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women

The Menace that is Homosexuality: An Epistle To The Struggle

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Sayan Dasgupta

The red and the black earth of Bharat carries with it a myriad of stories. From birth of civilization to fall of empires; the crowning of monarchs to the johar of valiant. In this narration of history, we often tend to neglect the queer tints, away from the maddening crowd of heteronormativity. It was August 11^th of 1992 in ITO area of Delhi, when the first voice against exclusion and persecution was raised.

Prima facie, the provision of Section 377 of IPC may not appear to name any community or class and create classification. However, at the hands of police, it assumed the shape of normalised discrimination and daylight harassment. The Delhi police on August 11^th, 1992 started apprehending men from Connaught Place on the ‘suspicion’ of being gay. This did not sit well with the activists of AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA). ABVA has been a pioneer and a hero for the queer community being the harbinger for rights against discrimination and equal protection of the LGBTQIA+ persons. Its first known involvement was in 1989 protesting against forcible testing of HIV status amongst women of red-light districts by AIIMS and ICMR with the assistance of police. They argued for humane treatment and rehabilitation for HIV positive persons and better contraceptives like condoms etc.

The protest of 1992 was along the similar lines. They blockaded the entrance to the police headquarter in ITO area of Delhi and were later joined by several women’s rights and human rights organisations. The shining beacon that it was did not fruition into any outcome. However, this was the first protest for LGBTQIA+ rights. ABVA two years later initiated a movement in the Tihar Jail to provide free access to condoms considering high incidence of sodomy and participation of almost 2/3^rd prison population in homosexual relations increasing probabilities of spread of HIV. Kiran Bedi, the then Inspector General of Prisons vehemently denied the proposition arguing that it would be a tacit acceptance that such relations were in vogue; and primarily would encourage such relations. Bedi decided a contrarian route to deal with the “menace of homosexuality” as she called it, by mandatory forced testing of the inmates and segregating the HIV-positive inmates.

This state-sponsored discrimination was rooted in the baseless fear of HIV and unequal affording of the right to privacy based on sexuality. ABVA filed a writ petition seeking to test the validity of this step and also subject Section 377 to judicial review for constitutional validity in Delhi HC. The petition however was unsuccessful insofar as the challenge to 377 of IPC is concerned.

However, it is interesting to note the first-ever judicial decision by a US Court on LGBTQIA+ rights at this juncture. While it is the 29^th anniversary of the first protest for queer rights in India, it is also the 39^th anniversary of the first written judicial decision of the US jurisprudence on rights of persons living with HIV. Much ahead of its time, the case of LaRocca v. Dlasheim (67 N.Y.S.2d 302 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1983)) decided by a New York Court issued a ruling in favour of persons with a positive status. Similar to the aforementioned circumstance, the case was instituted by persons incarcerated in state prisons who did not want to be in the vicinity of HIV+ individuals. The arguments derived its rationale from stereotypes and irrational fear praying for a complete segregation and insufficiency of a separate ward. The Court relied on science and not conjecture and held that such unfounded irrational fear (even if honest) cannot be grounds for state discrimination. Such rights of struggle towards the state declared innuendo are plenty. On further observation, it is an obvious conclusion that queer identity is a menace. It is a menace to the status quo, heteronormativity, a lack of nuanced discourse and intolerance towards the different. Queer identity has never been anything but political; riddled with oft ignored rebellions, struggles and frustration. Regardless, India is also laced with narrations of gender fluidity and queer history. The Shatapatha Brahmana (2.4.4.19) appreciates the romantic story ensconcing the two halves of the moon; Varuna, the waxing one; and Mitra, the waning one. The two long for each other and find union on the new moon night. It is believed that they promenade in the celestial skies, and Mitra implants his seed in Varuna, and when the moon wanes, that waning is a product of his seed. Kama Sutra (2.9.36) and the tale of Shikhandi even recognised same-sex marriages. While the fate of struggle plays out, the historical narrations of this land provide poetic justice.

08/12/2024 0 comments 69 views

Achievements of Women In Olympics, 2020

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

Author: Pooja Bhattacharjee

The recently concluded Tokyo Olympics gave people from all over the world a reason to celebrate. Considering the highly anxious environment at the Olympic village as well as the galloping threat of COVID – 19, the women athletes gave a stunning performance. The International Olympic Committee branded the 2020 edition as ‘the first ever gender-balanced Olympic Games in history’ with 49% of the 11,656 athletes being female. This is an amazing feat, considering that women were barred from participating in the Olympics when it first began. It shows not only the hard work that women athletes put in, but also the dedication and sacrifice of all the women who paved the way for them.

Indian athletes proved their mettle by giving exemplary performances at the games and showed that there is nothing that can affect their hard work and resilience. Out of the 127 athletes sent to the Tokyo Olympics by India, 56 athletes were women. India’s total medal tally at the Olympics stood at 7, which made history as being the highest ever India won in a single edition. Out of 7 medals, 3 were won by women. Mirabai Chanu won the Silver Medal in Weight Lifting (Women’s 49kg) and opened the books for Indian athletes for this edition. PV Sindhu bagged a Bronze Medal in Women’s Single Badminton and Lovlina Borgohain won India a Bronze Medal in Women’s Welterweight Boxing.

Indian Women’s Hockey team may not have won a medal at the Olympics but they scripted history at the games by giving their best-ever Olympic performance in Tokyo. Aditi Ashok gave an unbelievably amazing performance and finished 4th in the Women’s Golf final at Tokyo 2020. Ms. CA Bhavani Devi made history by being the first fencer to represent India at the Olympics. This number can be increased if more women, especially women from small towns and villages have access to the sport facilities.

Internationally too, women dominated the games. The U.S. women finished the Games with 66 medals, followed by China. The U.S women’s basketball team claimed its seventh consecutive gold, while the water polo team won its third gold in a row and the volleyball team won its first gold. Allyson Felix in her fifth Olympics claimed bronze in the 400 meters and gold in the 4×400 relay, giving her the 10th and 11th Olympic medals of her career. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz became the first Philippine athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. Japan’s women’s basketball team won its first silver medal. Gymnasts from the Russian Olympic Committee won gold in the team event for the first time since 1992.

It is true that not all women athletes who participated in the Tokyo Olympics left with a medal. But all of them left a legacy of hardwork and strength, of sacrifice and overcoming the struggles and breaking the patriarchy which existed in this field to a great extent along with inspiring a generation of young girls to take interest in sports.

08/12/2024 0 comments 65 views

Mimi: Bringing back the debate on Surrogacy

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

Anuj Dahiya

Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi starrer film, Mimi is the latest attempt by Bollywood to bring the taboo topic of surrogacy back in the mainstream (last being Chori Chori Chupke Chupke 2001). The film showcases the story of Mimi, played by Kriti giving her career best performance, who wishes to become a heroine in Mumbai and for which she is saving money. It is through a typical dance number (Bikaner ki chokri, Santre ki tokri) when an American couple wandering in India for over a year, John and Summer, the intended parents, see in Mimi a potential surrogate mother. Bhanu played by the enigmatic Pankaj Tripathi, plays the broker in here and convinces Mimi to be a surrogate and get compensated in return. Considering the huge money prospects involved, she agrees to it without much delay. The film is set in a small town of Rajasthan in the year 2013. The twist comes when the American couple abandons Mimi and the baby in womb in between and our surrogate Mimi is left all by herself. This tragic turn of events has been the harsh realities for many in India.

Legalised in 2002, India has become a hub of commercial surrogacy, so much that it has been called a baby factory. Commercial surrogacy is legal in Russia, Ukraine and some States of the USA, but considering the cheaper costs, India becomes a preferable destination. A report estimates it to be worth more than $400, but the ethics of the practice has been largely questioned.

As in Mimi, the reference of khet, ganna, beej to the commercial surrogacy, the practise has led to the commodification of reproductive labour and women’s body. It is accused of treating the child as a good, reproduction as a service to be traded and establishing control over women’s bodies. Commercial surrogacy is likened to organ sale rackets. There is also power dynamics involved where the rich try to rent the womb for themselves, the surrogates coming from the lowest economic rungs of society. Coming out of dire property, their consent to be surrogates can hardly be called informed. It is coercive since refusal is mostly difficult. Also, in majority of the cases, they are illiterate and barely get a copy of the contract signed. The broker keeps a major chunk of the compensation.

The commercial surrogacy in India has largely flourished because of absence of regulations and red-tapism. Come 2014 and the NDA government comes up with Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill which intended to ban commercial surrogacies over night. It allowed only altruistic surrogacy from close family members which would cover medical expenses and insurance and will be limited to Indian heterosexual and infertile couples, having completed five years of marriage. This bill was passed by Lok Sabha in 2015 but could not steer through the upper house of parliament and was therefore, referred to a select committee. The Select Committee headed by Bhupendra Yadav, after consulting various stakeholders suggested that widows and divorced women be included, the five year marriage and infertility clause be removed from the bill. The bill accepting the recommendations is still pending in the Parliament.

But the bill has its share of shortcomings even now. It falls short of taking into account the rights of live-in couples and LGBTQ community who wish to start a family beyond the traditional nation of parents. The community has started to get legal recognition in India and their rights need to be protected. Further the interests of surrogates have also been ignored as banning surrogacy straight away leaves them out of economic opportunities and their chance to improve their lot. As Dr Patel of Akanksha Hospital, Anand, Gujarat says, Banning is never the solution. The ban will give rise to an underground market for surrogacy which will only worsen the situation for poor women.

The movie in the end strikes the right chords by focusing on adoption as a viable option. As it is conveyed, “If the orphaned children were to be a country, it would be the 7th largest in the world.” You can watch Mimi on Netflix and Jio Cinemas.

Anuj Dahiya

A student of Political Science

Instagram: @anuj__dahiya

Twiter: @unujdahiya

08/12/2024 0 comments 95 views

पुलिस बल में महिलाएं

by Rajesh Singh 08/12/2024

written by Rajesh Singh

राजेश ओ.पी. सिंह

भारतीय महिलाओं का देश के भीतर सुरक्षा की पहली पंक्ति अर्थात पुलिस बल में प्रवेश आजादी से नो वर्ष पूर्व 1938 में शुरू हुआ, परंतु आज लगभग आठ दशकों के बाद भी इस क्षेत्र में महिलाओं की संख्या में नाममात्र की बढ़ोतरी और विकास हुआ है। 2011 की जनगणना के अनुसार भारत में 48.46 फीसदी जनसंख्या महिलाओं की है परन्तु पुलिस बल में इनका प्रतिनिधित्व लगभग 7 से 8 फीसदी के बीच ही है। जब पुरुषों द्वारा महिलाओं पर अपराध, हिंसा व शोषण होता है तो उसे किस रूप में दर्ज करना है और दोषी पुरुष के खिलाफ क्या कार्यवाही करनी है, ये सब निर्णय लगभग सभी केसों में पुरुष अधिकारियों द्वारा ही लिए जाते हैं और यहां निर्णय एक पुरुष अधिकारी द्वारा पुरुष के पक्ष में ही लेने की सम्भावना ज्यादा होती है। जैसे कि वर्ष 2015-2016 में “राष्ट्रीय परिवार स्वास्थ्य सर्वे” ने अपनी एक रिपोर्ट में बताया कि यौन हिंसा के 99 फीसदी मामलों को पुलिस ने दर्ज ही नहीं किया। वहीं ये माना जा सकता है कि यदि पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की संख्या ज्यादा होती तो निश्चित रूप से यौन शोषण के इतने मामले सामने ही ना आते और मामलों के दर्ज होने की दर भी ज्यादा रहती, जिस से पुरुषों में एक भय बना रहता। अब जब मामले दर्ज ही नहीं हो रहे तो पुरुषों में निडरता पनप रही है और वे बिना किसी डर के महिलाओं के साथ यौन शौषण के साथ साथ हर प्रकार का शोषण कर रहे हैं।

महिलाओं का सार्वजनिक जीवन

परिवार रूपी निजी दायरे से निकल कर सार्वजनिक जीवन में महिलाओं की भागीदारी अधिकांश समय तक पितृसतात्मक सोच से ही संचालित होती रही है। पितृसता ऐसी विचारधारा है जो महिलाओं को पुरुषों के मुकाबले कमजोर मानती है और यही से लैंगिक भेदभाव शुरू होता है। ये लैंगिक भेदभाव किसी भी व्यक्ति के मन में यकायक उत्पन नहीं होता, यह समाजीकरण की उस निरंतर चलने वाली प्रक्रिया से ही जन्म लेता है, जो बाल्यकाल से ही आरंभ हो जाती है।

इसमें प्रत्यक्ष भूमिका घर व परिवार की और अप्रत्यक्ष भूमिका विद्यालयों की होती है। इस तथ्य की पुष्टि दो महत्वपूर्ण तथ्यों से होती है, पहला अध्ययन “स्टेनफोर्ड विश्वविद्यालय” का है, जो बताता है कि बच्चे के जन्म से ही घर में लिंग आधारित भेदभाव शुरू हो जाता है, जो न केवल बच्चे को मानसिक रूप से कमजोर बनाता है बल्कि उसके मस्तिष्क को भी कुंद कर देता है, नतीजन बच्चा एक ही दायरे में सोचना शुरू कर देता है। वहीं दूसरा अध्ययन “ग्लोबल एजुकेशन मॉनिटरिंग रिपोर्ट 2020” का है, जो यह दावा करता है कि विश्वभर में स्कूली पाठ्यक्रम में महिला शख्सियतों की छवियों की संख्या न केवल पुरुषों की तुलना में कम है बल्कि जिन महिला शख्सियतों की छवि दिखाई गई है और पढ़ाई जाती है, वहां उन्हें सिर्फ पारम्परिक भूमिकाओं में ही चित्रित किया गया है।

प्राचीन काल में सिद्धांत के तौर पर देखे तो हमें कई जगहों पर महिलाओं की अच्छी स्थिति का उल्लेख मिलता है, जैसे मौर्य काल में महिला गुप्तचरों के उदाहरण देखने को मिलते है। ज़ाहिर सी बात है कि उस समय में महिलाओं की स्थिति आज से बेहतर रही होगी। मध्यकाल में बाहरी आक्रमणकारियों के कारण महिलाओं की क्रियाशीलता घर की चारदीवारी में सिमटती चली गई और धीरे धीरे पितृसता हावी हो गई।

और पिछली शताब्दियों में हुए श्रम विभाजन में महिलाओं को बच्चों व परिवार की देखभाल के साथ ममता, स्नेह, सेवा वाले गुणों का काम मिला और बाहर के जोखिम भरे कार्यों के साथ साहस, रोमांच, बुद्धिमत्ता जैसे गुणों वाले कार्यों को पुरुषों ने संभाला। इस प्रकार श्रम एवम् लैंगिक विभाजन धीरे धीरे विकसित हुआ, लेकिन समय के बदलते चक्र के साथ लिंग आधारित विभिन्नताओं तथा अन्यायपूर्ण और पूर्वाग्रहों से भरे नियम कानूनों, प्रथाओं व रीति रिवाजों को प्रगतिशील लोगों द्वारा चुनौती दी गई, जैसे प्रारंभ में सती प्रथा जैसी कुरीति को कानूनी तौर पर बंद करवाया गया, बाल विवाह पर रोक लगवाई गई, विधवा पुनर्विवाह विधेयक पास करवाया गया और महिलाओं की शिक्षा को लेकर अनेक अधिकारों को बनाने की कवायद शुरू की गई I

आज महिलाओं को संविधान ने वो सब अधिकार दिए हैं जो पुरुषों को प्राप्त है। इसके बावजूद मार्च 2020 में ‘संयुक्त राष्ट्र विकास कार्यक्रम ( यू. एन. डी. पी.)’ की रिपोर्ट “जेंडर सोशल नॉर्म्स इंडेक्स” में पचहत्तर देशों (जिनमें विश्व की लगभग 80 फीसदी आबादी बसती है) का अध्ययन बताता है कि लैंगिक असामनता दूर करने के क्षेत्र में पिछले दशकों में हुई प्रगति के बावजूद अब भी 90 फीसदी पुरुष व महिलाएं ऐसे है जो महिलाओं के खिलाफ किसी ना किसी तरह का पूर्व ग्रह रखते है। इस अध्ययन से एक महत्वपूर्ण बात यह निकल कर आई कि पुरुषों की तरह महिलाएं भी महिलाओं को लेकर पूर्वाग्रहों से ग्रसित है।

परन्तु इस सब के बावजूद भारत में लैंगिक भेदभाव को खत्म करने के लिए अथक प्रयास जारी है। जिसकी शुरुआत 19 वीं शताब्दी में महात्मा ज्योतिबा फुले और सावित्री बाई फुले द्वारा महिलाओं के लिए स्कूल खोलने से हुई, उसके बाद जैस महात्मा गांधी ने भी स्वतंत्रता के संघर्षों में महिलाओं को शामिल करते हुए सार्वजनिक जीवन में महिलाओं की उपस्थिति से जुड़ी वर्जनाओं को तोड़ा था।

पुलिस बल में महिला

बेशक आज महिलाओं को सारे सामाजिक, आर्थिक व राजनीतिक अधिकार प्राप्त है फिर भी काफी लंबे समय से महिलाओं ने उन्ही पेशों को चुना जिन्हें पितृसतात्मक परिधि के अन्तर्गत महिलाओं के लिए सुलभ माना जाता है जैसे, अध्यापन, नर्सिंग, डाक्टरी, रेडियो प्रचारिका, रिसेप्शनिस्ट आदि। पुलिस तथा सेना में महिलाओं की भूमिका को स्वीकारने में समाज की गति काफी धीमी रही है।

हर कार्य में महिलाओं की भागीदारी को सभी देशों व समाजों द्वारा स्वीकारा जा रहा है। पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की भागीदारी का मुद्दा केवल लैंगिक समानता का मुद्दा नहीं है बल्कि उस कार्यस्थल को लिंग समावेशी बनाने से जुड़ा मुद्दा है, जिसकी जरूरत हर परेशानी में फंसी महिला को पड़ती है।

देश भर की तमाम राज्य सरकारें पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की भागीदारी को लेकर सचेत है तथा आरक्षण व अन्य प्रावधानों के माध्यम से महिलाओं की भागीदारी को सुनिश्चित करने कि कोशिश कर रही है। परन्तु फिर भी पुलिस बल में महिलाओं की उपस्थिति अन्य कार्यों जैसे अध्यापन, नर्सिंग आदि से काफी कम है, जैसे कि आज भी पुलिस बल में केवल 7.28 फीसदी महिलाएं शामिल हुई है, और उनमें भी 90 प्रतिशत कांस्टेबल जैसे निम्नतम पद पर है, और केवल एक प्रतिशत ही निरीक्षक पदों तक पहुंच पाई है,इसके पीछे क्या मुख्य कारण है ये अपने आप में सोचने का विषय है ।

पुलिस बल चुनौतियां तथा सुधार

1. सबसे मुख्य चुनौती ये है कि आज भी बहुत से

परिवार रूढ़िवादी सोच के कारण महिलाओं को

सेना या पुलिस में भेजने से कतराते है ,क्यूंकि

हरियाणा और राजस्थान जैसे प्रदेशों में इन सेवाओं

से जुड़ी महिलाओं की शादी को लेके काफी

मुश्किल खड़ी होती है ।

2. सबसे बड़ी चुनौती महिलाओं को पुलिस बल में ये

आती है कि थानों में पुरुषों की संख्या ज्यादा होती

है इसलिए महिलाएं अपने आप को कमजोर

महसूस करती है, क्यूंकि वहां होने वाली बातचीत

और वातावरण में लैंगिक पूर्वाग्रह साफ झलकता

है, क्यूंकि अधिकांश पुलिसकर्मी गांवों से आते है

जो पितृसता सोच के अधीन जकड़े होते हैं और

उन्हें उस सोच और अभ्यास से निकलने में लंबा

समय बीत जाता है।

3. सबसे बड़ी चुनौती कार्यस्थलों पर महिला

सुविधाओं का अभाव पाया जाता है जैसे शौचालय

आदि, और ड्यूटी का समय भी निर्धारित ना होना

महिलाओं के लिए चुनौती पेश करता है।

गर्भावस्था में और माहवारी के दौरान पुलिस बल

में शामिल महिलाओं का काफी परेशानियों का

सामना करना पड़ता है।

4. सबसे बड़ी चुनौती ये है कि जब महिलाएं घर के

बाहर सार्वजनिक जीवन में शामिल हो रही है तब

पुरुष घर के कार्यों में कोई योगदान नहीं दे रहे,

जिसके कारण महिला पुलिस कर्मियों को दोहरे

बोझ का सामना करना पड़ रहा है , जिससे उन्हें

अनावश्यक तनाव का सामना करना पड़ता है

जिसका नकारात्मक प्रभाव उनके पारिवारिक

रिश्तों और बच्चों पर पड़ता है।

इन्हीं वजहों से ज्यादातर परिवार अपनी बेटियों और बहुओं को पुलिस बल की नौकरी से दूर रखते है।

समाधान – समाधानों की बात करें तो मौजूदा समय में

कार्यस्थलों पर बेहतर वातावरण व सुविधाओं की व्यवस्था की जानी चाहिए, कार्यस्थलों को लिंग समावेशी बनाने के लिए समय समय पर वर्कशॉप का आयोजन किया जाना चाहिए। सरकार को निरन्तर प्रयास करने चाहिए ताकि स्थिति में सुधार आए।

हमें ये बात ध्यान में रखनी चाहिए कि समाज के किसी एक वर्ग को लैंगिक सरंचना के कारण नुकसान हो रहा है तो ये पूरे देश व समाज का नुक़सान है न कि केवल महिलाओं का। महिला और पुरुष मिल कर ही एक प्रगतिशील समाज का निर्माण कर सकते हैं।

08/12/2024 0 comments 55 views

Women On Internet

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Mansi Anand

From connecting millions to another millions, a global network “The Internet” keeps on expanding itself from information to communication and many more. Today, it’s quite hard to even imagine a life without this global network. It’s just not a hub of knowledge, but a way to do things in more efficient way. A way that reduces time consumption and cost, resulting into profit maximization and what’s not?

It will not be an exaggeration to say that, at the beginning of the internet boom, men were the dominant users of internet. But today, that doesn’t hold true any longer. The data distribution of internet service by Sandhya keelery, says – 70% of Indian internet users were male while 30% were female users in 2016; which was estimated to change to 60% male users and 40% female users by 2020. This indicates towards ever growing active women participation in the world of networks.

One cannot deny the fact that internet has brought significant changes in the life of the women. Let’s discuss some of them.

Internet gives a means to women to empower herself economically by making her financially independent. At the same time, it boosts her confidence by realising the reality of the world without breaking the social norms. Secondly, women no longer have to depend on an accompanying male partner for travelling. Internet can help make all the arrangements in a safer way – from booking hotels to local transport.

When it comes to education – going to school and colleges and being an informed citizen is still a luxury for many. But internet makes education more democratic via digitalization, MOOCs etc. Internet has not only educated woman but also enlightened them to use their true potential.

While democracy grants women an equal right to vote, it is the internet which has helped many women access the information they need to make up their independent minds, and engage in discussions that brings democracy alive. Internet has provided a space to women, where they can express their opinions, without the hard physical walls of a patriarchal world. Women can choose sometimes to hide their identity and still engage in discussions that matter. But this does not mean, that internet itself is immune from the influence of patriarchy. Or that the need to hide identity is not problematic to begin with.

Specially in this pandemic, internet has been like a Messiah for every company. Here too, women are playing an excellent role in managing their economic life along with family obligations. Online working has helped many women, to take care of their children while also managing their professional responsibilities. While working from home, she feels safer and comfortable and doesn’t have to worry about being physically sexually harassed, often faced in travelling through public transport. At the same time, online working has helped men and women divide household work more equally, thus acting as an impetus for equal partnership.

Smith and Balka (1988) talk of using computer networks for feminists around the world and to keep isolated women in touch with one another. Thousands of women have started their online businesses and have attained financial independence by selling food, clothes and a whole lot of other things. While this has been very beneficial for reducing social, economic and political imbalances, it has also helped women come out of their world of isolationism.

It is however important to look towards the other side of the coin. One cannot also deny the fact that as per National family health survey report 5, on an average less than 3 out of 10 women in rural India and 4 out of 10 women in urban India have ever used internet. On the other hand, 42.6% of women ever used the internet as against an average of 62.16% among the men; which clearly shows a down graph of women as compared to men. Similarly, in rural India, 33.94% women ever used internet as against 55.6% among men. While in urban India an average of 56.81% of women ever used internet compared to an average of 73.76% among the men.

The above data shows a significant decline in the percentage of women using internet, which requires serious discussions. Some of the factors that may be responsible for this are as follows –

Lack Of Literacy Rate – This is one of the crucial factors, which come in the way and act as an obstacle, since due to lack of education, especially amongst rural women – they consider internet and related things as a burden and waste of time. As they are unaware about the benefits, hence, they avoid using it.

Social Dilemma On The Adoption Of Internet- Many a times, families occupied by traditional values don’t want their women to use internet or to maintain any connection with modernization. As they consider it as an obstacle or simply, they are not ready to accept an intelligent woman in their family, which leads women to be in a dilemma about using internet.

Problem Of Flaming– Nowadays flaming has become a major problem for women to deal with. It simply means an act of posting insults in offensive language on social networking sites which later leads to controversial conversations and became a headache for a woman using internet.

Hostility And Harassment On Internet- Such kind of unaccepted behaviour directly harms the dignity of women. Harassment on the internet impacts their mental peace and energy resulting from an intolerant comment on social networking sites or by displaying one’s personal information. This also acts as a demotivating factor for other women to get more active on the internet.

On a concluding note, one can see that – narrowing the digital divide between genders can actually give far sighted benefits to our economy and democracy. Internet has the power to create an ecosystem where women feel more included in the system. For this reason, it is pertinent that government should seriously focus on creating opportunities like – educating women through different sources, creating awareness for using internet, and most importantly by enforcing strict rules against online harassment. These reforms can bring a great change towards better women participation and that matters.

08/12/2024 0 comments 58 views

The Dichotomy of Indian Women: Underpaid and Overworked Across Sectors

by Mani Chander 08/12/2024

written by Mani Chander

Mani Chander

Did you know Serena Williams is paid less than Rodger Federer? Did you know Mithali Raj, the Indian Women’s Cricket team captain earns merely 7% of what Virat Kohli does? A top Indian women’s cricket player earns less than a male cricketer with the lowest-level Grade C contract, and while films with a male lead make $40 million at the box office, those with a female lead earn less than a quarter in Bollywood. Ever wondered why it is so rare in India to encounter a female Uber driver? Did you know that men Uber drivers earn at least seven percent more than women Uber drivers? Or that freelancing males make on average 50% more than their female counterparts?

The answer to these unsettling questions point to two predominant correlational factors – women have fewer economic opportunities and are persistently paid less compared to men. This reality spans across sectors and professions, even when years of experience, hours worked, and educational background of a man and woman are identical. Studies reveal that women are paid approximately 34% less than men for performing the same job with the same qualifications. Besides, societal norms, biases in recruiting and gender-based occupational segregation directly influence women’s occupational choices and in turn, their earnings.

The sectors where women are overrepresented are conventional, low-paying occupations. Even where women are over-represented, they are paid much lower than men for the same work. Take for instance, the agriculture sector – although 74% of the agricultural labor force consists of women, yet the wage gap is significant. Similarly, women in academia and those involved in care work, such as domestic workers are also paid considerably lower than their male counterparts. On the other hand, women continue to be substantially under-represented in stereotypically “male professions”, particularly in senior leadership positions. As per data from the World Economic Forum Report 2020, women in the country account for only 14% of leadership roles and 30% of professional and technical workers. An appalling 8.9% of firms have females as managers in India.

Now, consider the prospects of women in a heavily male-dominant establishment such as the Indian army, for example. Until February 2020, women were inducted into the army through short service commissions, which only permitted them to serve 10 to 14 years, resulting in widening of the gender pay gap. Interestingly, the Central Government had opposed the inclusion of women in command positions before the Supreme Court of India claiming that women officers must deal with pregnancy, motherhood and domestic obligations towards their families. The Central Government went so far as to make the preposterous argument that women are not well suited to the life of a soldier in the armed forces. However, the Supreme Court held that the Government’s plea was based on discriminatory gender stereotypes and directed the Government to grant permanent commission and command positions to women officers at par with men. One must ask, what the future beholds for women in a country whose own government – that is mandated by the Constitution to promote gender equality – questions their ability to perform at par with men?

The situation isn’t much different when it comes to politics. Even in the political space, women lack opportunities for growth at every level and continue to be extremely under-represented. Despite a massive push from various stakeholders, the Women’s Reservation Bill is yet to see light of day. It is not uncommon to find women being incessantly undermined and interrupted by men as they speak on the floor of the Parliament, on TV and on Twitter. In a study of more than one lakh tweets mentioning 95 prominent female leaders, it was found that one in every seven tweets that mentioned women politicians in India was “problematic” or “abusive” while one in every five was sexist or misogynistic. Such pervasive toxicity is bound to drive women away from politics and leadership roles which directly impacts the gender gap.

The industry of entertainment and sports also suffers from gross pay disparities. In Bollywood, movies with women leads make much less revenue when compared to those with male lead actors. Typically, even women-centric movies that do well have prominent men as leads. Television commercials continue to reinforce the stereotypical subservient woman on screen. The near-religious fever of the Indian people for the sport of cricket too is selective when it comes to men and women cricketers. A professional football player gets between Rs. 65 to 70 lakhs while a female footballer earns between Rs. 5 to Rs 10 lakhs. In Hockey, the gap widens as we see a minimum of ten-fold wage gap. So, do we only bleed blue for our men?

Across sectors, no profession remains untouched by the gender pay divide. Is it not disconcerting that four out of five women in India do not work? Yet, those who do are penalised every step of the way, with constant discrimination and ostracisation that reinforce the misconception that it’s okay to pay women less. It is not okay, and the problem won’t correct itself. It is time we consciously acknowledge the pervasiveness of gender stereotypes and engage collectively to create a level playing field for all women – in farms or fields, boardrooms or courtrooms, schools or screens, parliament or entertainment among others, and foremostly, in our homes.

* Views are personal. This piece is the second in the series “Bridge the Gap” presented by The Womb. The author of the series is a Delhi based practicing lawyer who holds a special interest in gender justice. She is admitted to the New York State Bar and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, United States.

08/12/2024 0 comments 62 views

The Widening Gender Pay Gap is a Looming National Crisis

by Mani Chander 08/12/2024

written by Mani Chander

Mani Chander

Of 153 countries, India is placed at an abysmal 149^th position in economic participation and opportunity according to the Gender Gap Index Report of 2020. Over the last few months, this gender gap has further exacerbated as many women continue to take substantial pay cuts and have lost jobs owing to the pandemic. An Oxfam India report estimates the economic loss from women losing their jobs during the pandemic at about $216 billion – this would mean knocking off a striking 8% from the country’s gross domestic product. It is for this reason that the gender pay gap should no longer be viewed as merely a social problem. A national crisis is before us and we must deal with it head-on.

So what’s causing this “She-cession”? Since the onset of the pandemic, reports across the world suggested that women are more likely than others to bear the economic burden. But this has turned out to be particularly true for Indian women. Not only do fewer women work in India when compared to other countries, but they also get paid way less than working women in other countries. Besides, Indian women are more vulnerable due to our inherently patriarchal society as marriage and maternity typically take center stage in a woman’s lives. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development statistics, on average, women in India spend almost 352 minutes per day on unpaid work such as household chores, childcare and looking after elderly parents, as opposed to just 52 minutes by their male counterparts.

Prior to the lockdown women in India contributed 18% to the country’s economic output, about half of the global average. Now, with the coronavirus outbreak this percentage is set back even further due to the unreasonable expectation that women, by default, are exclusively responsible for all household duties. In essence, working women are now juggling multiple roles. Their domestic help is no longer available, children are off schools and older parents who are vulnerable to the virus require special care. For these reasons, women are dealing with additional stress leading to reduced productivity at work, and as a result, they are being increasingly perceived by employers as easy targets for pay cuts and layoffs.

Unlike other countries, where women who are laid off are compensated with social security benefits, Indian women are left bereft of such benefits in case of layoffs. Self-employed women and those who are employed on a temporary or contractual basis are particularly disadvantaged as they have little to no security or legal protections to fall back on. While many other countries have offered comprehensive unemployment insurance to working women facing hardships, women in India are further handicapped by the sheer lack of it.

The most significant factor that puts India at a back-footing when compared to other countries, however, is that a majority (ranging from 88 to 95 percent) of women continue to work in the unorganised sector, many of whom are migrant workers who were forced out of jobs due to the pandemic. Their employment is concentrated in labour intensive, low-growth and low-productivity sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and construction. Over a period of time, women in these sectors are likely to lose more jobs with the surge in mechanisation and automation. Interestingly, McKinsey Global Institute in a 2019 Report estimated that up to 12 million Indian women could lose their jobs by 2030 owing to automation in these sectors. Without question, such a catastrophe would halt or even reverse any progress made towards enhancing women’s participation in the workforce.

The female wage in India is 60-65% of the male wage since the last three decades. Before the pandemic unleashed, the World Economic Forum in its Global Gender Gap Report of 2020 painted a grim picture. It indicated that it would take a century to reach pay parity. If we continue to ignore the economic inequalities caused by the pandemic, any prospects of closing the gap even in the next 100 years will be further hampered.

It is evident that the effects of the pandemic are gender conscious, so it stands to reason that our efforts to overcome them involve a gendered response. What India needs is an effective re-evaluation of its policies and targeted interventions by the civil society, government and private sector. Instead of reinforcing mechanisms and cultural norms that push women out of jobs, it is time we begin investing in women as the pillars of nation building – by rewarding them with equal pay for equal work, if not more.

Let’s bridge the gap.

* Views are personal. This piece is the first in the series “Bridge the Gap” presented by The Womb. The author of the series is a Delhi based practicing lawyer who holds a special interest in gender justice. She is admitted to the New York State Bar and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, United States.

08/12/2024 0 comments 69 views

Surabhi Gautam, IAS – Navigating through the hurdles of Life to reach her Goal

by Srinivas Rayappa 08/12/2024

written by Srinivas Rayappa

Born in a middle class family in a small sleepy village of Madhya Pradesh, Surabhi was always cognizant that her parents were her constant pillars of support while other members of the family would have been happier with a male child born in the family. To describe in her own words – ” There were only two souls, my parents, who were overjoyed with my birth, while the remaining 30 odd members of a giant and joint family, that we were part of, did not even consider it an event worthy of celebration.” However, Surabhi traversed through all the challenges and overcome all the rejections she faced along the Journey of Life to achieve the pinnacles of success which would eventually make everybody proud of her.

25 years down the lane, the same girl, the same village and the whole family was welcoming her with garlands, sweets and slogans like – “Who should every girl be like? Like Surabhi Gautam ofcourse”. Everything had changed with her success. Surabhi has the unique distinction of clearing all the prestigious competitive exams and interviews conducted across India. She successfully cleared several competitive examinations like GATE, ISRO, SAIL, MPPSC, PCS, SSC CGL, Delhi Police and FCI exams with distinction. The feather in her cap was when she topped the IES exams with All India Rank 1. The ultimate success came when Surabhi Gautam, a University topper and a Gold Medalist cleared the ultra-competitive Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams in her very first attempt, securing a All India Rank of 50.

However, these successes did not come easily for her. She had to wade through extreme challenges, which sometimes even made her think of giving up, but she didn’t and eventually reached her goal. She overcame these challenges with the unflinching guidance and support of her parents and her sheer determination to set an example for other women from her village.

Surabhi always excelled in her academics. She scored exceptionally high grades in both her school and college. She did her schooling in her village, Amdhara in Madhya Pradesh, in a hindi medium Board school with very poor infrastructure and teaching staff. Her village had severe electricity disruptions and she had to study with the aid of a kerosene lamp on several occasions. But these did not deter her strong urge to excel in academics.

Something interesting happened in her 5th grade which changed the course of her life and drew her to excel in academics. She scored 100 percent in her Mathematics exam which drew the praise of her teacher since it was a first in her school. The encouragement she got from her teacher made her feel appreciated and recognized which encouraged her to study harder and perform consistently throughout her academic career.

The second turning point in her life came when she again scored 100 percent in her tenth grade in both Science and Mathematics which placed her on the state merit list. This made her a pseudo-celebrity of her village, journalists began interviewing her, splashing her accomplishments across newspapers, and people began to admire and appreciate her achievements. During one such interview, a journalist asked her what career option does she prefer to choose in the future. Despite not having pondered over it in the past, Surabhi unconsciously mentioned that she wants to be a ‘Collector’. The next day’s Newspaper headline was “Surabhi wants to be a Collector”. Little did she realize that, her words would somebody in the future turn into reality.

Despite being a studious girl dedicated to her studies, her heart wanted to diversify. She tried her hand at painting, sketching, drawing and embroidery.But then she encountered her first major challenge in life. She suddenly began to realize a weird sense of pain creeping through her body. She began to feel a stinging pain in her joints and elbows and she was soon bedridden. Despite their meager financial resources, Surabhi’s parents decided to take her to Jabalpur for treatment. The doctor diagnosed her with rheumatic fever, a disease which affects the heart, joints, brain and skin. In serious cases, rheumatic fever can also lead to death. The doctor advised that she should be given a dose of Pencillin, every 15 days, which needed to be administered with utmost care, else it could result in severe complications. Her parents were seriously worried because there was no Healthcare center nor a qualified doctor who could administer the drug in her village. Her parents somehow arranged for a specialist to administer the drug till she was cured.

The third turning point in her life arrived when she again excelled in her twelfth grade exams, appeared for the Engineering entrance and as usual cracked the exam. She was awarded the Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Scholarship for her exceptional grades.

However, this time around things wouldn’t be very easy for her because she had to move out of her village and study in a city which no other girl from her village had ever done prior. Also, having studied in Hindi medium school she had to draw flak for not being able to speak in English fluently. Even though she knew the answers to questions posed by her professors, she always faltered because she couldn’t articulate well enough in English. On several occasions she was so deeply hurt and disillusioned that she almost decided to quit her studies and head back home. However, during these trying circumstances, her mother stood firmly by her and insisted that she should move ahead, overcoming the challenges. Her mother always emphasized the need for her to achieve her goal as she would stand as a constant inspiration for other girls of the village to explore and accomplish their dreams, which they otherwise would fear doing. Surabhi had no option but to persist and persist she did. She did not want the doors to close on other aspirational girls from her village who wish to pursue their higher studies outside of their village.

Surabhi meticulously studied English, practiced every single word and phrase, till she became proficient. She had crossed on more hurdle in the process. Surabhi finally completed her Engineering in Electronics and Communications from Bhopal. She not only topped her exams in her college but in the entire University. After this accomplishment there was no stopping her.

During college placement, Surabhi got a job with TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) but she wanted to do something different so she did not accept the offer. After her graduation, Surabhi worked as Nuclear Scientist at BARC for a year. She then cracked competitive entrance exams like GATE, ISRO, SAIL, MPPSC PCS, SSC CGL, Delhi Police and FCI. The icing on the cake came when she cleared the UPSC exams with an All India Rank of 50, in her very first attempt in 2016. Today, she is an IAS office, something that she had blindly mentioned in response to a question from a journalist. She made headlines then. She made headlines again and she is the proud daughter of everyone in her village – Loved, Admired, Respected and a true inspiration to other young aspiring girls across the globe.

08/12/2024 0 comments 57 views

Roadmap for a Brand New Wave of Feminism

by Guest Author 08/12/2024

written by Guest Author

By Bhumika Singh

When somebody identifies as a feminist in today’s world, they are met with sneers and ignorant criticism. Most people have a convoluted idea of feminism in their minds and are so rigid about their preconceptions that feminism has started to be dismissed as a partisan and toxic political movement altogether. To retrieve feminism from this quagmire of irrationality, we also need to bring some internal shifts in the movement. The fountainhead of feminism can be located in the abolitionist movement which targeted slavery and laid down the path for subsequent struggle for women’s rights. Although feminist theory has changed, evolved, and branched off extensively over the past couple of centuries, the precedents indicate towards the essence of feminism which is equal rights for all. The first and second wave of feminism were primarily concerned with equal legal and social rights of women. The third wave (intersectional feminism) focused on subjective experiences of discrimination based on not just gender but race, class, ethnicity, religion, and nationality. The fourth wave must be an offshoot of the third wave because globalization has led to diverse and heterogeneous populations and hence, it is essential to extend the scope of feminism beyond gender. However, the focus needs to be shifted from governmental affirmative action to changing the social consciousness.

Feminists all around the world tend to demand affirmative action from their governments to compensate for centuries of discrimination and exclusion. Indian economist Deepak Nayyar’s analysis indicates that despite affirmative action in India being a constitutional right which has been in place for more than half a century, the outcome has been underwhelming at best. Economist Guilhem Cassan’s study also points toward the pitiful state of women belonging to lower castes who are unable to avail any benefits from affirmative action. According to Nayyar, affirmative action alone cannot eliminate discrimination because the privileged will always remain reticent in denouncing their opportunities, however immoral it may seem. Nayyar points out, “…in societies where opportunities are scarce, there is bound to be resistance. It would be easier if we create more opportunities.” Although Nayyar directly refers to educational opportunities, his argument can be extended to economic opportunities. Instead of redistributing the available opportunities by means of government intervention (a zero-sum process), it would certainly be much better to allow more opportunities to be created.

In order for that to be achieved, a free market is as essential as education. The biggest point of convergence for feminists and libertarians is the importance they ascribe to the economic independence of individuals. A free-market economy allows voluntary exchange between individuals without any unnecessary government regulations; it would provide women with the economic and social autonomy essential to an individual’s liberation and growth. Here, it is also important to understand that capitalism is not the shadow of patriarchy, even if the popular discourse within the feminist movement vehemently claims so. The marketplace has been dominated by men like any other social or political sphere because of prejudices against women: this needs to be changed. And a free market allows, even facilitates, that change. Sandra E. Black and Elizabeth Brainerd’s application of Nobel Laureate economist, Gary Becker’s theory of “taste for discrimination” on gender has borne productive research in this direction. Traders who bear this taste are willing to pay extra to satisfy their discriminatory ideology, usually by employing more men (at higher salaries). According to their thesis, increased competition in the marketplace makes the aforementioned “taste” too costly for a discriminator because there are non-discriminatory firms which would obviously make more profit merely by virtue of being non-discriminatory. Hence, a free market which operates on competition is bound to lessen the wage gap by compelling the discriminators to change their ways or go out of business. Heavy government regulation, on the other hand, only hinders this progress by hampering the efficiency of the market system.

Furthermore, while it can be an attractive idea to rely on the state to ensure equality in other spheres, it would be naive to expect results especially when the base of our struggle remains segregation. Terry Eastland’s view on race can be applied to gender here, “To count by race, to use the means of numerical equality to achieve the end of moral equality, is counterproductive, for to count by race is to deny the end by virtue of the means. The means of race counting will not, cannot, issue in an end where race does not matter.” Constant state intervention cannot change ideologies and prejudices which have been harboured over centuries. Moreover, state intervention might provide us with vestiges of positive liberty i.e., the capacity for acting on our freewill, but more than that, it will curtail our negative liberty by imposing newer constraints and restrictions on us, of which we already have too many. In such a scenario, affirmative action can even be counter-productive for real social change.

But ultimately, despite the hope of free markets and economic empowerment, we cannot overlook the downtrodden state of women in India who suffer several layers of marginalization. This marginalization can only be fought through conscious social action and change. For this purpose, women’s collectives have been extremely helpful, especially in the rural areas. In order to exercise their agency, women need a basic level of social acceptance and support, which is found to be absent especially in rural communities. There are numerous NGOs and Nonprofits working to provide women with the necessary support. Snehalaya is one such NGO in Maharashtra which focuses on the economic upliftment of sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community. These NGOs enable women to exercise their individual choice of vocation and to earn through their products and services.

In conclusion, we need to shift our focus from government coercion and affirmative action to individual autonomy and negative freedom to create real equality and not just a forced illusion of it. Quality education is vital to create subsequent generations who do not possess patriarchal mindsets and exclusionary prejudices. Education itself will flourish in a free market because the syllabi will not be designed to satisfy any political agenda. As Sharon Presley and Lynn Kinksy point out, state coercion as a remedial “just changes the sort of oppression, not the fact”. The next feminist revolution must borrow from classical liberal values for individuals to be free from discrimination and exclusion. After all, we do not wish to substitute one hegemony with another.

Bhumika Singh is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in English from Kirorimal College at the University of Delhi. She is a part of Students for Liberty’s first cohort of Fellowship for Freedom in India.

08/12/2024 0 comments 80 views

Book Review ‘Beloved’ by Toni Morrison

by Srinivas 08/12/2024

written by Srinivas

By Arthita Banerjee

Toni Morrison was a writer extraordinaire, her impact on people’s lives went far beyond the page. She was the very first black woman to be awarded the Nobel prize for Literature, laying the groundwork for generations to come. We all stand tall on her shoulders, to say the least.

Her best known work, the ‘Beloved’, moves in terrains nobody has dared explore before.

When you think of a story addressing, revisiting slavery- all it normally does is tread along the sidelines, use grisly, graphic tales of horrors in an attempt to educate, by invoking a sense of pity.

Morrison, however doesn’t want you to look at the black experience through a monochromatic lens. She implores you to look for the complex shades of grey, even in the most enduring and trying times. While you maybe disgusted by the actions of the characters but you are never to see them as less than people, puppeteered by the slave masters and a mere product of the cotton plantations.

It’s truly an extraordinary task to write a review for Toni’s magnum opus but if I must mention, it’s an equally daunting task trying to take it all in the first time you read it – her nurtured, her nemesis, the beloved.

Morrison demands you really read her book. It is of little consequence that you may be familiar with the writing style of a Faulkner or a García Márquez, when you sit down with Beloved, you need to have a little artistic interpretation of your own, as a reader, otherwise it ain’t cutting ice with her writing.

The book is definitely not your run-of-the-mill linear tale, there is no beginning and no end to it, just juxtapositions of the horrors of the past, told through flashbacks, memories and dreams, all effortlessly blending into the present – a constant reminder of how alive the past is. The narration and the structure of the book is also compounded by an ever-switching point of view of the characters. Even the dead ones, sometimes, have their bit to say.

Beloved, is a tapestry of the imperative, very distinctive black experience that’s hard to look in the eye. Distinctive, because the characters have a voice of their own, devastatingly enough, not a choice, but you learn the complexities in their own words, through their own nightmares, their doings as well as their undoings. Her writing is almost lyrical, poetry flowing like prose and her words, definitely incomparable. By her storytelling, she manages to elegantly dignify even the indignation suffered by her people.

Set in the mid 1800s, the book is based on the real life account of Margaret Garner, a fugitive slave on a Kentucky plantation, who, in an attempt to escape the slave catchers along with the letter and the spirit of the unforgiving law- the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and out of utter desperation, does the unthinkable.

The great American painter, Thomas Satterwhite Noble, historically represents the very story in his painting ‘The Modern Medea’. A wood engraving of the art-piece can be found at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Margaret’s story, told through Morrison’s Sethe, explores the physical, emotional and to an extent spiritual devastation wrought by slavery.

The central character in the book is Sethe, and the book opens with the words, “Sth, I know that woman.” Several linguists argue that “Sth” is the sound of a woman grinding her teeth, it’s metaphorically conclusive for her actions which you are left free to judge but it’s sure to alter your perception, through her journey.

The story follows the residents of house 124, a black family dismantled by their former enslavement, some years after the end of the Civil War. Sethe, along with the two young boys of the family, her mother-in-law Baby Suggs, and her daughter Denver live haunted by a raucous, and at times violent, spirit of a baby. It works its way into driving her family out, one after the other and ultimately her own community ends up isolating her.

The story seams into gothic fiction, but it’s unlike any you have read before. It focuses on the haunting of the soul, that things cannot be unseen, unfelt or unremembered. The baby ghost is Sethe’s own child.

Toni was disappointed that the book wasn’t “welcomed into the horror genre, when it is in fact a classic of horror.” However, as a reader I thought that the terror that is felt in the book is hardly about the ghost itself. It has so little to do with the supernatural and everything to do with the reality of the severe dehumanization of an entire people. It’s the horror of making the reader acknowledge that slavery existed, and Toni banging the ceremonial gavel with the order that it should and it must, haunt us all.

08/12/2024 0 comments 353 views

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