November 2012 issue

Gender Tilt

The last few decades have seen Indian women do exceedingly well for themselves in all walks of life. However, gender discrimination at home and workplace continue to exist despite the progress that we have made as a nation. Education and laws have not yet been able to bring the desired social change. Women are still battling issues such as female foeticide, sexual harassment, molestation, equality, domestic violence, regressive customs and attitudes, safety in public places, etc., all of which call for change in mindsets of people. While in urban areas, the awareness is greater and we can see a small change happening, it will be long before the change trickles down to villages. We have a number of laws to protect women from atrocities in society, but we need stricter implementation of these laws for a visible change. Gender sensitization of boys from an early age and making it mandatory for girls to learn martial arts in schools are two solutions that can probably tilt the bias in favour of women.

The November 2012 issue of One India One People looks into the gender bias prevalent in Indian society. Eminent women activists and researchers highlight the bias against women and offer solutions for social transformation.

The lead article ‘An unfair tilt’, as the title suggests focuses on gender discrimination. Ranjona Banerji, senior journalist and currently a consulting editor with the media website MxMIndia.com, writes that as long as institutions like the police and courts are ‘manned’ by those who find equal rights for women difficult to accept, gender discrimination in society will continue.

Crime of any kind flourishes when the perpetrators do not fear punishment or social ostracism. A look at the desultory police investigations into crimes against women and the resultant abysmal conviction rates brings home this point, writes Lina Mathias, senior assistant editor, Economic and Political Weekly in ‘Iron fist, not velvet gloves’, in her article on the safety of women in public places, where she stresses that perpetrators of sexual harassment should not be allowed to get away unpunished.

The article ‘A new millennium, but old rules’ by Prof. Namrata R Ganneri, Assistant Professor, Department of History, SNDT College of Arts & SCB College of Commerce & Science for Women, Mumbai, points out that despite a slew of legislations protecting women against injustice, many regressive customs still persist in India, which present a fundamental dilemma about the survival of young women in the new millennium.

Working enhances a woman’s world view and her sense of self-worth. But her status as a professional is neither given enough credence nor due recognition. In that sense we haven’t moved very far from the time when women were asked to bake the bread brought in by the breadwinner, writes Amita Sahaya in the article Breadwinner or just the baker? The writer is the Founder Secretary of the non-profit organisation Women Work & Health Initiative (WWHI) and has been working as a social entrepreneur with focus on the field of gender for several decades.

‘Laws cannot change mindsets’, note lawyers Krrishan Singhania, Dr. Olav Albuquerque and Madhur Kabra of Singhania & Co, an all-service law firm in Mumbai which specialises in various infrastructure sectors such as aviation, shipping, power and telecom. According to them it is not just laws but change in mindsets that will bring the desired social change.

In the article, ‘Dual torture for Dalit women’, Dr. Kranti Gawali, observes that atrocities against Dalit women stem from two factors—gender bias within the family and caste bias within the society. A change in mindset and the deep-rooted patriarchal system may reduce crime against Dalit women, she concludes. Dr. Gawali is clinical psychologist, and is Head of the Department of Psychology at Bhavan’s College in (Andheri). She also works as a counsellor for a NGO working for women in distress, and is an activist for the issues of Dalit Women.

Women and men must join hands to confront social barriers and ensure justice and equality. In ‘Breaking social barriers, together’, Dr. Vibhuti Patel writes that lessons in gender sensitization should start early in life as they go a long way in bringing about social transformation and encouraging gender responsive behaviour and mindsets. The writer is Professor and Head of Economics Department of SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai.

‘Migrant India’s brave new daughters’ is a feature on how migration has empowered many rural women and provided them the freedom to do things their way and live a new life for themselves in the urban setting. A WFS (Women’s Feature Service) feature by Preet Rustagi, Professor and Joint Director, Institute for Human Development (IHD), New Delhi.

‘Look who’s wearing the pagdi’ by Abha Sharma (WFS), features a family in Beechdi village in feudalistic Rajasthan, which has reversed traditions by tying the ‘pagdi’, usually associated with male pride and honour, to the eldest daughter and anointing her as the heir to the family. The daughter also performed her father’s last rites.

This month, we feature Kashmir, the Snow Paradise, in ‘Know India Better’. All seasons in Kashmir have a unique charm but winter especially is an experience out of the world. Rangan Datta, an avid traveller and travel writer, had some enchanting moments in the snow, lush green meadows and exploring the floating gardens and markets in the Dal Lake in a shikara.

In ‘Face to Face’, Jyoti Mhapsekar, President of the Stree Mukti Sanghatana (Women’s Liberation Organisation) and one of its founding members, speaks to Rajlakshmi Pillai, on various issues concerning women’s emancipation and her Sanghatana’s fight against gender bias. Mhapsekar is also a playwright and song writer, whose play Mulgi Zhali Ho (A girl is born), a satire showing gender bias in society, is still very popular. 

Great Indians:

General Zorawar Singh, the saint soldier (1786-1841), was the most gifted soldier of India in the 19^th century.

Dr. Pramod K. Sethi, the man behind Jaipur Foot (1927-2008), whose invention has enabled many disabled to stand on their own.

Air Marshal Aspy Merwan Engineer DFC, the unsung IAF hero (1912-2002), who rendered distinguished service in the Indian Air Force.

In addition, read our regular columns, features, snippets, satire and more!

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