Every culture has a unique viewpoint on gender equality. Some
cultures believe true equality exists and that women have the right and the
ability to advance in society while others do not believe women are equal at
all. In some cultures, women dream of becoming CEOs and leaders in society
though, in reality, they will never become anything more than a homemaker.
Unfortunately, in some cultures women do not dream of class advancement.
Instead, they simply desire to be treated like humans. India, though some areas
are developing and westernizing at a rapid rate, retains its patriarchal,
traditional gender roles, often through violent means, which prevent Indian
culture from advancing as a whole.
The media portrays the typical female in India as a woman of
average height, with dark hair, olive skin, a bindi on her forehead, and a sari
draped over her shoulders. Generally, she surrounds herself with her children as
she tends to her chores. Her job? Simple, she stays at home and cares for the
children while the men go to work and make a living to support the family. Now,
if all she wanted was to be a homemaker, that would be great. Indian culture
accepts that traditional gender role. However, should a female desire to find a
job outside the home or get an education, she is met with violent and abusive
repression, often times sexual in nature, from males and traditional females
alike (North). Last year, a 23 year old woman was gang raped on a bus in Delhi
as she and her boyfriend returned from viewing a western movie. Six men attacked
and brutally raped this nameless victim for indulging in western culture and
attempting to elevate her social status. She did not want to marry young and
become a homemaker, but society did not accept her desires.
India, the fourth most dangerous country for a woman in the
world where “women, like children, eat and do nothing” (Coleman 220). Village
elders and government officials view females as children until they
marry—refusing to call them anything but “girl.” With this mindset, Indian
girls, seen as a financial liability, are forced to marry at a young age,
sometimes as young as 12, and leave their homes. Their parents even pay a dowry
when marrying their daughter off, sometimes costing the family their entire life
savings. To prevent these dowries and burdens, traditional Indian families
promote the outlawed practice of female infanticide. Sumanjeet, a young female from a traditional Indian family
recounts announcing her fourth daughter’s birth:“'What are you doing giving
birth to a girl? Push her off the roof of the building, kill her! Why are you
keeping her?'” (Udas). Sumanjeet stood up to her family and gave birth to her
child but, in the past decade India reports over six million known cases
of female infanticide (Srivastava 11). Discrimination does not end in the womb in India either.
Boys receive better food and a better education while girls are only raised to
become a wife, a homemaker. Women are not expected or permitted to advance in
the Indian society.
In 2010 alone, 73,000 cases of sexual violence were reported.
Indian officials recognize this number is grossly underestimated as sexual
violence, ranging from rapes, assaults, murders, and “eve teasing” generally go
unreported. One UNICEF study even found that more than half of Indian males
think it is justifiable to beat their wife (Udas). Distrust is only one of the
reasons these violent crimes are not reported. Police, so mistrusted by women,
cannot stop a female for any reason after 11pm. Women are forced to travel in
their own carriages to prevent them from being raped or groped. Sexual violence
even forces call centers and outsourcing companies in New Delhi to hire taxis to
pick up and drop off their female employees at their homes, for fear of an
attack if they travel alone (Srivastava 11-12). This abuse of women goes beyond
the traditional mindset that women should only tend to the house and children.
This mindset permits the physical and sexual abuse of women, and no governing
authority has stood up to say that it is wrong.
India, the second most populous nation in the world, retains
traditional gender roles and enforces them in an extreme manner. The fear of
physical and sexual violence remains an everyday occurrence for Indian women. As
this patriarchal society continues to grow and foster their views in their
youth, the traditional ideals continue, preventing advancement and equality for
women.
Works Cited
Coleman, Denise Youngblood. “Status of Women.” India
Country Review (2013):219-222. Business Source Premeir. Web. 02 Dec
2013.
North, Andrew. “In India Men are Men but Women are Often
‘Girls.’” BBC News. 27 Nov 2013.
Web.
Srivastava, Mehul, and Kartikay Mehrotra. “India’s Second Class
Citizens.” Bloomberg Businessweek
4312 (2013):10-12. Business Source
Premier. Web. 02 Dec 2013.
Udas, Sumnima. “Challenges of Being a Woman in India.” CNN
News. 12 Jan 2013. Web.
cultures believe true equality exists and that women have the right and the
ability to advance in society while others do not believe women are equal at
all. In some cultures, women dream of becoming CEOs and leaders in society
though, in reality, they will never become anything more than a homemaker.
Unfortunately, in some cultures women do not dream of class advancement.
Instead, they simply desire to be treated like humans. India, though some areas
are developing and westernizing at a rapid rate, retains its patriarchal,
traditional gender roles, often through violent means, which prevent Indian
culture from advancing as a whole.
The media portrays the typical female in India as a woman of
average height, with dark hair, olive skin, a bindi on her forehead, and a sari
draped over her shoulders. Generally, she surrounds herself with her children as
she tends to her chores. Her job? Simple, she stays at home and cares for the
children while the men go to work and make a living to support the family. Now,
if all she wanted was to be a homemaker, that would be great. Indian culture
accepts that traditional gender role. However, should a female desire to find a
job outside the home or get an education, she is met with violent and abusive
repression, often times sexual in nature, from males and traditional females
alike (North). Last year, a 23 year old woman was gang raped on a bus in Delhi
as she and her boyfriend returned from viewing a western movie. Six men attacked
and brutally raped this nameless victim for indulging in western culture and
attempting to elevate her social status. She did not want to marry young and
become a homemaker, but society did not accept her desires.
India, the fourth most dangerous country for a woman in the
world where “women, like children, eat and do nothing” (Coleman 220). Village
elders and government officials view females as children until they
marry—refusing to call them anything but “girl.” With this mindset, Indian
girls, seen as a financial liability, are forced to marry at a young age,
sometimes as young as 12, and leave their homes. Their parents even pay a dowry
when marrying their daughter off, sometimes costing the family their entire life
savings. To prevent these dowries and burdens, traditional Indian families
promote the outlawed practice of female infanticide. Sumanjeet, a young female from a traditional Indian family
recounts announcing her fourth daughter’s birth:“'What are you doing giving
birth to a girl? Push her off the roof of the building, kill her! Why are you
keeping her?'” (Udas). Sumanjeet stood up to her family and gave birth to her
child but, in the past decade India reports over six million known cases
of female infanticide (Srivastava 11). Discrimination does not end in the womb in India either.
Boys receive better food and a better education while girls are only raised to
become a wife, a homemaker. Women are not expected or permitted to advance in
the Indian society.
In 2010 alone, 73,000 cases of sexual violence were reported.
Indian officials recognize this number is grossly underestimated as sexual
violence, ranging from rapes, assaults, murders, and “eve teasing” generally go
unreported. One UNICEF study even found that more than half of Indian males
think it is justifiable to beat their wife (Udas). Distrust is only one of the
reasons these violent crimes are not reported. Police, so mistrusted by women,
cannot stop a female for any reason after 11pm. Women are forced to travel in
their own carriages to prevent them from being raped or groped. Sexual violence
even forces call centers and outsourcing companies in New Delhi to hire taxis to
pick up and drop off their female employees at their homes, for fear of an
attack if they travel alone (Srivastava 11-12). This abuse of women goes beyond
the traditional mindset that women should only tend to the house and children.
This mindset permits the physical and sexual abuse of women, and no governing
authority has stood up to say that it is wrong.
India, the second most populous nation in the world, retains
traditional gender roles and enforces them in an extreme manner. The fear of
physical and sexual violence remains an everyday occurrence for Indian women. As
this patriarchal society continues to grow and foster their views in their
youth, the traditional ideals continue, preventing advancement and equality for
women.
Works Cited
Coleman, Denise Youngblood. “Status of Women.” India
Country Review (2013):219-222. Business Source Premeir. Web. 02 Dec
2013.
North, Andrew. “In India Men are Men but Women are Often
‘Girls.’” BBC News. 27 Nov 2013.
Web.
Srivastava, Mehul, and Kartikay Mehrotra. “India’s Second Class
Citizens.” Bloomberg Businessweek
4312 (2013):10-12. Business Source
Premier. Web. 02 Dec 2013.
Udas, Sumnima. “Challenges of Being a Woman in India.” CNN
News. 12 Jan 2013. Web.