Feminism And Missing Links

The movement to grant equal status and rights to women is known as feminism. The emergence of this kind of movement is due to the subjugation of women and patriarchy. It has historical linkages and subsequent apathy of the government towards the same. Feminism is the new concept that works towards gender equality and stopping discrimination based on gender. The movement achieved a decent level of success but the rights of tribal women, caste marginalised and rural women are still unaddressed by these elite-centered movements.

The first level in Marathon

The feminist movement across the globe has achieved some success. It is due to an increase in the level of women’s education, awareness among the people, government policies and efforts of the social groups. All work in tandem to improve the condition of women though it is marginal. Indian society is male dominant and patriarchy is prevalent from the early Vedic time and it is still prevalent. In ancient and medieval history there were just a few women rulers and women in decision-making positions. They were supposed to support the family and obey their father, brother and husband. The facility of education, serving in the defence, and decision-making were exclusive to male counterparts.

The feminist movement led to the improvement of the status of women in general. They are now permitted to get an education, participate in the workforce, have equal wages and now women can be seen in decision-making positions. Different schemes of the government push women empowerment like house owners, preventing child marriage and female infanticide. The feminist movement makes the laws gender-neutral and encourages the same.

The Big Missing

Although the feminist movement achieved some degree of success, it has a very narrow base and a significant chunk of women is out of the purview. Even the result of the feminist movement is showing some contradictory results. The basic argument is women’s education will lead to women’s empowerment. 

A better level of education is not a guarantee of women’s empowerment. Rural populations have lower levels of education than the urban areas but the sex ratio among the children in the rural area is higher than the metropolitan area. It is due availability of modern devices, the growth of education and sex selection devices that are readily available in urban areas. The same is the case with the tribal population. They are primitive, egalitarian and have no awareness of the modern devices.

Marginalised women of the lower caste and villages who face the real brunt of male dominance are still missing from the feminist movement. Lower-caste women are just like objects of the higher and dominant class. They face both physical violence and mental harassment. As per NCRB data, 10 Dalit women are raped per day and their vulnerability to rape has increased by 44% in the last 10 years. Lower caste women face jeopardy from the fact that almost 80% of India’s manual scavengers are women. 

The feminist movement of today is not just a reformative movement but it is against the male. It targets the male for every act of discrimination and while doing so there is victimisation of the males. The viewpoint of males is missing in these movements. This is due to no involvement of males in the female movement. It is to be noted that the early women’s reform movement was started by Raja Ram Mohan Ray, Ishwar Chandra Vidhysagar, Jyotiba Phule and many more. Involvement of males gives a better chance of acceptance of the idea, success of the organisation and movement is directed towards upliftment not victimisation of males.

The next level of Marathon

Women should have an equal say in education, decision-making, and gender parity pay but this is not the only issue. Women are taken as a whole not divided among caste, rural, tribal and marginalised. The feminist movement should have not elite and urban demand-centred voices. 

The actual discrimination is prevalent in rural areas, lower class women. Their voices should be raised by all women’s organisations. Moving out of urban areas and spreading awareness among women, empowering them with self-help groups, and pushing for adult education and training.

It is not just about education but providing gender-sensitive knowledge, and a sense of equality from early childhood both in urban and rural areas. With the involvement of male counterparts success can be achieved.

The feminist movement is the demand of the time but it should be pervasive, and inclusive and the real motive is empowerment as half of the population of India is facing historical damage from time and space. Movement should be directed towards achieving economic progress by involving and making half the population the growth driver. Women’s development should move to women-led development.

Divyanshu Vishen

(Views expressed are personal)