I am interested in learning more about how women and girls are treated differently in India based on their education and predetermined gender roles. Over the course of my education, I have heard various things about the roles of Indian women. One of the things I had always been told was men were more respected than women. According to a foreign academic journal, male and female children have the same educational opportunities, yet in 2009 the literacy rate for females is 22% less than the male rate (Women’s Situation in India). However, the Indian culture is more accepting of women joining in economic, social, and political occupations due to the increase in the number of women obtaining a higher education. By completing a higher education, Indian women have the confidence to participate in movements that support improving the discrimination against them (Kiran). There are still reports of educated women leaving the workforce due to pressures from society, which leads to women lacking professional experience. If the husband were to die, a woman wouldn’t be capable of earning a living and employers aren’t willing to provide flexible hours to allow them to care for their families (Jana). Indian women are more educated than in previous decades; however, there’s still discrimination surrounding a female’s right to an education.
Looking at Indian history, women are typically described as either a daughter, wife, homemaker, or mother depending on their stage in life. Early on in a female’s life, she is taught to have submissive traits, and her dream job should be the stereotypical female jobs such as teacher, wife, and nurse. Women are expected to choose careers based on what will hinder their education growth and provide the least effort to society (Jana). For example, some women work on the farm, which leads to longer work days since they must maintain the fields and complete household chores. If a woman isn’t tending to the fields, she’s inside the poorly ventilated house cooking and cleaning. When an Indian woman gets sick she must ask permission to go to the doctor’s, which rarely happens. Women don’t have time to get better, instead they must continue their role of caring for their families (India’s Views on Gender Roles). The most important role of an Indian woman is care for her family and ensure her husband’s happiness.
Instead of encouraging young females to complete their education and learning about how to treat their bodies, they are expected to remain innocent and pure to find a husband at a young age. Most women are taught how to complete household chores to ensure their husbands only have to worry about providing money for the family (Women’s Situation in India). Marriage is a contract between the families where the parents of the bride and groom arrange the marriage based off their needs. Usually it results in the wife giving up her assets and bank accounts to her new in-laws to ensure she doesn’t have the money to further her education. Along with this newfound money, families typically leave their entire inheritance to their sons leaving their daughters with no money (Jana).
Indian women are treated much better; however, their society is having a more difficult time lessening their predetermined gender roles. There are many ceremonies dedicated to Indian women, but it doesn’t’ make up for the lack of opportunities they have and their predetermined role within society.
India’s Views on Gender Roles. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2019, from
Jana, S. (2017, January 26). Role & Status of Women in India: Issues & Challenges. Retrieved July
8, 2019, from https://www.poverties.org/blog/status-of-women-in-india
Kiran. (2016, February 08). Women in India: Role and Status of Women in India. Retrieved July
8, 2019, from https://www.importantindia.com/20816/women-in-india-role-and-status-of-women-in-india/
WOMEN’S SITUATION IN INDIA. (n.d.). Retrieved July 8, 2019, from http://saarthakindia.org/womens_situation_India.html