Fulfillment of New Woman in India is a Myth | HPSC Preparation: All subjects - HPSC (Haryana) PDF Download

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Every society is defined by the people who are a part of it. But unfortunately for everyone, it doesn’t end there. Some labels divide people based on gender, race, caste, religion, sexual orientation, etc., and it is these very labels that lead to discrimination and inequality. One of the most common forms of discrimination that hasn’t ceased to exist is the one based on gender. While there are no real differences between men and women besides the obvious physical one, society thinks otherwise.
Throughout the centuries, women have been considered to be the weaker sex both in terms of intellect and physical strength. They have been denied many opportunities and rights such as voting, working in certain professions, rights over property, etc. They have been taught to be submissive and ‘obey’ men, attend to the family while the man works, give up education at an early age, and so much more.
Now, women have begun to speak up, including in countries like India. They began demanding rights that were denied to them. They began going out more and working. They went against social norms when it came to the kind of relationships they have. In general, they began breaking against society’s shackles. As a result, women began expressing themselves more and living the way they want. Such women, known as new or liberated women, are present in almost every corner of the country. However, the truth, unfortunately, is that the new woman is still a myth in India.

Problems Faced by Women

The government has introduced many measures and policies over the years to improve women's situation in the country. Although they might have had some positive impact, they still have a long way to go. Programs such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, the One-Stop Centre Scheme, Mahila Haat, and laws against female infanticide, dowry, etc. have been put in place but are yet to show results which would lead one to believe that there has been some overall change in the plight of women in India.
Young girls and women are actively discouraged from getting a proper education and are forced to drop out of school or college. They are, in turn, encouraged to learn household work such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the family to prepare for when they get married. Due to financial difficulties, they are often asked to leave school so that their male siblings can get educated. This clearly demonstrates the kind of mindset people have even today towards women. This very lack of education proves to be an obstacle when searching for a decent source of livelihood later on in life. With barely any educational qualifications, women are not offered any well-paying or high-ranking jobs. This means that they are forced to depend financially on either their parents or spouses, which restricts their independence to a large extent. The issue of jobs isn’t only limited to women or families belonging to the lower strata of society. Women who belong to wealthy and educated families are discouraged from pursuing education beyond a certain point and are required to tend to their families and be “good housewives.”
The fact that India has, very recently, been declared one of the most dangerous countries for women in the world is extremely worrisome. While crimes against women have always existed, they have only escalated in recent years. One of the most harrowing cases in recent years is Nirbhaya, who was raped and murdered. It continues to haunt the citizens of India even today. There are countless cases of sexual assault that are never reported because the families either wish not to get involved with the police or believe that their daughters would bring shame to the family. Even today, so many people believe that it is a woman’s fault for being harassed or assaulted, which means the culprits roam around scot-free, perhaps looking for their next target.
Women are taught to “wear appropriate clothes” and to “behave decently” to prevent any mishaps while no one really addresses the actual issue at hand. Because of this, women fear going out of their houses at night and are often required to be accompanied by a male member of the family. This is such a sorry state of affairs that it curtails women's freedom and affects their lives in more ways than one.
Due to the belief that women are less capable of supporting a family or being successful, many prefer to have a male child, and while some might try again for another child, many resort to killing the girl child. There are instances where either the girl child was killed while in the womb or was found dead in a pile of garbage on the roadside. Reading such stories is enough to conjure horrible nightmares for a long time.

Ways to Combat Gender Inequality

Just talking about the new woman is not enough. It needs to be made a reality. It is the need of the hour that women are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve but never got. It is high time that they are considered equals and not the “second” sex. Here are some ways in which society as a whole could better the plight of women in India: -

• Education: While it is mostly the women who are denied the right to study, the nation needs to have proper access to education. Every single member of this society needs to be alerted about the significance of education along with being taught to treat everyone as equals, irrespective of gender, caste, religion, etc. People should be taught to treat women with respect and not to treat them like “objects.” Since many blame the mother for the child’s sex, it is important to create awareness regarding reproductive health and its aspects. Talking and discussing issues and agendas should be encouraged so that the word can spread and a solution can be found.
• Government Schemes: Since the people elect the government, it should be their prime agenda to work for the people. They need to actively promote women's empowerment and introduce more and more schemes that widen the range of opportunities available to women in all aspects. They should ensure safety, education, proper health hygiene, equal property rights, etc., for women. By strengthening the laws against crimes such as sexual assault, female infanticide, acid attacks, dowry, etc., the people would be discouraged from engaging in such awful acts while providing educational opportunities for women would ensure that they can rise to the level of the rest of society.

Society has decided that women are incapable of doing anything without really giving them a fair shot, which has turned into serious cases of discrimination and inequality. It is high time that society itself paved the way for their upliftment and prosperity.