GENDER – VIOLENCE vis-a-vis GENDER EMPOWERMENT : SOME CONCEPTUAL ISSUES

Meenal Katarnikar
Adjunct Reader in Jainology, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai

… Continuation from the previous issue
 

Role of State in Women’s Empowerment

The constitution of India not only grants equality to women, it also empowers the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women.

Accordingly, with the framework of a democratic government, our laws, policies, various plans and activities have aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres. The shift from ‘welfare’ to ‘development’ is quite remarkable in the context of women’s issues from the V Five Year Plan (1974 – 79). The National Commission for women was established by an Act of parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their participation in the decision – making at the local levels.  amendments have served as a break-though towards ensuring equal access and increased participation in political power-structure for women. Such increasing participation of women in political sphere will certainly play a decisive role in the process of enhancing women’s participation in public life at the grass-root level. The reserved seats at public transport systems, women-special buses and local trains are some other provisions the women are availed of that facilitate their participation in public life.

And still, gender-disparity prevails in society. If manifests itself in various forms such as social stereotyping and violence at the domestic and societal levels. So, it can be meaningfully asked- even though the number of women Sarpanch is considerably increased due to reservation, how any of them can function independently, i.e. without the interference of the male members in their families?

Discrimination against girl-children, adolescent girls and women persist in various parts of the country, mainly in the rural parts, and also to some extent in urban parts. Women belonging to weaker sections or from the rural areas or from unorganized sectors do not get the access to the provisions made for them, and hence, remain largely marginalised, poor and socially excluded.

Even though several legal provisions have been made for protecting the rights of women, it is a commonplace observation that the centers executing these provisions, e.g. Police stations are also biased against women and manifest gender – disparity.

The most obvious form of gender disparity is the trend of continuously declining female ratio in population, in the last couple of decades, and growing rate of female infanticides. The recent incident of Parali, where numerous female foetuses were found, thrown in dust bins is the evidence of this unfortunate and brutal fact. That the state has to take action against illegal sonography centers and prevent the female infanticides is evident of the fact that birth of a girl child is not a welcome situation in a larger number of families in both urban and rural areas.

If women are being empowered, are progressing, enjoying rights and moving upwards in the status-hierarchy, what could be the justification of preventing the birth of girls, dowry-deaths, domestic violence, sexual harassment and so forth?

This in turn gives rise to more fundamental question – Is the National Policy for Women Empowerment directed towards Correct Aim? Or is it treating only superficial symptoms of a disease? Why are women depowered in the society? And does the policy suggest any solution for those
Let’s move to the other dimension of this issue.
Role of religion in Women empowerment
Religion has always taken a convenient stance in the issue of women’s authority. All individuals are equally abided by the respective faiths, but all faiths, invariably, do not shower equal grace on all alike. Religions are generally in favour of spiritual democracy, i.e. they grant the right to devotion to all; but when the issue of the spiritual liberation of women is discussed, they adopt the policy of silence and ignoring. If empowering is understood as providing equal status to men and women, religions in the past and also in the present are miles away from that consideration. But if empowerment is understood as ascribing to women the elevated sense of themselves, their ability and importance in the world, religions do empower women, but in a very illusive way.

The role of women in sustaining religious traditions is always glorified, but the same class in de-powered by placing a number of rules and restrictions on their behaviors-patterns, food-habits, clothing and also goals of life, preventing them from participating in the society and politics, even keeping them away from the decision – making in relgious matters.

Religion or religions, even today, don’t seem to be concerned about the need of women empowerment, and therefore, have very meagre, or rather negative role in the same. But is it not rooted in the same factor that obstructs the National Policy achieving success?

Conceptual issues About Women Empowerment

As discussed above, the role of both State and Religion point to some fundamental issues about women’s empowerment.

If the main cause or causes of the de-powerment of women are traced, it seems that prior to the state or religion coming in picture, is it not a patriarchal society that was mainly responsible for the subordination of women? There can be debate about the propriety of this possibility; but if the fact of social disparity continuing to exist in spite of all preventive measures is investigated, there appears to be some truth in the above claim.

Women’s empowerment activity will gain success only if the need and importance of it is properly conveyed and convinced to a male class. Today, the movement of women are demanding, or rather gaining the share in power in all spheres of life which absolutely belonged to men in the past. Considering from the perspective of men, are there any valid reasons why men should give up their unrestricted power? In other words, are the social grounds prepared for women’s empowerment so that it does not turn into men’s hostility

Courtesey : Indian Journal of Secularism