Women Empowerment: Paradigm Shift in Gender Equations in Urban India

  • Amita Rawlley Thaman

Abstract

Every human being is born a unique individual and has specific personality traits. But certain traits are precluded in a gender. Gender has been an important issue in humankind since ancient period. Gender distinction entails /assigns specific social and cultural roles for individuals. Gender bias has seeped into our collective conscious since times immemorial. Women have always been taught to be tolerant and submissive; to watch what they say and when they say; and to avoid loud behaviour. The patriarchal system of society teaches women to internalize the concept of male domination in the process of their socialization. There is palpable evidence to prove that women during the Vedic period earned utmost respect and position in society. That is the reason probably why the Vedic society flourished, prospered and touched the pinnacles of glory. In contemporary times however, women are fighting vehemently for their stature. They are most of the times treated like a commodity. Where they find a way, they outshine their male counterparts and prove their mettle over and over again. Today, there is a lot of rise in consciousness amongst women, especially in urban areas. Women in India have finally come to realize that they have a separate identity, a self apart from the family. They have slowly mustered courage enough to proclaim their individuality, to reject subordination through domestication. Literate women are more enlightened about their rights and duties. . Both men and women are the lynchpin of a society and civilization. Together they carry forward the seeds of procreation, impart life to it and nurture it.  The need of the hour is to recognize the importance of women in our society. All social evils like eve-teasing, rape, dowry, domestic violence and female foeticide et cetera have to be nipped in the bud. Women do not need to be treated special. They need to be treated with equality and dignity.

Published
2019-11-15
Section
Articles