Dutiful. Subservient. Motherly. These are traits that every Indian woman is expected to encompass. Despite being in the 21st century, Indian women face the same ancient gender stereotypes that were prevalent centuries before. Social expectations still require Indian women to be obedient housewives whose sole purpose in life is to keep a clean and orderly home and raise their children. The idea of a working woman is still somewhat of a taboo idea in India, especially in the poorer and less educated areas.
This antiquated way of thinking has continued even though the country has seen marked changes in technology, governance (a woman even became Prime Minister for a period of time) and education. Whereas, in other countries that have experienced these changes, the oppression of women has decreased and women have been afforded more opportunities,yet women in India are left in generally the same condition they have been in for centuries. Admittedly, the government did outlaw Sati, an ancient practice where a widow would throw herself onto the burning pyre of her husband so that they could die together.
A serious example of this continued discrimination is the fact that rape is a common occurrence in India, and more often than not, the aggressor feels as if their act was nothing wrong and that the woman “was asking for it.” Men in India tend to have a mentality that any of their actions towards women are justified since the man rules all in the patriarchy. Many instances of rape or sexual assault in India are unreported. This is due to the belief by the victims’ families that society will shun them and no one will marry into their family or take their daughter’s hand if this news became public. After the Delhi gang rape in 2012, there was a public outcry in favor of the victims of rape. Mainly due to this, the government amended the laws pertaining to rape, making it stricter on the aggressors and making the general outlines of what constitutes rape as a more accepted definition. It also made acid throwing, stalking and disrobing crimes for the first time.
Girls also go to school for a small percentage of the time boys spend in school. Their families believe that after a certain grade or age, the girl does not need further education as the rest of her life will go into serving her husband and doing household chores. Boys are allowed to continue their education to whatever point they desire as they will be the breadwinners for their families and are expected to support their parents in their old age.
Child marriage is also prevalent in India, with almost 50% of women in India marrying before they reach the legal age of 18. The usual story is that a girl reaches puberty (around the ages of 11 to 13); then, her parents will give her away to a man, either her age or someone much older, while also being required to pay a large dowry of either goods or money to the groom’s family.
Some women in India have made huge strides, becoming political and business leaders. However, they are a small exception. The majority of women in India are still subjugated to the same discrimination that their ancestors were subjugated to years ago. This needs to end. Women in India need to stand up for themselves. Men in India need to stand up for their mothers, daughters, wives and sisters. This generation needs to be the one that changes the way of thinking in a country that portrays itself as progressive and a forerunner in globalization and modernization to the world but on the inside is oppressing a vital group in their society.
