How Indian culture has been shaping gender issue and what does the data say?

[Sakshi Tekam]

Indian society is inherently patriarchal, placing male individuals at the centre. In Indian culture, there persists abelief that a man is an asset while a woman is a liability. The girls go through a lot of challenges even before she is born. According to UNICEF, the mortality rate from ages 0-5 is higher for girls than boys.

The core issues lie in persistent problems such as neglect in education, child marriage, unequal nutritional priorities, restricted independence for work, challenges faced by women in the workforce post-marriage, and the disproportionate burden of family responsibilities after marriage, falling onto women's shoulders. Shockingly, according to NCBI data, 32% of ever-married women report experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional violence by their husbands. The International Labour Organization states that around 47% of women leave their jobs after their first marriage, illustrating the adverse impact of marriage on women's labour force participation.

In Indian culture, there are certain religious practices such as Parda Pratha, discrimination against menstruating women, unequal inheritance laws, and disproportionate ritual burdens on women. These practices place women in a vulnerable and derogatory position.
The burden of exceptional expectations like providing role, emotional restraint and family name from men alone is unhealthy. A recent NCRB report indicates a higher suicidal death rate among men (20.6 per lakh) compared to women (8.1) in 2021.

The solution to these challenges involves not only creating awareness but dismantling systemic barriers. Working together is essential to achieving gender parity in India. Policies that support gender parity must be designed with the proper incentives to ensure that they are implemented successfully. Recognition of women's exceptional work, creating a supportive community, and addressing issues such as quality healthcare, family planning, and cultural stigma are essential.

We also need to encourage young rural women to participate in every field and have to give them support and incentives by policies. Providing tech training to young women to support self-help groups, and paid internships plus learning opportunities for college going girls are some of the initiatives that can be a small step towards the larger goal.
Strengthening law enforcement to prevent gender-based violence, digital literacy programs for women, and community-driven initiatives are crucial. Globally, successful policy changes, such as Norway's requirement for 40% women on publicly listed company boards or Canada's elimination of the tampon tax, should serve as inspiration. Morocco's laws on labour contracts for domestic workers also provide insights.

A strong structure for monitoring and evaluating these initiatives is necessary to support evidence-based decision making. Data analysis is essential for improving and adjusting policies. In the end key to breaking down generational stereotypes is empowerment, enabling women to take charge of their own voices, and using their abilities to solve problems.

The journey towards gender equity requires a collective effort, challenging cultural norms, adopting successful global ideas, and a commitment to analysing data for informed decision-making.

[John Siddham]

Sakshi, Great insights! Well backed by data. Potential to unearth more. Well done!