UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions: Challenges for Women in India | Indian Society for UPSC CSE PDF Download

What are the continued challenges for the women in India against time and space? (UPSC GS1 2019)

Introduction
Women are the building blocks of the society. They are traditionally referred as Goddesses. However in the Indian society, they continue to be exploited for the sake of the conventions of the society and face challenges which are as follow:
Challenges faced by the women:

• Patriarchy: The women face the male dominance in the various institutions, structures of the country. This has hampered the overall development and rise of women in the societal roles. 
• Political participation: The women are not able to express themselves politically. The reservation for women is still pending in the parliament. 
• Economic participation: Women are not able to reach the top most positions in the corporations, private or public except a few. Also women are imparted roles which are regarded as specifically for women like Pink Jobs, Health sector etc. 
• Education: they are still considered as burden in the villages of many states, though the situation has improved in many. 
• Discrimination: The women are discriminated in the various spheres affecting their overall participation and development of their personalities. They are still discriminated in the villages, families. 
• Alienation: The women are socially and psychologically alienated which results in the non participation of the women in the various spheres of life. 
• Exclusion: The women are excluded from the decision making roles in the society which eventually affect the health of the society and the nation. 
• Crimes and atrocities: NCRB data shows that the women are faced with crimes such as rapes, abuse, sexual harassment at workplaces and thus face deviant behavior. 
• Domestic violence and Non participation in the decisions of families in the villages. The Khap panchayats and patriarchal attitude exacerbate the position of women. 
• Rural scenario: Women have little choices, have to face crimes while going out for work, leads to mental health problems, affect reproductive health and affect critical decision making power. Trafficking, bride buying etc are also faced by women. 

Conclusion 
At the same time, the tribes of North eastern India exercise matriarchy which leads to women empowerment through the traditional structures, thus raising the status and decision making power of women. The Government legal steps, like Sexual harassment prevention, women help lines, schemes aimed at welfare of women, targeting of schemes like LPG DBT transfer into women account etc would go a long way to provide a way for the empowerment and encouragement among the women.

Topics covered - Women Related Issues