Policy Analysis Essay:

Whither Women Emancipation in India? Challenges and Road Ahead

Applicant: George Lawrence George

Historical Dichotomy
The entrenchment of gender inequality and the existence of patriarchy are global phenomena that have
existed for over six millennia (Kraemer 1991). Aristotles exclusion of women from political activity and
Rousseaus argument that women should be educated differently and excluded from citizenship provide
us ample space to keep us from the fallacy of observing women subjugation as Indias malaise alone. In
fact, as is borne out by the Vedic scriptures, (Subramanyam 2014)& (Sengupta 2015) ancient Indian
society was gender neutral and women enjoyed a very high standard of learning and culture. However,
when the first, second and third waves of feminism promoted significant progress in women emancipation
in the global arena, India was traversing in the reverse direction where women became the captives of
tradition and culture. The colonial Britons did their bit to further the cause of Indian women (Kumari 2010),
but it was the Constitution of India enacted in 1950 that provided the opportunity for women to fight for
their dignity and legal rights.
Women Empowerment initiatives in India
A paradigm shift occurred in independent India from the Fifth Five Year Plan with the setting up of the
National Commission for Women in 1992 as an apex body that coordinates Governments women
empowerment programs that are introduced by various ministries (NCW, National Commision for Women
1992). Since then, a large number of schemes, including the reservation of seats for women in local
bodies (Ghai), health care programmes like the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) that provides
free maternity care at the public health institutions and educational schemes like the National Mission for
Female Literacy (Hindu 2009) that seeks to eliminate the literacy gap of 16.2% between men and women,
were introduced. The Bharatiya Mahila Bank, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Kudumbashree and the
Kanyshree Prakalpa Programme are few among the schemes that are launched every year (wcd). The
legal fraternity, energized by women rights groups and NGOs, was instrumental in the enactment of
numerous progressive legislations affecting women over the decades. (NCW, Laws Related to Women)
Unsolved problems
Notwithstanding the many legislations that aim at safeguarding womens rights and the heavily funded
women empowerment schemes, the Indian society is far from normal and has been witnessing atrocities
like the Delhi rape, lynching and hanging of the Badaun girls on a tree in Haryana, the Mumbai rape,
thousands of unreported marital rapes and other egregious acts against women. The sex ratio hit a new
low in the 2011 decennial census (Census 2011) as there are only 919 girls compared to the 927 as per
the 2001 census, Haryana being the worst performer with 834 girls for 1000 boys. Even in a developed
state like Punjab, more than 154 girls are missing vis-a-vis 1000 boys. India faces vehement
international flak when it comes to the treatment of its women. A global survey compiled by the Thomson
Reuters Foundation declared India as the fourth most dangerous country in the world to be a woman.
(The Guardian 2011)

Policy Analysis Essay:

Whither Women Emancipation in India? Challenges and Road Ahead
Applicant: George Lawrence George
It is arguable that the pathetic plight of Indian womanhood is predicated on patriarchy and misogyny
which are deeply rooted in the Indian psyche down the centuries (Leeza Mangaldas 2013). The social
acceptance of Khap Panchayats, honour killings, banning women from temples like Sabarimala, domestic
violence etc. has not only affected the mind-set of the male population, but has also made women passive
accomplices even though they may not actively support them (Chatterjee 1989).
Gender segregation being relatively higher in Indian society (Chakraborthy 2013), people tend to assign
jobs and platforms differently to men and women. Traditional families are intolerant of premarital sex
(Arnett) and even academics find it embarrassing to teach the mysteries of sexuality at school (Suman).
At the same time, globalisation has brought about a cultural mix and an irreversible shift in the Indian
society as well (McQuarrie 2013). What one sees as a globalised culture in the media and on the city
streets has a stark difference from the values imposed at home (Derne 2005) encouraging sexual
frustration. Therefore, a globalised culture along with unfulfilled sexuality can lead to an unwholesome
addiction to pornography and even to crimes.

Leaving no stone unturned

India has made significant efforts in passing legislations to protect women from sexual violence, bridge
the literacy gap and provide maternal health facilities. However, Women empowerment policies, despite
their acclaimed modalities of implementation, will prove ineffective if they cannot create an impact on the
outlook of the people. Social attitudes, traditions and culture are endogenous factors that will take a long
time to get transformed. But public policies can catalyse this process and it requires a philosophical
rethink in addressing the causes of gender disparity in India.
Recommendations
1. Initiate highly effective sex education campaigns in educational institutions using
selected and trained personnel.
The Justice Verma Committee report on gender violence reiterates the need for restructuring the
edifice of our educational system which must focus on gender mainstreaming (J. Verma 2013).
Promoting comprehensive and effective sex education in high schools and colleges would
demystify the sexuality of the opposite gender. It will also help them to be more realistic in their
attitude to sex befuddled by delusions and fantasies germinated by pornography.
2. Train facilitators to be unbiased and open-minded.
Excessive gender segregation at home prevalent in India often leads to its perpetuation in
educational institutions too. It could be righted by training our facilitators to be broad minded and
morally upright while engaging students in activities. The camaraderie thus developed between
boys and girls can transform the way they look upon the society.

Policy Analysis Essay:

Whither Women Emancipation in India? Challenges and Road Ahead
Applicant: George Lawrence George
3. Enlighten people on the legalisation of consensual sex. Ban brothels and middlemen.
Dealing with sexual frustrations entails a planned and pragmatic approach. Simply banning
pornography would do more harm. On the other hand, promoting brothels is also pointless as
they just provide another platform for exploitation and harassment of women by men. But
prostitution has been, is and will be the oldest profession. A novel idea postulated in an article in
The Economist suggested the creation of an internet platform where buyers and sellers could
meet without the influence of middlemen. Thus, banning brothels but legalising consensual sex
could help reduce sexual frustrations of the community. This argument is buttressed by a
development on Rhode Island in the United States. When the government unintentionally
decriminalised indoor prostitution between 2003 and 2009, the state showed a steep decline in
reported rape cases. (S. a. Cunningham 2014)
4. Take educated, empowered and powerful women on board to inspire and lead.
The role played by women even in a man-centric society is significant. Standing up to a husband
or son who opposes a girls freedom to choose what she wants, helping a woman who is publicly
humiliated, reporting an incident of domestic violence in the vicinity or forming pressure groups
in villages to end oppression are ways to challenge and change the social system. Cutting across
party lines, women in power should come together to form advocacy groups. As Madeleine
Albright said, there is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women.
5. Diversify employment opportunities for women.
Women must break away from the bait of traditional soft jobs like secretaries, teachers, nurses
and receptionists and participate more actively in men dominated professions like entrepreneurs,
scientists, chief executive officers, engineers in heavy equipment manufacturing, pioneers in
innovation etc. This will help in the elimination of occupational segregation. And one notices
these changes around us in small proportions. Support them and bring them to limelight so that
they become an inspiration for others. Women engaging in employment has its own merits.
Firstly, they enjoy the benefits of financial independence which make them less vulnerable to
domestic violence. Secondly, being bread winners elevates their status and wins respect in the
family. Thirdly, working outside home provides them with experience of the outside world which
would make them aware of their rights and opportunities and thus proactive.
We can draw a parallel between Indias quest for emancipation of women and fight against slavery in the
US. Even though Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it
took more than a century for Americans to abjure this evil. However, No sooner had slavery been
abolished than the masters of the slaves embarked upon crushing the liberation of slaves. The wretched
souls were lynched and even hung on trees. The US has traversed a long distance from those dark days
and today the Afro-Americans bask in the warm sunshine of liberty, equality and fraternity in large
measure. Their success story can offer lessons to and inspire the torch bearers of women emancipation
in India. But our predicament can be likened to a society caught up in the middle of an ocean. There are
but two choices: either swim ashore or sink in the vortex.

Policy Analysis Essay:

Whither Women Emancipation in India? Challenges and Road Ahead
Applicant: George Lawrence George

Total Words: 1472

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Whither Women Emancipation in India? Challenges and Road Ahead
Applicant: George Lawrence George
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