Essay on “Status of Women in India” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

Status of Women in India

6 Best Essay on “Status of Women in India”

Essay No. 01

There has been a marked change for the better in our existing, overall approach towards women. Gone are the days when their place was considered to be behind the four walls of the house and their only job was confined to looking after the household affairs. But now they can be seen working shoulder to shoulder with men in every share of life.

We had a highly successful and efficient woman prime Minister, late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, in addition to having many women governors and Chief Ministers. And even in our own time, there is no dearth of women judges, lawyers, doctors, administrators, police officers, and engineers.

This, undoubtedly, a good sign and an indication of their emancipation. This has, however, increased the workload of working women manifold. They attend to their official juries and after eight hours of testing and nerve–breaking office duty, return home to a different kind of job.

It is a common sight to see them hurrying back from their offices in the evening only to enter the kitchen at home and cook for the family and attend to other domestic chores. It is the same picture in rural areas. After toiling on the farms, they go back home to do all the household chores.

The men, whether in the urban or in the rural areas, seldom help in the household tasks. This situation exists because men regard themselves as superior in mental and physical power to women. Similarly, women too have been made to accept their subordinate position. However, it is rather suppressing that this type of wrong thinking has not changed with the changing times.

This attitude of superiority on the part of men has caused many problems for working women. In offices, though they are selected for important positions, they often have to prove themselves doubly competent in order to get a promotion. Again their absence from duty or late arrival is frowned upon whereas the same lapse in a male colleague is, generally ignored and overlooked.

Even in day–to–day routine- life, women have to face a host of problems because the basic attitude towards them still remains unchanged. Customs which downgrade the position of women have yet to be overcome. The dowry system is one such custom. If the girl’s parents are unable to arrange for it the girl is harassed or sent back to her parental home or sometimes even burnt to death.

Another area where women have yet to get equality is in property matters. The law has been changed to provide equal property rights to the son and daughter in a family. But this only on paper, and the daughter gracefully relinquishes her share in the property. If she insists on getting it, she is forced to go to court, for it is seldom given as a matter of right.

The very birth of a female member of a family is still an occasion to mourn, whereas the birth of a son is celebrated with great pomp and show. The present ‘uplifted’ status of women has put them between the devil and the deep sea.

Or, one hand, they seem to have been liberated to the extent that they are working outside, side by side men, but, on the other hand, they have to face a number of problems because of this very fact. What is the solution to these problems?

The law has, however, been amended in favor of women in many cases. Thus eave- teasing in public places, harassment in the office, the dowry problem, property rights, etc. can be dealt with in the court, yet the basic problem would remain unsolved. This is related to the attitude of the people, and unless this is changed, women, on the whole, would remain deprived of their rights as well as justice.

Educational institutions can help by teaching equality of the sexes through the lessons. Further, the family too should not be biased and give the same kind of upbringing to the sons and daughters. Boys should be made to help as much as the girls in domestic chores.

The mass media should also project the picture of the women as an equal with man, having the same desired ambitions and intelligence. True liberation of women possible only when our over-all attitude is changed.

Essay No. 02

Status of Women in India

Women in India have much better status than their counter-parts in many other developing countries of the world. But still there is no room for complacency and much is needed to be done to improve the lot of women in India. No doubt the middle class women in India are now conscious of their rights and privileges, they have undergone a vocational and economical transformation. Many of them are gainfully employed in various fields of life. A few of them occupy very high ranks and positions in business, politics, law and administration.   There is a marked change in their social and economic status. Yet they are doubly burdened as they have to work hard both as a housewife and as an employed woman. In this respect Indian woman are still slaves.

India is still a male-dominated society. A woman has to depend on a male for protection and help at every stage of life. As a daughter she needs protection from father, as a married woman she has to depend on her husband and in advanced old age again she has to depend upon her husband or son, etc. Men are still regarded superior to women. The birth of a son in a family is always honoured while that of a girl-child never liked. Daughters are considered a curse and liability. The parents here are always worried to have a daughter because then they have to arrange for her dowry, etc.

In Vedic India women enjoyed -a very high social, and family status. They were held in high respect as Mother, Devi & Shakti. Then it was said, where women are adored and respected, there the gods abide. And yet they were exploited and ill-treated as a weaker sex, as a mere means of producing children and as an object of sex. Thus, it was underlined in no uncertain terms that they were basically weak and helpless. This marks the hypocrisy of Indian thought and vision as far as women are concerned. Lipservice is of no use, the vast gap between theory and practice is too obvious not to be noticed. The widows were then treated worse than the dumb animals. The system of “sari” was a blot on the fair name of Indian society. The women were forced to die on the pyre of their husbands in the name of religion and fidelity. Thank God, it has now been abolished by law. The Indian Constitution guarantees equal status to women and men. There cannot be any discrimination on the basis of sex.

The women in India are fully protected by law, but still there is a lot of exploitation of womenfolk. In rural India, their situation is far worse. There cannot be any appreciable and permanent improvement in women’s lot unless they organise themselves to fight for their rights and emancipation. They should never think in terms of weaker sex. They should rise as a one body and fight the menace of dowry; they should reject outright the dowry system. They should fight tooth and nail wherever there is exploitation, social and economic injustice. Why should they be regarded as weak and tender and exploited, raped and humiliated as such? They should raise their voice against all these social evils and fight it out

Women should stand on their feet and be economically independent. They should not depend for money,. etc., on their husbands, inlaws or sons, etc. But it is a matter of pity that even very highly educated and profitably employed women in India cannot spend their earnings as they like. The strings of their purse are controlled still by menfolk. Why should they suffer all sorts of restrictions, inhibitions and social taboos? They should assert their equality in every field.

More and more Indian women are getting educated and employed. They are employed as judges, lawyers, lecturers, doctors, nurses, engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, etc. In fact, we have ladies now in so many leading positions in almost all respectable walks of life. We have produced such a powerful woman Prime Minister as Indira Gandhi. We are really proud of her and her political achievements. An Indian woman is no more a mere ornament of the household. Her activities are no more confined to home and hearth. But her present status has to be further consolidated and improved. Such powerful social movements as the Arya Samaj, BrahmoSamaj, etc., have contributed a lot in improving their position. The women of India are also greatly indebted to Mahatma Gandhi, Mrs. Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, etc., for their present desirable status in the society. Since independence there has been a greater awakening among Indian women. Beauty, love, strength, tolerance, sacrifice, creativity, etc., are their infallible weapons and virtues. With their intelligent use they can do wonders for themselves and for others. In the present day world the status of Indian women seem, to be well secured, but they should always remain alert, vigilant and gainfully active.

Essay No. 03

Status of Women in India

The  status  of  women  in  ancient  India,  according  to  our  scriptures, was higher than  that  of  men.  She was regarded as the embodiment of “Shakti.  She was  equated  with  goddess  in  our  religious  pantheon  of deities,  and worshipped  as  the  symbol  of  fertility.  No  Yajna  was  complete  in  which the  woman,  as  the  spouse  of  the  man  performing  the  Yajna,  did  not participate.  Then came Manu and his derogatory statements about women. He  said  that  a  woman  has  to  be  dependent  before  marriage  on  her   parent and  after  marriage  on  her  husband.  This  did  a  great  damage  to  the  position of  women  in  Indian  society.  Women began to be regarded as inferior. They  were  not  considered  worthy  of  respect  and  were excluded  from various  fields  of  activity.

During  the  Mogul  rule  in  India  which  spanned  roughly  over  four  hundred years,  the  position  of  women  became  worse.  They confined the women folk to the four-walls of the houses.  The purdah system made them further lost their identity.  The  Moghuls attitude towards  their  womenfolk  obviously lowered  the status  of Indian  women  whose  sole  reason  of existence  became the slavery  of their men folk.  The sati system, prevailing at that time speaks volumes of how women were treated  in  society.  The  wife,  even against  her  wish,  was  forced  to  burn  herself  on  the  funeral  pyre  of  her dead  husband.  The sati system continued well during the  British  rule India.  It  was  Raja  Ram  Mohun  Roy  of  Bengal  who  vigorously  campaign against  this barbarism.  He succeeded  in  getting  a  law  passed  declaring this practice as illegal.

In the beginning  of  the  twentieth  century,  particularly during  Indias national struggle  for  independence,  the  position  of  women  took  a  turn  for  the  better. Mahatma Gandhi  gave  an  ardent  call  for  women’s participation  in  the freedom  movement.  Sarojini  Naidu,  Mira  Ben,  Such  Kripalani,  Vijaya Laxmi  Pandit,  Mrs.  Aruna  Asaf  Ali  were  some  of  the  leading  women freedom  fighters.

In  the  present  times.;  there  are  a  large  number  of  women  who  have  attained the  pinnacle  of  glory  in  their  respective  fields.  Mrs. Indira  Gandhi,  our Plate  Prime  Minister,  was  held  in  high  esteem  the  world  over. In  a  public poll  conducted  in  France  she  came  out  to  be  the  most  popular woman  in  the  world.  There  is  no  doubt  that  in  the  last  two  decades,  women have  really  Come  into  their  own.  Increasingly  more  and  more  women specially  in  urban  areas,  are  looking  for  self-fulfilment  outside  hearth  and borne.  No wonder, we find  women  in  every  field.  The  myth  that  certain fields  were  only  Meant  for  men  has  been  shattered  by  women.  Women have  proved  to  be  more    responsible,  vibrant,  dynamic,  tough  and compassionate.  They  have  the  capacity  to  immerse  themselves  wholly  in any task  they  undertake.  Hence today, women occupy top ranks in almost all the  fields—be it  sports,  politics,  performing  arts, police, administration, medicine  or  communication.  P.T.  Usha,  Mohsina  Kidwai,  Margaret  Alva, Subbulaxmi,  Kiran  Bedi,  Dr. Padmavati,  Mother  Teresa,  Medha  Patkar and  Proniilla  Kalhan  have  become  names  to  reckon  with  in  the  areas  of t  their  work.

The  statistics  reveal  that  girls  are  performing  better  than  boys  in  board and  competitive  examinations. Certainly  women  are  proving  to  be  more single-minded,  dedicated  and  persevering.  Women  have  clearly  proved  that given  an  opportunity  they  can  rise  up  to  any  occasion.  It goes to the credit of  Indian  women  that  despite  family  responsibilities,  where  the  Indian  male is still reluctant to  share  the  burden,  she  has  been  able  to  withstand  pressures work  and  home  remarkably  well.

The  Government of India has  been  conscious  of  the  need  to  improve the status  of  women  in  India.  It has,  therefore,  included  in the Constitution  of  India  equality  of  women  before  law.  The Constitution also allows the government to make special provisions for the protection and advancement of women. A series of act were passed in 1950. Through these Acts women were given right to matrimonial relief, right to succession and so on.

The development  of  women  in  India,  who  according  to  the  1991  census represent 48.1  per  cent  of  the  country’s population, has  been  the  centre stage        in  development  planning  since  Independence.  The Government set up a separate Department of Women and Child Development in 1985.  In the  Sixth  Plan a  separate chapter viz. Women and  Development were included.  The  National  Commission  for  Women was  set  up  in  1992  which is  engaged  in  safeguarding  the  rights  of  women  besides  reviewing  the, existing  legislations  for  possible amendments.  In  addition  to  this,  major programmes implemented  by  the  government  in  the  area  of  women’s development  include  Support  to  Trining-cum-Employment  for Women (STEP),  Rashtriya  Mahila  Kosh,  Mahila  Samridhi  Yojana,  Women’s Development  Corporation,  some legislations/amendments,  etc.  The new United Front Government proposes to reserve 33% seats in legislatures also for women.  The government is, laying special emphasis on the education  of  girls.  The  female  literacy  on  the  whole  is  on  the  rise.  In 1901, there were 1466 male literates for every 100 female literates.  By 1931, the disparity had been brought down to 560  males  as  against 100 females.  Since 1950,  the  difference  has  steadily  whittled  down  bringing the  ratio  to 164  males  for  100  females  in 1991.

No  doubt,  there  are  particular  cases  of  women  who  have  achieved  eminence, in  different  fields.  The  Acts  passed  by  the  government  and  measures  taken, by  it  have  made  some  difference.  But.  the condition  of  a  large  majority  of women  in  India  remains  deplorable.

The  exploitation  of  women-  goes  on.  Women  are  considered  weaker  sex. They  are  harassed,  tortured,  ill-treated  and  raped.  Helpless  and  unhappy, even  today,  leave  aside  the  country  side  in  urban  areas  too,  women  are, unable  to  raise  their  voice  against  the  crimes  committed  against  them. Every  day  in  the  newspaper  headlines  one  comes  across  a  news  item  which reminds  one  of  the  glaring,  barbaric  customs  still  prevalent  in  our  society. Innocent  women  are  burnt  to  death  because  they  could  not  bring sufficient dowry.  The  worst  is  that  the  murderer  gets  away  With  it.  These  women become  victim of  greed  of other  people  and  opt  for  death  when  the  torture and  humiliation  crosses  limits  of  endurance.  If  this  is  the  scenario  it urban  areas,  one  can  imagine  what.  must  be  the  plight  of  women  in  rural areas,  where  women  are  illiterate,  uneducated  and slog from day to day slaves  of  men.  They are  not  even  aware  of  their  rights  and  privileges. They  simply  take  all  the  suffering,  humiliation  and  torture  inflicted  on them   in  a  spirit  of  resignation,  as  a  result  of  their  past  Karma.  Hence  they carry  on  with  their  daily  chores.  with  stoic silence.

Medical science has made tremendous progress.  Today  it  is  possible  to determine  the  sex  of  the  child,  When  he/she  is  still  in  the  womb  of  the mother.  Because  of  a  strong  prejudice  in  India  against  female  children, many  people  persuade  doctors  to  kill  the  child  in  the  womb  if it is a female  child.  Such practices  only  prove  that  the  prejudice  against  female children  and  against  women  in  general  still  exists.  A  landmark  legislation on the  Pre-natal  Diagnostic  Technique (Regulation  and  Prevention of Misuse)  Act  was  passed  in  1994.

It  is  a  pity  that  despite  legislations  and  Acts  such  crimes  against  women are  still  committed.  Eve-teasing,  wife-beating,  bride  burning,  child  marriages are  still  prevalent  in  the  society.  Many  protective  homes  have  been  opened for  such  harassed  women  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  But  these malpractices  continue  even  there.  Miserable conditions prevail in the institutions like Nan Niketans.

Ms  Maitrayee  Mukhopadhyay,  in  her  book  Silver  Shackles-Women  and Development  in  India  published  by  Oxfam,  the  International  Humanitarian Organization,  has  maintained  that  the  status  of  women  is  deteriorating drastically.  She  says  that  since  Independence  in 1947,  female  mortality has  risen  so  sharply  that  men  now  outnumber  women   and  tend  to  live longer.  In most countries the reverse is true.  Also  in  addition  to  their back-breaking  domestic  chores,  women  constitute  a  vast  labour  force  often working  for  19  hours  a  day.

This,  however,  is not to say.  that  the  future  of  women  in  India  is  altogether hopeless.  There are several Women’s Organisations working for the enlightenment  of  women.  The  Government,  too,  has  been  taking  measures to  help  them.  The  women  in  India  are  decidedly  heading  towards advancement  No  doubt,  it  will  take  some  time,  and  patient  and  dedicated work  is  needed.  Above all, a change in the attitude towards women is required.  Once  there  is  an  awakening  of  social  consciousness,  the  women will  get  their  rightful  place  in society.

Essay No. 04

Status of Women in India

Since independence there has been much improvement in the lot of women in India. They enjoy perfect equality with men. They have all the rights and privileges possessed by the males. Our Constitution guarantees them all those rights, freedom, and privileges enjoyed by the male. Consequently, they now feel emancipated and free. The women of India, who form almost 50% of the population, have equal opportunities and rights and can aspire to any position and status in society. Many of them are in top positions in various fields of life. A few of them have been great political leaders, entrepreneurs, administrators and business persons. This marked change in their outlook, social and economic status reflects the fact that their emancipation has been almost complete. It is a fact that Indian women have much better status than their counterparts in many other developing countries.

Today, women in India are well conscious of their rights and privileges and they are politically, socially, economically and educationally not backward anymore. Their participation in the democratic process and elections has been quite impressive. In a large number of constituencies women voters outnumber men voters on the days of polling. They are contesting elections at various levels in far greater numbers. Their political wisdom and social sagacity has now been fully recognised. The status of women in India in modern times has undergone a sea change. During the last few decades, India has produced many great women leaders, social workers, administrators, reformers and literary personalities like Annie Besant, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Sucheta Kripalani, Indira Gandhi, P.T. Usha, Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur, Padmaja Naidu, Kalpana Chawla, Mother Teresa, Mahadevi Verma, Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, and Amrita Pritam, etc. India really feels very proud because of these great women and their great achievements in various fields. Their contribution in the fields of art, science, and sports, etc. has also been equally significant and memorable. Their active participation in various social, political, economic, educational, scientific and other nation-building activities as mothers, wives, sisters and daughters has been of vital importance in taking the country to greater heights. And yet, there is no room for any complacency. They are doubly burdened as they have to work hard, both as employed women and housewives. Ours is still a male-dominated society and women have to depend on men for protection and help at every stage of life. As a daughter, she needs protection from her father; as a married woman, she has to depend on her husband; and, in old age again, she has to depend upon her husband or son.

Women in India are still exploited and abused. They are still regarded as inferior to men. The birth of a female child is considered a curse in parts of the country. Daughters are considered a liability because of many social evils like dowry, etc. In spite of full legal and Constitutional protection, in practice, women are still much exploited and abused. Their condition in villages is far worse. They are not aware at all about their rights and privileges and fully depend on men. Even very highly educated and gainfully employed women in urban India cannot spend their earnings as they like. The strings of their purses are controlled by their men folk. This unhealthy attitude of men towards women, with regard to their privilege to spend their hard-earned money, has been a source of much tension in the families. Thus, in our tradition-oriented society male dominance still prevails. A husband has a far superior position over his wife and all major decisions are taken by him without taking into consideration her wishes and aspirations. This has created an imbalance and disharmony in the families. There has been appreciable change in our attitude as far as the employment of women is concerned. We do like that our wives, daughters or sisters are gainfully employed but as far as their right to spend their earnings is concerned, our attitude is still unchanged and conservative. A working woman helps her husband by bringing additional income, but as a housewife she has no help from her husband. Men regard household chores below their dignity and never help women in their work. Thus, women are doubly burdened, which often causes tension, maladjustment and family problems.

There is much to be done towards emancipation of women in India. They are still subdued and dominated by men and cannot assert their equality as desired in every walk of life. In a number of our states, the custom of child marriage still exists, widow remarriage is not allowed, and girls are still given away in marriages against their will. Then there is the dowry system. Poor parents cannot afford to give dowry and so are obliged either to keep their daughters unmarried or give them away in marriages to unmatched husbands. Women, especially in rural India, still find themselves weak, helpless and exploited. The rate of literacy among them is alarmingly low. Sometimes they are treated no better than commodities. They are still confined to the four walls of their house: engaged in household drudgery. They have been forced by arrogant men to play a totally subordinate role because they are economically and socially not independent. This has been further helped by our old, outdated and conservative customs. Their hard work and toil as housewives and working women, though significant enough to run a household and family, still goes unrewarded and unrecognized.

The present status of women in India has to be further consolidated and improved. It cannot be achieved unless women themselves come forward and organise themselves as a power to be reckoned with. They should stop thinking in terms of being the weaker sex. They should rise as one powerful body and fight the menace of dowry and child-marriage. They should fight tooth and nail wherever there is abuse, exploitation, humiliation and injustice. They should raise their voices against all social evils and male arrogance. They should wage a relentless war against “apartheid of sex”. They should come forward and take more active part in the political affairs of the country and get themselves elected in greater numbers to public offices. Their representation in our various legislatures is still too meager. Unless the women of India organise their own movements in a powerful manner they will be left out of taking vital decisions. They should assert and achieve economic independence so as to be able to play their proper and legitimate role in society.

Indian women are intelligent, hard-working, courageous and full of love, and compassion. With these qualities of head and heart they are quite competent in breaking all the bondage that binds them in. traditional subordination and slavery. Endowed with the qualities of beauty, love, strength, tolerance, sacrifice, and creativity, etc. they can do wonders for themselves and for others. In present-day India, they can further consolidate their position and redefine their relationship with men, based on equality and mutual respect by using their strengths more wisely. It is of no use to curse and bemoan their fate as the weaker sex. They should unite and struggle against injustice, discrimination, ill-treatment, abuse and exploitation. Much really depends on women themselves. The future of women -in India seems bright but it is women themselves who can ensure it by being vigilant, alert and united. They will have to raise their voices against any violation of their rights and privileges. It is said that God helps those who help themselves and it is equally true in the case of the equality and liberty of women in India.

Essay No. 05

Position of Women in India

Women in ancient India were held in high esteem. But with the passage of time, their status deteriorated. Polygamy, dowry, sati and female infanticide came into practice. Sati was banned in 1829 by Lord William Bentick. At present rape, dowry deaths, females’ foeticide, etc. have become a common affair. Certain laws are passed by the government for the safety and empowerment of women. 33% seats are reserved for women in the Panchayati Raj system.

Most women today are at an equal pace with men in all spheres of life. Women must come forward and fight against exploitation and for their rights. A nation’s progress and prosperity can be judged by the Way it Treats its womenfolk. Men must understand and accept the fact that women are equal partners in life.

Women in the later civilizations were not allowed to go to schools. in the Gupta period, they were allowed to listen to the scriptures. In the medieval period, the practices of purdah system, dowry and sati came into being. Sati and polygamy were glorified. It is thought that the right place for women is the home. Her main duty is to cook food for the family, clean the utensils and wash the clothes. They are considered fit for producing and bringing up children. Thus, women have been deprived of their rightful place in society.

The inhuman practice of sati where the wife burns herself alive in the funeral pyre of her husband existed through the centuries. Raja Ram Mohan Roy fought against this evil practice. It was finally abolished by Lord William Bentinck in 1829. After the development of science and technology, female foeticide is being practised on a large scale. This has led to a drop in female ratio:

Women have not started protesting for their rights. They want to work side by side-with men. Women contribute to the social, economic, and political development of the society. Swami Vivekanand has rightly remarked, “It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. tit is impossible for a bird to fly on only one wing.”

The Indian Constitution has bestowed equal rights on women. They enjoy all social, political -and economic rights. For equal work, both men and women are eligible for equal- wages. Women in India arc coming up in all spheres of life. They are joining the universities and colleges in large numbers. They are entering into all kinds of professions like engineering, medicine, politics, teaching, etc. Women in many homes today are getting a share in the property of their lather and husband.

A nation’s progress and prosperity can be judged by the way it treats its womenfolk. Men should understand and accept the fact that women are equal partners in life.

Essay No. 06

Status of Women in India-Today

When we talk of status, we understand that it implies the social and legal position of an individual or, an individual’s standing vis-a-vis others. I do wonder why, in a country where women were at one time, and even today) worshipped as incarnations of goddesses, there should be any problem of status for women. However, this is the irony of the fate of Indian women that their status which should have been an identity to reckon with, has become a topic of debate. This situation has emerged in India during the period of Muslim domination wherein was set the purdah system with all its concomitants.

This system so deteriorated, as time passed that the status of women became an issue to be discussed on several platforms. The last few decades have seen a mushroom growth of organizations struggling to get for women their dues, and these organizations have also made great headway in this direction, but, how far has this helped in the improvement of the status of women in the home, in society in office, or in the country as a whole, is still a debatable issue.

The last few decades have no doubt seen women coming out in the open and joining the mainstream of development of the country. However, it is to be seen whether this has helped them in achieving a status for themselves, in the minds of people at large. Can we consider women now equal to men in status, at least those who are working with men? No, I really don’t think this has been achieved.

Women are today, found in every field of man’s work, and several have even become economically independent but has even that enhanced our status? On the contrary, with this onward march, on the one hand, we can see a mushroom growth of crimes against women, never heard of ever before. At one time a young girl only was an item of lust for men, but with this advent of so-called women’s lib, infant girls of four to five years and even less, or ladies of sixty and above are becoming objects of man’s lust. It is high time that we analyze the cause of all this, for, if our achievements on the one side result in such chaos on the other, we will have to weigh the advantages accrued to women against the holocaust set for them.

The last fifty years after the Independence of India, we have seen women coming out to be educated, to do jobs, to make careers, yet the perception that women are second to men has not been erased. Now thus it is time to study and analyze the anomaly that, though she works shoulder to shoulder with men, she still remains second why?

We, women, are fighting in the wrong way. Why do we, women feel that it is only by entering into the domain of men can we bring succor to our pained nerves, and does the experience of the last fifty years justify this by our achievement in the field of status? I feel that the more we are going out, the more we are prone to dangers, and the more we are destroying our images, and the more we are making men feel adamant against us, women, This is because we enter their domains, thus causing trouble and irritation to them. We must get educated we must be capable of working outside the home but that should not be our sole objective, because when we do that, we are trampling on men’s toes. Our women’s objective should be to excel in our own domain, instead of entering the domain of men.

Our field of work is no mean task, it is to bring up the family and rear children, bringing up a happy Nation and a happy future. We should not consider this as a meager task, if we have such a tremendous task, then why do we have to try to emulate men and get into their avenues of work. I feel that even though continuing to achieve a greater spectrum for ourselves to work upon, we should also need to change our attitudes to our targets. Happiness for women obviously does not lie in emulating men, but in doing our own tasks with excellence and continuing our onward march towards equality with men in status. We must remember that, when we educate a man, we educate only a man, but when we educate a woman, we educate a family. So this is clear that our present march forward should continue but our attitudes to the matter should change for, our status will not change only by entering the world of men, but by creating a niche for ourselves, as best as we can.

I do not vouchsafe that women should not enter jobs etc, no, it is not so, but if we expect only this to produce results, I’m afraid; the past experience of fifty years has shown that this is not enough. We must realize that, first and foremost, how many of us women can become financially independent, and if at all we do so, the point to be then considered is that after achieving financial independence, do we women start feeling equal to men, or, do we start getting treatment like men? If not then women are putting in a fruitless effort. Are we getting any extra honor and respect at home in society, and from the world at large, if not then what have we done, where have we gone wrong? Our pursuit of status for ourselves is obviously not giving the desired results, so I feel that we women need to change our attitudes in order to achieve our goals, and the men too must be made to feel differently. Men have to feel that women are their equal partners, only with different attributes and different assignments. On the other hand, women must understand that by emulating men we will not become their equals, instead, they will start taking us as their rivals and so never cooperate with us. We must realize that our women’s status depends a lot on how we carry ourselves in this male-dominated society. Two people having different assignments can be equal only if they have a clear perception of their roles. By interchanging or exchanging roles we achieve nothing tangible; we only trample each other’s feet and call for an altercation instead of amity.

So now, after five decades of trying to emulate men, it is time for us women to take stock of the situation and make a more rigorous effort to fight for our rights and equality with men with a changed attitude, and not only a change of assignment or appearance. Two people with different assignments can surely be equals so, why do we women have to hanker for stepping into men’s shoes and take up the roles of men. Let us now change our strategy of the struggle and not only stamp men but create for us a new horizon.