A few years ago, when I read Khaled Hosseini's 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', I remember the book having shaken me completely and leaving me with a haunting feeling. I couldn't help but weep at Mariam's plight and even Laila's, almost till the end of the book which thankfully paints a hopeful sentiment for Laila and her family. However, more than that, I remember having been thankful that I wasn't born in the Taliban ruled Afghanistan, but in a more broad-minded society like India. Or so I thought back then. However, this sentiment has been dwindling progressively ever since. In the last few years, I have encountered several articles of women being illtreated, hurt and clobbered, sometimes beyond repair in my own country. And by repair, I imply only physical damage. The mental scars of such henious crimes committed towards them live with them for several decades, in most cases, a lifetime.
Over the last couple of years, I've gradually come to realize that India is perhaps one of the most unequal societies in the world as far as gender equality is considered. In the Global Gender Gap report 2012 prepared by the WEF, India highly skewed sex ratio (# of males for every female) at 1.12 (according to CIA estimates) is exceeded only by China and Armenia. That is a shocking rank of 133 out of 135 participating nations! I'm trying to ignore, albeit unsuccessfully the glaring fact that the two most populous nations whose collective numbers make up for a third of the world population are at the bottom of the charts! Is that a indicator of the narrowmindedness of humanity in the future generations? I shudder to think! Preference for the male child has made female infanticide rampant across most Indian states. Though gender determination has been made illegal in India, couples and families still root for the male child and illegal clinics are present all over the country.The 2011 census showed an average of 940 women for every 1000 men in India. While this is certainly an improvement over 933 in 2001 (the world average was at 986), it still leaves a lot to worry about. The figure in some Indian states raises more than a few eyebrows- Haryana has an abysmal ratio of 877 while Delhi, the national capital is worse at 866. What's more shocking is the number in children under the age of 7 (914 in the 2011 census as opposed to 976 in 1961) indicating rampant gender selection. An estimated 40 million girls have "gone missing" since Independence in 1947.
Sadly, this discrimination does not stop at birth. At every stage, women are at a clear disadvantage when compared to men. The Global Gender Gap report places India at low ranks of 123, 121 and 134 in Economic Participation, Educational Attainment and Health and Survival respectively - all this despite the country having a high rank of 17 in Political Empowerment. Girls are forced to drop out of school before Class X killing hopes of an education, married off to complete strangers at a tender age and are condemned to a life of oppression. The practice of dowry although illegal, is still entrenched in the system even in the more progressive and educated states of Southern India. All these facts come across as ironic in a country which worships and adores female dieties, which had a woman Prime Minister much before developed economies like the United Kingdom and the United States (which in fact is still to elect a female President) and where a woman sits at the helm of affairs for all practical purposes.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the United Nations celebrated the 'First International day of the Girl Child' calling for an end to the abhorrent practice of child marriage and stressing on education as one of the strongest strategies to protect girls. Two days later, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban for espousing those very fundamental rights of education and empowerment. While it was heartening to see the world come together as one in defending and praising Malala, a lot of issues still remain despite extensive championing. In Haryana, there have been 20 rapes in the last 40 days and in most cases as in the past, the victim ends up being further victimized for "welcoming it" and ostracized from the community. To this, India's political populace (including women) have said that reduced access to mobile phones, non-exposure to the western culture and being married off early are workable solutions - ridiculous conclusions that would've otherwise seemed funny, had the situation not been so serious!
Worldwide too, equal rights to vote, to work, to pay and to own property have come only in the last century and only after brave demonstrations by women activists. History presents ample evidence at various points on women having not only been treated unequally, but in most cases, with contempt. I wonder what warrants treating half the populace as "inferior" - is it only weaker physical capabilities and strength that have trampled women for generations or is there a far more fundamental reason? I've picked up Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" and I sure hope I find some answers there!
P.S: Disclaimer - I am not a feminist, atleast not the kind who maintains that women are better than men. I believe in gender equality and hence equal rights to everything. I don't see why any person should be treated unfairly based on gender - something she has absolutely no control over.
Over the last couple of years, I've gradually come to realize that India is perhaps one of the most unequal societies in the world as far as gender equality is considered. In the Global Gender Gap report 2012 prepared by the WEF, India highly skewed sex ratio (# of males for every female) at 1.12 (according to CIA estimates) is exceeded only by China and Armenia. That is a shocking rank of 133 out of 135 participating nations! I'm trying to ignore, albeit unsuccessfully the glaring fact that the two most populous nations whose collective numbers make up for a third of the world population are at the bottom of the charts! Is that a indicator of the narrowmindedness of humanity in the future generations? I shudder to think! Preference for the male child has made female infanticide rampant across most Indian states. Though gender determination has been made illegal in India, couples and families still root for the male child and illegal clinics are present all over the country.The 2011 census showed an average of 940 women for every 1000 men in India. While this is certainly an improvement over 933 in 2001 (the world average was at 986), it still leaves a lot to worry about. The figure in some Indian states raises more than a few eyebrows- Haryana has an abysmal ratio of 877 while Delhi, the national capital is worse at 866. What's more shocking is the number in children under the age of 7 (914 in the 2011 census as opposed to 976 in 1961) indicating rampant gender selection. An estimated 40 million girls have "gone missing" since Independence in 1947.
Sadly, this discrimination does not stop at birth. At every stage, women are at a clear disadvantage when compared to men. The Global Gender Gap report places India at low ranks of 123, 121 and 134 in Economic Participation, Educational Attainment and Health and Survival respectively - all this despite the country having a high rank of 17 in Political Empowerment. Girls are forced to drop out of school before Class X killing hopes of an education, married off to complete strangers at a tender age and are condemned to a life of oppression. The practice of dowry although illegal, is still entrenched in the system even in the more progressive and educated states of Southern India. All these facts come across as ironic in a country which worships and adores female dieties, which had a woman Prime Minister much before developed economies like the United Kingdom and the United States (which in fact is still to elect a female President) and where a woman sits at the helm of affairs for all practical purposes.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the United Nations celebrated the 'First International day of the Girl Child' calling for an end to the abhorrent practice of child marriage and stressing on education as one of the strongest strategies to protect girls. Two days later, Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban for espousing those very fundamental rights of education and empowerment. While it was heartening to see the world come together as one in defending and praising Malala, a lot of issues still remain despite extensive championing. In Haryana, there have been 20 rapes in the last 40 days and in most cases as in the past, the victim ends up being further victimized for "welcoming it" and ostracized from the community. To this, India's political populace (including women) have said that reduced access to mobile phones, non-exposure to the western culture and being married off early are workable solutions - ridiculous conclusions that would've otherwise seemed funny, had the situation not been so serious!
Worldwide too, equal rights to vote, to work, to pay and to own property have come only in the last century and only after brave demonstrations by women activists. History presents ample evidence at various points on women having not only been treated unequally, but in most cases, with contempt. I wonder what warrants treating half the populace as "inferior" - is it only weaker physical capabilities and strength that have trampled women for generations or is there a far more fundamental reason? I've picked up Simone de Beauvoir's "The Second Sex" and I sure hope I find some answers there!
P.S: Disclaimer - I am not a feminist, atleast not the kind who maintains that women are better than men. I believe in gender equality and hence equal rights to everything. I don't see why any person should be treated unfairly based on gender - something she has absolutely no control over.
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