Women (SDG 5--GENDER EQUALITY)

29 May 2021 09:40

1. Daughters--equal right to inherit property, SC

• Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (Mitakshara school of Hindu law)---recognised males as legal heir
• Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005----Hindu women coparceners
• Vineeta Sharma vs Rakesh Sharma (2020)---retrospective effect applied

2. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT-- examples

“Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world” — Hilary Clinton

Economic

Ø TANWA (Tamil Nadu Women in Agriculture)---trains women in latest agri techniques

Ø UNEP's Solar Technicians-----train 15k women to be Solar technicians to maintain solar pumps
Ø Swashakti initiative---Andhra Pradesh— cooperative society gives soft loans for income generation
Ø All women crew--Air India flight-longest commercial flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru
Ø Kudumbshree, Jeevika
Ø NITI AAYOG & FLIPKART partner
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform
• brings together women from different parts of India to realise their entrepreneurial aspirations

Social
Ø HEALTH---kashtakari sangathan in Maharashtra
trains women health workers at the village level to treat simple illnesses at minimal cost
Ø Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
Ø Haridaspur— female birth — lamps & sweets
change in attitude is because of the efforts by panchayat president and secretary
Ø Khabar Lahariya--all women run news org in UP
• Women from marginalised sections work as reporters in vernacular languages
• Khabar Lahariya's journey shortlisted for Oscars 2022---Documentary called 'Writing with Fire'

Defence
Ø Women in Assam rifles, NDA
Ø Fighter pilots
Environment
Ø ‘Jungle Ke Dost’ — women collective in Uttarakhand— community initiative to tackle forest fire
Ø RAJASTHAN ---HARIT MARUBHUMI DRIVE —Women of Village Panchayats to treat trees as 'green family members'
'Familial forestry'---relating trees with family

Political
Ø Women in politics— Esther Duflo
Women sarpanch = high investment in social infra, acts as role model for girls
Ø Nagaland civic elections with 33% women reservation to be held after 20 years

Factors which limit the role of women in economy

Ø Traditions--role of 'care giver'
Ø Gender-based segregation
Ø Lack of quality jobs for women—-WB data "working women in India dropped from 26pc to 19pc b/w 2010-2020"
Ø Rising income of men
Ø Low labour force participation ---around 37%
Ø Credit unavailable—7% of all loans to MSME were to women led business but they own 1/5th of MSME (RBI)
Ø Crime rate affects mobility-----NCRB 2020--77 rape incidents per day
Ø Social barriers--not allowed to work under some religion, patriarchy
Ø Gender-wage gap— 34% (Oxfam data)
Ø Traditions--role of 'care giver'
Ø Gender-based segregation
Ø Lack of quality jobs for women—-WB data "working women in India dropped from 26pc to 19pc b/w 2010-2020"
Ø Rising income of men
Ø Low labour force participation ---around 37%
Ø Credit unavailable—7% of all loans to MSME were to women led business but they own 1/5th of MSME (RBI)
Ø Crime rate affects mobility-----NCRB 2020--77 rape incidents per day
Ø Social barriers--not allowed to work under some religion, patriarchy
Ø Gender-wage gap— 34% (Oxfam data)
Ø Discrimination in hiring — Foxconn case (not hiring married women)
Ø Post marriage/ pregnancy career gaps
Ø Infrastructure / geographical barriers — absence of transportation or affordability of transportation to commute

3. AGE OF MARRIAGE

Child marriage--UNICEF 'Ending Child Marriage--27% of girls get married before they turn 18

PROS CONS
1. Changing social norms 1. Cultural & religious practices — clash with traditions
2. Physical cognitive & emotional maturity 2. superficial solution
3. Empowering women — participation in social, economic and 3. Girls will have no say in personal matters up to 21 yrs
political life Example---Prohibition of Child Marriage Act used against daughters eloping with partner
of their choice
4. Education 4. No surety of education
5. Enforcement considerations
5. Health —Mortality--IMR, child stunting, wasting 5. Flawed assumption
Examples Rajasthan— 6. Definition of Child (0-18 yrs)
Child marriage leading to teenage pregnancies----Population ü Example--Law Commission Report 2008 same marriage age of 18
Fund of India ü Voting age at 18
ü 1/3rd child marriages in state ü Supreme Court Interdependent Thought vs UOI Case--Child age under 18
ü International convention--18 yr minimum marriage age

7. Policing of young women's choices

8. 'underground marriages'

CASE STUDY OF KARNATAKA

2017 Amendment of Child Marriage Act
Child marriage--null & void
Minor became widow---goes for pension---pension denied
Deprived of all rights

Way forward
Jaya Jaitley Committee
• recommended 21 yr age
• increasing access to schools and colleges for girls
• Skill and biz training — give Flipkart example
• Address poverty
• Sex education in schools
• awareness campaign be undertaken on a massive scale

Conclusion
'autonomy enhancing paternalism' by Martin Binder
ü Empower women, rest will follow
ü Education must

4. WOMEN SAFETY / SEXUAL VIOLENCE/ ETHICS CASE STUDY

Ø Hathras incident
Ø Manipur sexual violence case
Ø Intersectional discrimination---caste, gender, disability
SC (in Patan Jamal Vali case)--when the identity of a woman intersects with her caste, class, religion, disability and sexual
orientation, she may face violence and discrimination due to 2 or more grounds

Ø NCRB Report 2023– crime against women rose 4% versus 2021

Issues
ü Deep rooted casteism— intersectionality of gender, caste, class
ü Culture of impunity
ü Lack of gender sensitisation in law enforcement agencies
ü Gender insensitivity

Case study
Delhi Police's Women Safety initiative 'Sashakti' (yearly self defence training program)
Kudumbashree offers self defence classes to women under initiative 'Dheeram'

5. DATA
 Issues
ü Deep rooted casteism— intersectionality of gender, caste, class
ü Culture of impunity
ü Lack of gender sensitisation in law enforcement agencies
ü Gender insensitivity

Case study
Delhi Police's Women Safety initiative 'Sashakti' (yearly self defence training program)
Kudumbashree offers self defence classes to women under initiative 'Dheeram'

5. DATA
• IMF---if equal participation in workforce from women as men, India GDP up 27%
• OECD— gender discrimination in social institutions could cost up to $12 trillion for global economy
• Global gender gap report (WEF) ---129/146
• Women in R&D — 20% (Niti)
• 18th Lok Sabha — 74 females MPs vs 78 in 17th LS
• No women MP from Kerala in 18th Lok Sabha despite highest female literacy rate of 96%
• WB data "working women in India dropped from 26pc to 19pc b/w 2010-2020"
• NHFS 5 "27% abortions are performed by the woman herself at home"
• NFHS 5 ---more than 30% of married women experience spousal physical, sexual, emotional violence.
• NFHS 5 — female sterilisation 89% vs 3% in males
• Niti Aayog -----India's gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30.
• NCRB Report 2023– crime against women rose 4% versus 2021
• Own mobile phones — 54% (NFHS)
• Teenage pregnancies— 8% (age group 15-19)
• Dr Soumya Swaminathan — lack of basic facilities makes young girls nervous to go to school post puberty + gender stereotyping
of work + women-women mentorship motivates more women to follow their lead

Positive data— NFHS 5

• TFR below replacement level at 2
• Female literacy improvement— 41% (10 years or more of schooling)
• Institutional deliveries— 88%

6. GENDER GAP IN INDIA

Global gender gap report (WEF) ---129/146

AGRICULTURE (Feminisation of agriculture)

Ø Agri census--73% of rural women workers in farming
Ø 13% own land holdings
Ø Excluded from the definition of farmers
Ø Gendered access to inputs, markets

RESEARCH & ADMINISTRATION

Ø 2017 NITI Aayog report--20%

ADVERTISEMENT INDUSTRY
Ø UNICEF report on advertising in India
• Most ads depict women selling food and beauty products to women, caring for families

7. PAID HOUSE WORK

Basics
2011 census--159 million women homemaker vs 5.7 million men

Issues
ü Not accounted for national income
ü Dependent women
ü Hierarchical structures
ü Separate spheres--market & home
ü Emotional connection

Challenges
ü 'salary' term inappropriate--denotes master--servant relation
ü Who will pay salary?

Way forward
ü Prenuptial marriage arrangements
ü Wives' right in husband's property, earnings
 Challenges
ü 'salary' term inappropriate--denotes master--servant relation
ü Who will pay salary?

Way forward
ü Prenuptial marriage arrangements
ü Wives' right in husband's property, earnings

8. WOMEN DISAPPEARING FROM LABOUR FORCE IN INDIA

Context---World Bank data "working women in India dropped from 26pc to 19pc b/w 2010-2020"

Reasons

• Greedy work (Nobel Prize Winner Claudia Goldin) — demands long hours, irregular schedules etc
• COVID-19 lockdown--less likely to return to jobs
• Increased domestic duties
• Childcare
• Surge in marriages
Cultural norms---rising income of men, social status
Patriarchal stigma against girls
Bias at workplace----the 26-week maternity leave discourages cos to hire women
Insufficient type of jobs — 398 working poor in India (ILO)
Glass ceiling
Pink collarisation of jobs

Challenges

Local customs >> laws

Unused funds, non-execution of programs

Solutions
Crèches or daycare facility— Karnataka govt—-KOOSINA MANE for MGNREGA women

9. MATERNAL HEALTH

Data
MMR — 103 (UN data )
Self abortion at home— 27% (NFHs 5)

Supreme Court judgement— In Puttaswamy judgement— Right to abortion under Article 21

Reasons
• unaffordable and inaccessible healthcare
• Law/legal--MTP Act strict provisions for abortion
• Not by choice--only after doctors say
• Stigma--unmarried and transgender people
• Sexual offences—- NCRB 2023 report

Govt schemes
Mission parivar vikas--increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services
ASHA workers' drug kit has pregnancy test kits
Home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs

10. DALIT WOMEN LEADERS

Savitribai Phule--pioneer in education for Dalits

Rani Rashmoni--biz woman and zamindar, also founder of Dakshineshwar temple,
Mayawati, Meera Kumar---Politics
Dulari Devi---Mithila artist (Padma Shri)
Jhalkaribai--- companion and advisor of Rani Laxmibai

11. Marital rape issue (section 375 IPC)

Data-- NFHS 5 ---more than 30% of married women experience spousal physical, sexual, emotional violence.
 Mayawati, Meera Kumar---Politics
Dulari Devi---Mithila artist (Padma Shri)
Jhalkaribai--- companion and advisor of Rani Laxmibai

11. Marital rape issue (section 375 IPC)

Data-- NFHS 5 ---more than 30% of married women experience spousal physical, sexual, emotional violence.
No legal provision to define it in India

Causes of marital rape

• Patriarchal mindset
• Objectification of women
• Dominance
• Low self esteem
• Family legacy of exploiting women
• Sexual dissonance b/w couple

Impact on institution of marriage

Negative impact/ destabilise marriage

• Frivolous complaints— tool of harassment

• Against the institution---- Independent thought vs UOI (use in anthro also)
• Divorce cases up— 35% in last 5 yrs — NFHS 5
• Hard to prove
• Sanctity of marriage
• Family bonds— children life
• Mental health of females
• Suicides

Positive impact/ not destabilise

• Women empowerment— consent matters

• equal protection of laws — article 14
• Dignity and bodily autonomy — article 21
• Deterrence for potential culprits
• JS Verma committee--- in favour of criminalisation

Way forward
• JS Verma committee— remove this exception
• Ensure justice
• Adequate law and awareness — attitudinal change
• International practice -- Nepal-- specific legislation to criminalise

12. Platform economy and women

Platform economy -- tendency for commerce to increasingly move towards and favour digital platform business models.

Data
Niti Aayog -----India's gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30.

Role in empowerment of women

• Flexibility like edtech apps Unacademy, gradeup etc

• Accelerate gender equality
• Mobility --- companies like Swiggy providing bicycle on rent
• Less cost
• Facilitator --- e-commerce website for groceries

Issues
• Labour exploitation—Slavery like work conditions, unrealistic targets — excessive discounts — Ex Black Diwali protest
• Perpetuated patriarchal structures— beauticians, cooks etc
• No job security— concept of ratings and auto assignments through AI
• Accelerate gender equality
• Mobility --- companies like Swiggy providing bicycle on rent
• Less cost
• Facilitator --- e-commerce website for groceries

Issues
• Labour exploitation—Slavery like work conditions, unrealistic targets — excessive discounts — Ex Black Diwali protest
• Perpetuated patriarchal structures— beauticians, cooks etc
• No job security— concept of ratings and auto assignments through AI
• Vulnerability— divorced, single mothers etc — exploited by companies

Solutions
• Gig and Platform Services Labour Union— negotiations for laws & policies

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Data-- NFHS 5 ---more than 30% of married women experience spousal physical, sexual, emotional violence.

Impact on women

Screen clipping taken: 09-07-2022 22:09

Reasons
Ambiguous domestic laws
Dearth of data on crime against women
Accused are known persons
Internalised—Long been accepted as normal---NFHS (52% wives okay with it)
Culture, religion, society

Legal provisions
POCSO--gender neutral law
POSH Act 2013

Women’s organisations
First phase 1850-1915 Second phase 1915-1947 Third phase — post
 Legal provisions
POCSO--gender neutral law
POSH Act 2013

Women’s organisations
First phase 1850-1915 Second phase 1915-1947 Third phase — post
independence
Widow remarriage association by MG Women’s India association by Annie Besant — National federation of India
Ranade education + suffrage women — Aruna Asif Ali
Arya Mahila Samaj by Pandita National council for women in India — Meherbai SEWA by Ela Bhatt — economic
Ramabai — education Tata empowerment + social security
Bharat stree mandal — sarla devi All India Women Conference— Margaret
Chaudharani — education + legal cousins — education + social reform + women’s
reforms franchise

Women movement— linked with socio religious reforms & nationalist movement

Phase 1-- socio religious reforms

Ramabai Saraswati formed Arya Mahila Samaj in 1882
Bharat Stree Mandal by sarala Devi chaudhurani

Phase 2-- independence struggle— NCM, CDM, Quit India (Durgabai Deshmukh, Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay, Matangini
Hazara)

Phase 3-- 1947-1975– anti price rise movement,

Post 1975--chip ko, anti dowry, Narmada bachao, anti rape

Contemporary —Metoo, Triple Talaq, anti dowry, anti sexual harassment, anti liquor in Andhra

Social constructs of gender

Sex— biological trait that society assigns to a people to categorise as either male or female through physical ascription.

Gender — more fluid concept — may or may not depend upon biological traits.

Women empowerment programmes

• Posh act
• Working women hostel
• MUDRA, stand up India
• One stop centre
• Sukanya samriddhi
• Nari adalats

Women health initiatives

• Janani Suraksha
• ICDS
• Ujjwala
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Women Legislations
• Sati prevention act 1987
• Special marriage act 1954
• Hindu succession Act 1956
• Immoral traffic prevention act 1986
• Dowry prohibition act 1961
• Maternity benefit act
• MTP Act
• PoSH Act