Women's Rights in India Today

The Indian Constitution, in Articles 14, 15 and 16, provides for equality between men and women. But in practice there is often denial of equality for women in large parts of India, particularly in the rural areas due to our feudal past.

Feudal, agricultural societies were based on physical labor, and hence were dominated by men. Women were practically slaves of their husbands, who often used them cruelly. Their lives were marked by continual, unending labor, the kind of labor that was looked down upon and bore the imprint of bondage. She had to cook, was clothes, clean the home, and bear children. It was unending drudgery. She was denied education and cultural development, often not allowed to step out of her home. If she did step out, she was veiled and could not interact with other people unless allowed by her husband.

Industrialization has placed more importance on brains. Physical labor is done by machines. IQ tests have established that the average woman has the same IQ as an average man. Freed from physical labor, women have started getting educated and joining the work force. We have highly qualified pilots, surgeons, educators who are women.

However, Indian society is still largely male dominated and looks down upon women. The birth of a female child is often regarded as a disaster, and female foeticide is common in parts of India

in spite the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act 1994. Birth of a male child is celebrated. Dowry is another disgusting practice that owes its origin to our feudal past, which leads the woman to be treated like cattle to be bought and sold.

Indian courts today are flooded with cases of crimes against women like dowry deaths, wife-beating etc.Women have also been divorced as they have been unable to bear a male child.

There is no doubt that women have made progress in the matter of education and career. But the truth is that India is currently in a transitional age, the transition being from a feudal, agricultural society to a modern, industrial society.We are neither totally backward, nor totally modern. Therefore our society is largely male-dominated, and still has remnants of feudal thinking. Even though our constitution provides equality to both men and women, honor killings, female foeticide and dowry deaths happen. Equality before law is not enough. True equality is only possible by means of a complete revolution in our thinking and attitude towards women. This can be achieved but it requires time, and perhaps a cultural revolution.