows were permitted to marry. The presence of
female educators, many of whom held advanced spiritual knowledge, was
the most appealing aspect of this era. (Kapur 2019)

Early Vedic Age


The Vedic period witnessed the historical evolution of human civilization
from nomadic to sedentary. There is evidence that women were afforded
some respect and possibilities in household life during the early Vedic
age. She was regarded as her children's creator, protector, and educator.
Women were given the opportunity to participate in sacrifices with their
husbands. Men and women can engage equally in all governmental,
financial, and religious concerns, which were relatively simple to
organise and operate.

Later Vedic Age

Women's status has declined, in contrast to the status held in the Rig
Veda. Women's entry was denied attend in public assemblies including
Sabhas or Samitis. They were forbidden the right to participate in
numerous rites, including the Upanayana ceremony. Religion sanctified
these additional restrictions on women. Women were oppressed twice as
the caste system grew entrenched and also the Varna system devolved
into the oppressive Jati system. Girls' education was discontinued, and
the family structure remained patriarchal.

Status of Women in Medieval India

Early Medieval Period: Women's responsibility was to


unconditionally obey their husband. Women were still forbidden the
privilege to read the Vedas. In addition, the marital age for girls was
reduced, eliminating their chances for higher education. However, it can
be observed from few of the period's theatrical works that the court
women were capable of composing outstanding Sanskrit and Prakrit
poetry. Women were provided with the authority to acquire the property
of her male family members in order to protect the ownership of a family.
(Srivastava, Status of Women in India: Ancient, Medieval and
Modern n.d.)

Medieval India: Indian history throughout the Middle Ages spans


500 years. It focuses mostly on the history of Muslim tyrants. In India,
Muslims first appeared as a warrior class. The Delhi Sultanate Era and
the Mughal Era are the two periods of their dominion in India. Razia
Sultan was the only woman to have ever held the throne of Delhi. When
Muslims arrived in India, Indian women's social mobility was
constrained. These young brides were not allowed to grow intellectually,
physically, or spiritually. (Magadh Mahila College n.d.)

Indian Women during the 19th Century

The British established their dominion in India, and modernization began


in the nineteenth century. During the British administration in India, the
status of women reached at its lowest. Purdah was strictly enforced on
Muslim women. Almost all Hindu temples publicly accommodated
devadasis.
British control aimed to alleviate all of these issues. The British
administration took significant attempts to alter India's caste-based
social system. On December 4, 1892, the British administration in India
enacted the famous resolution making sati a culpable homicide
punishable by penalty, jail, or both. Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated the
educated Indian viewpoint, arguing that sati practise had no religious
legitimacy. The acknowledgement of the widow's right to remarriage was
a natural result of the eradication of sati. (Srivastava, Status of Women in
India: Ancient, Medieval and Modern n.d.)

Women in Present times

After all of the battles in the old days for the growth of women, the status
of women in India has greatly improved. Many laws and rules are
established to protect women's rights. Following the proclamation of
independence, female educational rights were promoted, ever since, the
percentage of women pursuing higher education has steadily climbed.
The government offered women who wanted to seek higher education a
number of privileges, including scholarships, loan options, dormitory
accommodations, etc. Many women are now able to seek higher
education because to these incentives. (The Position of Women in Indian
Society After Independence 2019)

In India, throughout the


country, the status of
women is still in a
deprived state. The
women, belonging to
deprived, marginalized
and socio-economically
backward sections of
the society are the ones,
who mainly experience
problems and
challenges that leads to
a
decline in their status.
These are, verbal abuse,
physical abuse, sexual
harassment, trafficking,
dowry harassment,
neglect, discriminatory
treatment, poverty,
backwardness,
illiteracy,
unawareness and
unemployment.
Therefore, it is vital to
generate awareness and
formulate
measures that would
help in eliminating all
these problems and
encouraging them
towards
attainment of
empowerment
opportunities. When
acquiring an
understanding of the
measures
for bringing about
improvements in the
status of women, it is
vital to generate
information in
terms of various areas.
The main areas that
have been taken into
account in this research
paper include, social
status of women,
economic status of
women, political status
of women,
measures to improve
status of women, human
rights of women,
protection of women’s
rights
by the Constitution of
India and Indian Laws
for the protection of
women’s rights
In India, throughout the
country, the status of
women is still in a
deprived state. The
women, belonging to
deprived, marginalized
and socio-economically
backward sections of
the society are the ones,
who mainly experience
problems and
challenges that leads to
a
decline in their status.
These are, verbal abuse,
physical abuse, sexual
harassment, trafficking,
dowry harassment,
neglect, discriminatory
treatment, poverty,
backwardness,
illiteracy,
unawareness and
unemployment.
Therefore, it is vital to
generate awareness and
formulate
measures that would
help in eliminating all
these problems and
encouraging them
towards
attainment of
empowerment
opportunities. When
acquiring an
understanding of the
measures
for bringing about
improvements in the
status of women, it is
vital to generate
information in
terms of various areas.
The main areas that
have been taken into
account in this research
paper include, social
status of women,
economic status of
women, political status
of women,
measures to improve
status of women, human
rights of women,
protection of women’s
rights
by the Constitution of
India and Indian Laws
for the protection of
women’s rights
Conclusion
Women have gone through a lot of struggles in the past to get equal
respect and representation in society as that of men.
Swami Vivekananda, India's famous philosopher, noted that just as a bird
flies in the air with the help of its two feathers, society runs on the equal
participation of both man and female. As in the bird of society, males
belong in one wing and women in the other, and society will never grow
unless both men and women participate and contribute equally.

Bibliography
Kapur, Radhika. 2019. “Status of Women in Ancient India.” ResearchGate.

Magadh Mahila College. n.d. “Status-of-Women-in-Medieval-India.”

Srivastava, P. n.d. “Status of Women in India: Ancient, Medieval and Modern .” Sociology Discussion.

2019. “The Position of Women in Indian Society After Independence.” I Pleaders.

You might also like