Women Empowerment in India

Geeta*

Phd Scholar, Department of Law, Baba Mastnath University, Rohtak

Abstract - Women's empowerment is a contentious issue. Women enjoyed equal status and

power to men throughout the earlier Stone Age period. However, during the post-Vedic and

epic times, they began to have certain challenges. History demonstrates that women were

frequently treated like slaves. The standing of women has been progressively shifting from the

their dignity

Keywords - Empowerment, Leadership, movement

INTRODUCTION

India exhibits a disproportionate sex ratio, thus this is not true there. Even though India is moving

closer to being a developed country, the fact that women's numbers have lagged behind men's is

alarming. It is encouraging to learn that women's social standing in Indian culture is concerned about

the fact that they are not consistently treated equally to males. We can still clearly see chauvinism,

gender inequalities, and prejudice in India today. Women were sometimes treated as Goddesses and

other times as ordinary slaves, which is a contradictory scenario.

India's empowerment of women

community, and country.

When we focus on the people of India, it happens to be a disproportionate sex ratio which means the

female population is comparatively lower than the male. Women's empowerment is comparatively

highly liberal in the western world, however due to gender bias, it is the least important issue in Indian

society. It is thought that until there is a solution to gender bias so that women can participate freely in

creating a society and a community where everyone's rights and demands will be given attention to,

the problems with literacy, population, and health issues won't be resolved.

If we focus more on how India's women's empowerment movement developed over time, from the

ancient to the modern era. When it came to empowering women, Indian culture has experienced

numerous ups and downs over the years.

their husbands. Women were able to have equal lives, just like men did, throughout that time. In

Indian history, women have experienced two different things: submission and deliverance. Although

their roles may have evolved over time, in the Vedic era they were a comprehensive emblem of

guardian and keeper of life and principles.

It comes out that the achievements of Gargi, Maitreyi, Sita, Draupadi, and Alapa represent the most

desirable role for women in this time period. These women competed with men in many fields,

received and enjoyed their rights and equality, were unrestricted, and acquired significant wealth and

property. They also competed with men in numerous fields. Additionally, they had a significant

influence over how their progeny were raised.

The concept of humanity is a pillar of society according to the ancient Vedic scripture Taittiriya

Vedic period. The fundamental explanation for the deterioration in women's position in ancient times

is thought to be foreign conquest. The Rig-Vedic principles of justice and harmony have been eroded,

depriving women of their right to study the Vedas, recite Vedic mantras, and perform Vedic rituals.

Women were compelled to get married, participate in domestic duties, and show unwavering love to

their husbands. Parents at the time were embarrassed by the birth of a girl child.

There was a period when women were required to wear the "pardah," a body-covering veil that

restricted their independence. Because of this, it gave rise to a number of other social ills that made

life harder for women. Many restrictions existed, including Sati, Jauhar, the ban on girls' education,

widow remarriage, child marriage, and with a ton more.

a) What exactly is sati :

throughout the medieval era, this was a Rajput tradition in which Rajput ladies gave their lives in order

to save their husbands when they were about to lose a war.

c) What constitutes child marriage :

There are several reasons why medieval India is widely remembered, but child marriage is one of

them. Women were treated like material back then because men believed that women were only good

for marriage. Due to the very poor health of women, which also contributed to the rise in the mortality

rate for both pregnant women and infants, there was an increase in the birth rate.

d) Widows are not permitted to remarry :

In the medieval era, treating women as the object was customary. In the Middle Ages, widows were

viewed as cursed; it was thought that when a woman became a widow, she inflicted depredation and

clothing.

religion, they received instruction in fine art. However, over this time, women's suffering has not

improved.

3. The modern-era struggle in India for women's emancipation.

Then, as time went on, society underwent changes, and somehow, women were given the opportunity

to use their rights and authority, though not every woman in society had access to this. There are a lot

of names that show up at the very beginning of this contemporary era of women's emancipation in

India under the East India Company. They were incredibly courageous women at the time, including

Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi and Begum Hazrat Mahal, Uda Devi, and Azizun Baial.

The movement for women's emancipation in India gained strength throughout time. Social changes

have taken place, and numerous men, like Raja Rammohan Roy, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Swami

I. Community Empowerment

The ability of women and girls to take individual and group action to alter social structures and

institutions is referred to as social empowerment. It implies that gender norms are not a barrier to the

development of healthy relationships, social engagement, or decision-making skills in women and

girls. Women's accessibility is increased through social empowerment by giving them equitable

access to all the fundamental services so they can reach their full potential.

II. Economic empowerment :

Economic empowerment is a process that gives women more access to financial resources and the

authority to take actions that will benefit their families, communities, and themselves. Women who are

economically empowered are more likely to construct better means of support, make more money,

affect their lives, those of their families, and those of their communities.

In order to achieve comprehensive, impartial, and sustainable development, political empowerment is

required. To keep democracy strong, women must actively participate in politics and government

decisions. Due to cultural and social traditions that restrict women's engagement in the political

process, statistics from throughout the world clearly demonstrate that they are underrepresented in

positions of leadership, in elected office, and among voters.

Problems and concerns women encounter:

non-governmental organizations, most of the world's poor, hungry, and uneducated people are still

women. Low income and low assets reinforce one another.Low income and low education all lead to

bad health and less prospects for higher education.The following are issues specific to women:-

I. Health issues

II. Issues with literacy and education

III. Violence against women

IV .Discrimination against women

Government's role in empowering women:

A) Acts passed before independence :

From the time of immediate post-independence to the present, a number of laws have been passed to

protect the rights and particular provisions of women from various castes.

The following laws prohibit indecent representation of women: a) The Special Marriage Act of 1954; b)

The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955; c) The Hindu Adaptation and Maintenance Act of 1956; d) The

Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act of 1956; e) The Hindu Succession Act of 1956; f) The Immoral

Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956; g) The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961; h) The Maternity Benefit Act of

1961; i The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, the

National Commission for Women Act of 1990, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006, and the

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act of 2013 are

just a few examples.

nighttime slumber.

decision-making. While there has been significant improvement in some regions of the world, much

women, youthful and middle-aged women, regional differences, affluent or poor women, the current

situation of women's empowerment is quite unbalanced. We see that although a working educated

woman who is able to make a living is conscious of her rights, a working illiterate woman who is

performing physical labor and making a living is not.

tasks without anxiety, she is a multitasking woman who balances her professional and personal lives.

Women's rights advocacy, empowerment, improving livelihood skills, boosting their involvement and

leadership in the public realm, and upholding gender justice all depend on literacy. Adult education

and training, capacity development, and enhancing social, economic, and financial skills can

and awareness-raising mechanisms, women continue to face gender-based discrimination.

Empowering women may contribute to a decrease in domestic abuse, sexual assault, emotional and

physical abuse.

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Delhi, 2004.

5. Kar, P.K. (2000). Indian Culture. Cuttack's Kalyani Publishers.