In India, women’s movements have been an endeavour to comprehend, identify, and preserve their identity. Women are present in all movements, and their participation can be seen in movements relating to rights and difficulties in general socio-economic concerns, as well as issues common to all women pertaining to family and law.
There have been three waves of women’s movements. From 1850 until 1930, the emphasis was on social reform. Social reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy emphasised the importance of women’s education. There was also opposition to the social evils that existed in society, with various groups aiming to eliminate such evils as sati pratha.
The second wave was inspired by the fight for independence from 1917 until 1939. Women’s suffrage and legislative improvements in the field of personal laws were the two primary areas that were being addressed. Their involvement in the freedom movement increased their prominence and elevated their social standing from that of subjects to that of agents of change. Women were seen to be the greatest candidates for Sathyagraha because they possessed traits of perseverance, which stereotyped their predefined societal positions once again. A women’s sub-committe within the national planning committee addressed the issue of stereotyping. Women gradually lost prominence as they became part of the social assistance system.
During the third wave, several women’s organisations reactivated after a period of slumber following the liberation fight. This time, the focus shifted from mobilisation to instances of female dominance and exploitation. The Shahada movement, the anti-price rise movement, the Chipko movement, and the Bodhgaya struggle were all important activities at the period.
Women’s movements in the 1980s focused on concerns that were generally feminist. In the public and political arenas, they confronted patriarchy. Women’s victimization had become a unifying topic that served to raise awareness and numbers. Gender-based violence drew women from many ideological backgrounds together. The gender-based defence proved difficult in a number of cases because the violence against women was often perpetrated by women themselves.
After the incident where Rameez Bee was raped by four police officers in Hyderabad and her husband was beaten to death, a campaign against violence was begun in 1978. The Mathura rape case, in which a 16-year-old tribal girl in Maharashtra was raped by two cops while going to report her brother, was another example that sparked legal reform. The police officers were found guilty by the Bombay High Court, but the Supreme Court overturned the decision, finding forceful surrender to be tantamount to consent.
The Vishaka case, in which the Supreme Court established rules in cases of sexual harassment at work, brought sexual harassment to the public’s notice. In the 1970s, a wide organisation named Dahej Virodh Chetna Manch spearheaded efforts against dowry and dowry deaths. Saheli, a non-profit organisation was founded in 1982 to give counselling and temporary refuge to women who were victims of domestic abuse and threats.
Women’s movements in India have made great strides, but the road ahead appears to be endless. Since our legal system is flexible, it has the capacity to recognise deficiencies that have hampered women’s appropriate growth and safety. Women’s movements, like movements in general, have been a successful democratic instrument in bringing about change since the dawn of time.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.
Do follow me on Facebook, Twitter Youtube and Instagram.
The copyright of this Article belongs exclusively to Ms. Aishwarya Sandeep. Reproduction of the same, without permission will amount to Copyright Infringement. Appropriate Legal Action under the Indian Laws will be taken.
If you would also like to contribute to my website, then do share your articles or poems at adv.aishwaryasandeep@gmail.com
We also have a Facebook Group Restarter Moms for Mothers or Women who would like to rejoin their careers post a career break or women who are enterpreneurs.
We are also running a series Inspirational Women from January 2021 to March 31,2021, featuring around 1000 stories about Indian Women, who changed the world. #choosetochallenge