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Social Justice and Women Empowerment: A Social Work Approach

Article · December 2006

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 PARTICIPATIVE

DEVELOPMENT

A Special lssue on
Social Justice and Empowerment
 PARTICIPATIVE
DEVELOPMENT

or. snivaiilio xaoam

Pro-Vice Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune
& UGC Member

Dr. Sutendra Singh

Vice Chancellor'
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi
Prof. Dr. S'F. Patil
Vice Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune
& President, Association of Indian Universities
Dr. U. B. Bhoite
Former Vice-Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune

Dr. H. M. Marulasiddhaih
Retd. Prof., Bangalore University, Bangalore

DDITORIALBOARD
Prof. Joseph Troisi,
Directo(
Intemational Institute on Ageing,
Malta Universiiy, Malla.

Dr. Manohar Pawar

School ol Humanities & Social Sciences,
Charles Slturt University, Australia

Dr. SwaPan Garain,

TaA Institute of Social Scisnces, Mumbai

Dr.Saiid S.M.
Jamia Milia lslamia, New Delhl

Dr. lqbal Subhedar

Devachand College, Ariun Nagar, Kolhapur'

. Dr, A. Dayanand
Gulbarga University, Gulbarga.

Prof. Vilas Bet

Director, Walchand College ol Social Work, Solapur

Dr. B,T.Lawani
Editor-in-Chief
Social Sciences Centre
Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Erandawane, Pune-411 038
Phone: 020-25286053 & 25431891
Fax : 020-25448520 Email: drlawani@yahoo.com
 Afl 'rr r.'l C-rrrc&red dct
Dffi
PARTICIPATTVE
DEVELOPMENT S LLC)<6t-
CONTENTS
o 6-0 L. &n+
Sr.
Topics ': i.
No Authors Page
No "
I &litorial
2
2 Empowerment and Social
Justice :
A social Work perspective Dr. P.D. Mishra &
Mr. Rakesh Dwivedi
3 Empowerment : A Theoretical perspective
Dr. K. Visweswara Rao
4 Empowering the powerless
:
73d Constitutional Amendment
& Emerging
Leadership Among rhe Scheduled
Tribei in Orissa Mr. Jagannath Ambagudia
14
and Soc_ial Justice in North
|1men Easr lndia :
A utscernment from Tribal
Societres
Dr. Asok Sarkar
t9
6 Women Empowerment t
hrough SelfHelp Groups
In Karnataka Dr Y.S. Siddegowda &
Mr. Jagdish B.
24
7 Disability and Social Justice
in India
Mr. Tata Ramakrishna
8 Social Impact ofJustice
Prof. Awasarikar D.p
^a
9 National Commission for
Denotified, Nomadic and
Semi-Nomadic Tribes :
A Hisroric Set up by Union
Govemment
Mr. Jagadish Jadhav
l0 The Right to Information
Act :
Reinforcement of Democratic
Foundations Dr.B.T. Lawani
ll Social Justice and Women
Empowerment :
A Social Work Approach
Dr. B.S. Gunjal
12 The Domestic Violence
Act, 2005:
An Empowering Weapon for Dr.B.T. Lawani &
Women
Dr. B.Ramesh
13. Book Review

I
I

)
 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
ASOCIALWORKPERSPETryE
Introduction
The concept of freedom, justice and
equality are always appreciated and accepted
by the people. We are interested in the ushering
of a Just society' - a society that mainains a
balance between the competing claims of
unequal persons. Since absolute equality and
equal distribution of resources is neitherpossible
nor feasible, we want a societv q.here
developmental opportunities are distributed in
an equitable and justifiable manner It should
be a discrimination-free society in the oppressed
and the exploited and disposed and
disadvantaged sections of sosrer). are not
sidelined in sharing the benefirs of rhe
development. The country's notion of social
Justice stand in strict conformirv $ith
constitutional proclaims regarding the,\ation.s
resolve to "secure to the citizens. social.
economic and political justice and equalitl,.pf
slatus and opportu n ity".
Social Justice
According to Srivastava, Social Justice,
in the Indian context, refers to reconstruction
of social order, means rearrangement of social
relationships on the basis of equality. In terms
cf its culture-specificity, social Justice in India
means dispensing justice to those whom it has
been systematically denied in the past, in effect,
to those who have been historically subjected
to social wrongs.
58
ar\
\
Dr B.S. Gunjal
Reader, Deparrmenr of Sociat Wo.k.
Assam University. Sitchar
'Social' means something that pertains
to the structure of society, more precisely to
the auangement of social and economic
relations. Viewed in relation to
iustice, the term
'social' includes economics as
well as political
aspects of a society.
Anstotle said, ,,Justice is equality, as all
Of them believe to be, quite apart from any
argument". Thejudiciary meaning ofjustice are
treatlng people equally except when unequal
treatment isjustified by moral consideration of
substantial weight in the circumstances.
Considering Justice in relation ro ,social,, the
term refers Iife ofall its members ofsociety no
matter how different they are. It allows them
equal consideration, equal opportunity and
equality before the law.
The meaning of social justice is very
illusive. The word is being widely used by the
people ofdifferent category viz. general masses,
politicians. refbrmers, actj vists and academicians
in their day-to-day discussions.
Social justice is generally explained in
terms of liberty, equality and fraternity. The
quest for social .;ustice begins in a siruation in
which some sections ofsociety are more or less
permanently in a disadvantaged and
underprivileged position vis-i-vis other sections
so that they are constantly oppressed and
exploited so Iong as the situation continues. The
oppressed themselves are not responsible for
their disabilities, backwardness and vulnerability.
Participative Dcaer opn"n t, jitt -1ii^ t", zOoe
 Thus. the basic
premise of
"'"n"rpu,;on oi,i;;;:';;,'""'"' justice
* o' *o
is p::e]e ro asserr
rheir conrrol

il"T:ff ;.r;""",Tffi lffi "'

which ar-recr ,n.,.
i,"., , *"ui.,ll;;l;r*.,""

comprises rhree Empowerment

_ ,,u--.. lo",ul.rrrtice
equaliry elemenrs .of Women
and lratemity. ro,,oLr ancienr
,-,rDeny. These eJements
_":.:::raj"g Shasrras. uoman
j::l
J,_i"l".,"
inseparabte'rnn,ry.
Absence jllTfl.::
Jri lds
rhe.embodimenr of .Shakri..
u, ,rcm means ",,! equated with goddess .
r,,.,,_ denial of Social

Tiff ff ffi:Jil:iH:T ;iti[:";:ff ::-;;";;il : J:;il:il;

"**i: J:
j:I;,::,.:r:ssenriar
,

for securing Sociar

d-ependenr had ro
,"r"* .r",""l,Itlan be
;J rfrer mxrri2gg parent\ and
n". nrii_o ""r
Dr. damage ro ,r. "" This did grear
.Ambeclkar con I ri hut e.s 1,,
under four ,o,"ro,i,"r', "'" :ocial Jusrice
p^i,i""
I jll,ll,-1., n:, 1,,; ;; ;"i*"^ ;i, j [,j::
;il::
ro emancrpation excluded from
,::iln_burion the-various rierd
.., ofrhe Schedured
and ;:;;rt* or
il]lonlenr of
' ll,l;llll"" Casres
Empowerment
the inrererr of of
rhe deveroping
,t,a, ua ,o."
"' iurnen
women means
mean:
who are poriticallv - 'J individuais,
Inotviduais.
ja. l:::::..:, in rhe position or women nnl;r;^^rr- ;",,,,:"':"
*,.,"s. economically
ino.p.no.n,,no ",;:T;:' jj
Detterment in rhe lroductiVe ana ;^ul_
condirion of hbour
l:11i:?"1i:ri
male inreriigenr
d*trl",. i" rrllllers
_-ll" 'rre
abie l(
[n.d"u.loping
counrries like India .hem
them. lhal a ffec t
,,..,.^-.
rve rjare with
lation of the state Wornen s empowerment
^orien
and with vast .inrroduced i concepr wa\
"*,o,._""onor,. and political inequaliries ,, ,;. ;;;;;;';,1'l
rcrurrtng from
basicallv oo"
il:i y"'#:j
;; J:'; ;:l"J"ff :T::il;,,,"'"'j,il,:,,.h ;
;i: T:;: T; ;:;1
,i,1""t"]i'l_l....:nd
'"ucropment will
particularty
opporrun i r,es
have to hp o;,,-
ror ful iesr
to every one.
;'ffi #i:;;::"ffi ;; i# .,.. ."J:r
o, .o*,r"" ."j,lln ro economic
assets mark the
situ
ll",'ill'::,, ".. r";;,';
wcaKer and vulnerable J;";,il::: :T ;"J il,',1t:1, ]t'.:'^l'' ;.;; :'ffi il:i;:;;
sections.

c:ncept of Empowerment *j:*:iuffr:rri::*ffi:1

,,,:::^ll"*.n
s now
*. rerm,empowcrmen| ffii":ffH:fl;Jf rierd or educarion

accepted in ,ha u.,."""'',,,.nt

evelopment il is
ha.o,. n"i,-]lluo'',tt
and difficult
.t ;::Tl.:: ffJj ;ni;j. H ;i
i;il':*societv
nDlemF.r;_,Lj ,-.-.*._.errne
,itt otou0ast to
sense. Empor.r
erment
nor possibte ,",*, ii",l." lln,anv
is
uc 0escflbed .a( , process,
^.-r^^" as a ^-^^^ which helps
:i:'. F.# 200b.
: : :J":", t,es (Mor
uPPurrunr ffi ;;l 3 ,;ffi:
D.p.
Women Empowerm€nt: A GlimPse
Women today are considered as a weaker
sex. They are given a subordinate status in Hindu
society. A considerable amount of abuse and
harassment of women also takes place within
the family. Violence at home is a common and
is not confined to poor or illiterate families as
often presumed.
In some communities female babies and girl
children have been known to be systematically
subjected to purposive neglect. The extreme
form of such neglect and abuse is manifested
in female feticide and infanticide. Dowry has
been the cause of harassment of young brides
in thousands of reported cases at times leading
to death.
Empowerment of women is not a one-way
pfocess. Adult educators and activists cannot
empower. It is a two way process in which we
empower and get empowered in turn.
Empowerment implies power. This may be
broadly defined as control over material assets.
intellectual resources and ideology.
Empowerment Process
The proces: of challenging the existing pou er
relation and of gaining greater control over the
sources of power may be termed
empowerment. This is how feminist scholars
and activists have broadly defined the tenn. At
the same time empowerment is an active, multi-
dimensional process. which enables women to
realize their full identity and power in all spheres
of life. It is not a commodity to be transmitted
nor can it be ,away. Power has to be acquired
and once acquired it needs to be executed,
sustained and preserved. Empowerment ls a
process of awareness and capacity building to
greater political decision making and
transformative action.
60
Broad Categories of Empowerment
Economic Empowerment:
Present day woman's empowerment
is a global issue particularly for the third world
countries. Economic empowerment is the key
end may lead to;#J kinds of development.
Economic empowerment in this bontext
gradually increases the control to poor women
for the entire economic progress. Thus.
economic empowerment intewention is posited
not only for enhanced income but also increase
empowerment of women.
Social Empowerment:
Social empowerment is a long-term
goal. It includes equality of treatment, equality
of oppofiunity, equality of recognition etc. The
Constitution of India grants equality to women
and the fundamental rights ensures equality
before law, equal protection of law etc.
Politic al Emp o b) erment :
Till the end of nineteenth century the
rvomen in India were crushed under the wright
of evil customs. They were socially weak,
economically dependent and political ly
powerless and influenced by the male menbers
of the family. Women participation in political
as decision making is the cmpowerment of womet.t
in real sense.
Social Work Perspective
Here an attempt has been made to
explain the social work methods viz, social
case work, social group work, community
organization, and socjal work research and
their usage by trained social workers in
attainment of woman empowerment.
Social Case Work
As an important method of social u'ork it is
applied in dealing with the individual in his
Participative Developne t : l lJ' Decenbe. 2006
 envlronment, whenever he has some
individual hurdles for social justice and empowerment
needs to be fulfilled. In the exisring
Indian socio_
of
women,
economic situations, the interventlon
of social
case work has iB own impor-tance
in developing
It can be
undoubtedly said here that the
individual about over all development social work knowledge and training
ofhis/her largely help
family in particular and communrty to meet the task. Und6r the various
as a whole. National
The social worker and social engrneer level programs of women. The panicipation
get rn
touch with individual families, try to women in the various committees
find out their right from the
socro-economic and psychological Panchyath to Loka Sabha will
factors that help artaining
lnlluence of the available social justice and empowerment
services in of women. In
empowenng women. this situation social work knowledge
will become
an instrumental an attaining the goal
In the present era ofwomen empowerment of social
many services have been provided
Juslrce and empowerment of women al lhe
to the women National level.
folk for e.g. economic, political and
social
empowerment. Under the various
schemes /
programs of the government. Social Group Work
In this situation
professional social worker can play
the role of Social Group Work method could
a liaison between available resources also be
client. Asocial worker by using socral
and the used in
attaining social ..;ustrce and
casework empowerment of women. The needs.
method can help particular individual/ which
family in are not met Ihrough the social casework
need of these services through professional
method, could be met by means
relationship. of Group
Work. For example, a woman hesitant
to
A social case worker can also play the discuss about her personal problems
role would
ofcounselor in the crisis situation be encouraged to do so when
of the family she is allowed
by dealing with the problem on to share her problems with another
screntiUc lines, woman,
diagnose the root cause and give with the sfunilar problem. In the group
the socio_ living ,
scientific solutions to over come such group experience could, thus,
problem be helpful to
to empower them. The best example over come doubts, resistance. Thus,
the ill if a group
treatment of inlaws/domestic violence member tells the woman in question
/ dowry that she
problem / afocities / gender bias etc. Under rs tacrng lot of problem by the in_laws,
such circumstances, a trained social husband and other family members,
worker as she is
a social counselor can efficiently likely to be more convinced about the
and effectively
need
manage client problems by educating for change in her personal / family problems
/
awakenrng them about rhe various legislation and to protect herself, when the
/ suggestions
etc. in a larger scale. Only by means are made by the social worker
of at one _to_
fessional relationship, the client and one re lar ions[ip.
social
could be made to share and understand
The Group Work principles and skills
very personal and intimate issues are
such as very much essential in the field of
k of political participation / economrc women
empowerment particularly in education
/ social participation are causing and
awareness programmes. Further,
the social
Development : J U - December 2006
worker can organize and train the women folk
in organizing SHGs to helping each other with
their problems relating to economic
independence / family development. Women
with expertise in income generating activities
could say their expertise with other members
of the group. The Group in this manner may
help promote the exchange of knowledge and
experience. Similarly to participate in the
SHGs may share their knowledge and help
each other. The knowledgeable family
members may even share their experience
to the entire group their knowledge and skills
and can be mutually benefited.
The Professional social worker can also
avail the opportunity to impart knowledge to
entire group about new skills or provide
useful suggestions which may serve the
common needs of the whole group. In the
group. the phenomenon of identification also
comes into play whereby one member learns
tiom the example set by the other members.
The Group situation provides opportunity for
self-evaluation. sel f-perception. recognition
and ventilation of feelings of oneness and
common interest. Thus, the social group
worker to achieve the goal of economic
development of women may successfully
utilize the phenomenon of group pressure and
group contagion.
Community Organization
It is another method ofsocial work focusing
mainly upon bridging the gap between welfare
needs and resources in the community It is
concerned essentially about co-ordination and
extension of the various agencies available
to the individuals. For example, the social
worker as a community organizer has to first
62
make the community develop an attitude of
discontent towards the existing situation
(regarding evil customs cultural structures/
change of values) and take steps to bring
about the women folk about the political
participation of w,o;pen members.
The social worker maY/can try to
enhance community participation in the
political empowerment of women membets
by making use of community organization
techniques and skills in establishing contact
with the local social agencies, local leaders.
The social workers would be in a better
position to enhance community participation.
At the level of attaining the total political
panicipation, the social workers has to see that
people make theftrll use of the available facilities
from the social service agencies. The Social
',vorker may visit homes of rural/slum
dwellers to find out why they are not making
use ofthe services available next door or within a
proximity? Why are they not participating in
local Panchayaths? Why the women member
is not aware of participating in local
Panchayaths? After obtaining answets for
all qhese questions, the social worker would
be iri a better position to motivate the client(s)
to make use of the facilities available within
the v ic in ity of their own communitl.
Social Work Research
Social work research would also help in
undertaking systematic study to identify the
psychosocial problems which may be useful
in early diagnosis of the problem and further
help the social worket to undertake effective
measures to provide the best treatment. For
Padicipstive Development : .luly' December 2006
 example, a woman who is suffering
from ill Contemporary Social Work,
rreatment by the in_laws, lack Vol.XVI, April,
of awareness p.8s-89
in political participation etc. Is
it because of
the ignorance? Why the woman
member does Kishori, S. (2000): .Empowerment
3...
not seek the help at the earliest of
for their women in Rura.l Areas. Rural
problems? Is it due to the ignorance India, October,
on their p. 195. ),):
part or Is it due to the lack
of freedom? Are
they so busy in their household
activities and *_:Oo: U. (1992): ,Empowering people
have no little extra time to seek 1.
remedies for for Health and Family planning,
their psychosocial problem? Do 1ASSR,
the Husband/
Family members do not show much Quarterly, Vol. 1i, No. 2.
interest?
These and many other questlons
could be 5_..Mor.D.P(2002): .Legislation
understood and answered by and
making use of woman's Empowerment.
research knowledge. This knowledge "to.ra1 Wetfare, July,
may P. 195.
help in devising suitable measures
in the
successful attainment of Social
empowerment of women in the
Justice and 6. Singh, S.K (1997): ,Women and
society. Empowerment, Deep and Deep publications,
New Delhi. pp. 64_71.
Conclusion
7. Suman pomlesh &
Women empowerment is notJUSt
a question
of rearrangement of power, economtc, Ankira Katika (2005):.Empowerment
potitical _ ol.
and social. Rural Women' Socictl Acrion, Vol. g5.
It is also a matter of change of no. 4,
values. A cultural stategy of Oct - Dec, pp. 349-353.
retrieving such
resources from the given traditions
is imponant .Development
for the culture of gender equity 8 Yojana (2001):
and the Monrhly', Minisrry of lnformarron
continuing the culture ofgender and
hierarchy. The
practice ofsocial work methods BrbadcastinE. COl. New Delhi.
and techniques
Vol. 45. August.
in a broader perspective will be
helpful in
attaining the social justice and
empowerment
of women.
lrr
References:

L Beteille, A. (1999): ,Empowerment,

L,conomic and political Weekly,
March, 6 _
13, s89 - 97 .

2. Gunjal, B.S. (1999): Literacy

Situation in
India : A Social Work Perspec ti ve

Participatiye Development : Jut, - Decenber 2006

63

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