Recently, a 24-year-old woman who was believed of being harassed for dowry, died tragically. This shows the abysmally low cost of a woman’s life in India. According to national crime record bureau (NCRB) , 7,115 women in India in 2019, died due to dowry related issues. 3,40,000 cases were recorded under the IPC for crime against women in 2019.
This showcases a blurry picture of women in India. Such gender related issues in India have been caused by various factors. Women’s education does not provide them much influence over their life choices. Women’s decision-making capacity is limited by their lack of access to economic resources. Education and riches do not guarantee a sense of self-worth.
In India, marriage by a specific age is regarded as a universal requirement. According to National Sample Survey, 1 in 2 females in urban India and 3 in 4 girls in rural India are married before the age of 25. This seriously mars their ability to get more educated and secure a job for themselve. Those doing jobs are forced by chores at home to retire early and do childcare.
On top of it, a research project found that married women workers with school-aged daughters were saving in gold for their daughters’ marriages. While yet-to-be-married women workers were saving for their own dowry. This shows the importance of dowry and it’s deep desire in the society. Spousal violence is also not uncommon in our society.
And if a women gets trapped in a wrong marriage, she doesn’t even get the liberty to get out of it. In India, 1 out of every 4 married women is subjected to marital abuse, while the proportion of divorced or separated women among ever-married women was less than 1%. Divorce is frowned upon and considered a betrayal of family honour.
Curriculums, textbooks and teacher training programmes should be periodically reviewed to ensure that gender stereotypes are not perpetuated and scholarships should be considered to promote and encourage the incorporation of women into STEM fields.
Within schools, the role of teachers becomes essential when it comes to providing quality, gender-neutral education that promotes students’ welfare and respect for professional standards.
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.